Nanofabrication Center is finalist for Minnesota Tekne Award

The Institute of Technology's Nanofabrication Center has been named a finalist for a 2009 Tekne Award in the Technology Services category. Presented by the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) in partnership with LifeScience Alley and Enterprise Minnesota, the Tekne Awards annually honor companies, individuals, and organizations that have shown superior technology innovation and leadership in Minnesota.

The Nanofabrication Center (NFC) is an interdisciplinary facility within the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota for faculty and industrial research. The Nanofabrication Center provides a set of tools and services available nowhere else in the upper Midwest. The center has about 250 users across the country within 24 companies, 28 universities, and eight University of Minnesota departments.

The center's mission is to support education, research, and industrial collaboration in microelectronics and other related research involving nanofabrication. The NFC is part of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, a National Science Foundation-supported partnership of 13 user facilities nationwide providing Nanotechnology research.

"For 10 years the Tekne Awards have recognized those who make groundbreaking contributions to the growth of technology in Minnesota," said Kate Rubin, president of MHTA. "This year's finalists should be extremely proud of their role in helping Minnesota excel at producing cutting-edge technology and continue to be a great place to do business."

Recipients of the 2009 Tekne Awards will be announced at the award ceremony on Oct. 22. The event will begin with a VIP reception at 4:30 p.m., followed by general registration and reception at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., the awards ceremony at 7 p.m., and a post-Tekne party at 8:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.tekneawards.org.

October 5, 2009