NSF Center Locates to NanoCollege in Support of Flourishing Tech Industry in NYS

Albany, NY – In support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s leadership in driving high-tech investment and job creation in New York State, SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) today announced the National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) in Albany as the future home of the Northeast Advanced Technological Education Center (NEATEC).  The 3 year, $2.1 million dollar program enables the expansion of the current education and training partnership between Hudson Valley Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Fairfield University, NSF and SUNY Poly.

As New York State continues to build upon its global leadership in technology innovation, maintaining a highly skilled workforce is critical. NEATEC brings together academia, business and government to develop semiconductor and nanotechnology workforce training and education to meet the rapidly growing employment demands of these industries. The expanded center at SUNY Poly CNSE will provide cutting-edge job readiness programs, coordinate student recruitment and cooperative employment opportunities and research emerging workforce trends and training needs.

“It’s a testament to the success of Governor Cuomo’s high tech economic development model that the National Science Foundation has chosen to expand this educational center at SUNY Poly CNSE.  As we have seen in just the past few weeks, global technology companies such as GE and AMS continue to invest and create jobs in New York State, and this center will insure our workforce is equipped with the latest training and skillsets,” said Dr. Robert Geer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and NEATEC Director and Principal Investigator.  “SUNY Poly CNSE is proud to host NEATEC and expand our education and training initiatives with Hudson Valley and the other NEATEC partners in maintaining and strengthening New York’s world class workforce.”

“We are seeing an unprecedented increase in high tech jobs all across upstate New York. To support and maintain that level of growth, we must empower today’s workforce, as well as tomorrow’s, with the skills required by the global tech companies that are shaping New York’s 21st century economy,” said Drew Matonak, President of Hudson Valley Community College.  “Hudson Valley is delighted to expand its partnership with SUNY Poly CNSE, NSF, and our NEATEC collaborators to continue to develop and deliver world class training opportunities for all those interested in joining the exciting nanotechnology and semiconductor industries.”

First established in 2010, NEATEC serves as a critical, sustainable resource to create and maintain a skilled technical workforce for the semiconductor and nanotechnology industries in New York State and Western New England. Through an extensive network of community college, university, and industry partners, NEATEC identifies the essential technician competencies and skills required by such a workforce. NEATEC uses those findings to develop employee training programs, as well as educate current and future students about future technology career opportunities. Through unique educational materials, partner internships, co-ops, shadowing opportunities and outreach activities, NEATEC expands the pipeline of K-12 students interested in semiconductor and nanotechnology career options.

#################### SUNY Polytechnic Institute.SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience andnanoeconomics programs at its Albany campus, and degrees in technology, professional studies, and the arts and sciences at its Utica/Rome campus. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts more than $20 billion in high-tech investments, over 300 corporate partners, and maintains a statewide footprint. The 1.3 million-square-foot Albany NanoTech megaplex is home to more than 3,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, faculty, and staff, in addition to Tech Valley High School. The Utica/Rome campus offers a unique high-tech learning environment, providing academic programs in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, with degrees and course offerings in natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. SUNY Poly operates the Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) at Kiernan Plaza in Albany, the Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, CNSE’s Central New York Hub for Emerging Nano Industries in Syracuse, the Photovoltaic Manufacturing and Technology Development Facility in Rochester, and the Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center (STC) in Canandaigua. SUNY Poly founded and manages the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (Quad-C) on its Utica campus and also manages the $500 million New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium, with nodes in Albany and Rochester, as well as the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend, Buffalo Information Technologies Innovation and Commercialization Hub, and Buffalo Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub. For information visit www.sunycnse.com andwww.sunypoly.edu.

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Media Contact: Jerry Gretzinger, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Public Relations (518) 956-7359 | jgretzinger@sunypoly.edu