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Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships
The National Science Foundation (NSF) established the Science and Technology
Centers (STC) program in 1987 to fund important basic research and education
activities and to encourage technology transfer and innovative approaches
to interdisciplinary programs.
The centers offer the basic research community a significant mechanism
to take a longer term view of science and explore better and more effective
ways to educate students.
STCs are expected to serve as critical national resources, conducting
world-class research and educational activities. They bring together a
critical mass of facilties and expertise provided by national, regional
and local interests covering academia, national labs and industry, as
well as international researchers and educators. STCs enable academic
research teams to:
- Exploit opportunities in science and engineering where the complexity
of the research problems or the resources needed to solve them require
the advantages of collaborative relationships that can be best provided
by campus-based research centers;
- Involve students, research scientists and engineers in partnerships
to enhance the training and employability of professionals with an awareness
of potential applications for scientific discoveries;
- Use long-term, stable funding at a level that encourages risk-taking
and ensures a solid foundation for attracting quality undergraduate
and graduate students (with special emphasis on women and minorities)
into science and technology careers;
- Facilitate the transfer of knowledge among academia, industry and
national laboratories.
See also press release.
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