New Professorial Role to Drive Research and Cement Business and Academia Links
CARDIFF, England, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Surface Technology Systems plc
(STS), (FTSE: SRTS), and Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd. (SPP) today
announced its plans to create a new professorial chair at the London Centre
for Nanotechnology (LCN) and the Department of Electronic and Electrical
Engineering at University College London (UCL).
The new professorial appointment, will sit at the LCN and work to
strengthen the relationship between STS and the educational organizations and
pursue research in a number of important areas. The role will be particularly
geared towards producing new nanotechnology devices, materials and processes
for a range of important applications. This will enable a growing range of
commercial, scientific, engineering and biomedical applications and produce
real economic and societal impact through the creation of new healthcare, IT
and environmental products.
The chair has been endowed by STS and SPP and represents an important
Japanese investment into the UK. The UK is particularly strong in the
nanotechnology arena, with the LCN a highly visible player leading some of the
UK's largest nano and bio-nano initiatives. The LCN is also extremely well
connected to the rest of the world and so can be viewed as an international
hub -- particularly as it is the only center based in a metropolis. This
investment leverages and builds on the LCN's existing strengths and combines
them with the substantial skills of STS and SPP in the nanotechnology area.
"Nanotechnology is widely acknowledged by the technical, commercial and
investment communities as a key enabling technology of the future," said
Andrew Chambers, technology director at STS. "This investment by STS in the
professorial chair at LCN will drive state-of-the-art research and place the
UK amongst the world leaders in this influential field."
In the last two years, Nanotechnology has attracted strong investment and
interest from both the private and public sectors. Applications already
developed include the production of high performance materials for aircraft
and automobiles and the creation of synthetic bone material for use in medical
procedures where natural bone has been damaged or removed.
The LCN is a brand new, UK-based multidisciplinary research organization
located in the heart of London's West End. It is structured to form a bridge
between the physical and biomedical sciences, with a unique strategy and clear
focus on exploitation and commercialization. A joint venture, the LCN brings
together two of the world's leading institutions in nanotechnology --
University College London and Imperial College London -- in a unique operating
model. The center offers laboratory and office space that accesses the
combined skills of eight departments, including medicine, physics, electrical
and electronic engineering, materials and earth science. The LCN conducts
world-class research in to the area of healthcare, information technology and
the environment.
About Surface Technology Systems plc
STS designs and manufactures a range of highly specialized systems
incorporating innovative technology used in the production of semiconductors
and semiconductor-related devices and is a leader in plasma based etch and
deposition technologies for processing semiconductor materials. STS serves a
range of applications outside the 'mainstream' semiconductor market in several
emerging sectors within the telecommunications, information technology and new
MEMS and Nanotechnology applications.
STS is the market leader in deep silicon etching for the growing MEMS
market, offering patent-protected technology. In addition, STS has a strong
presence in each of its other served markets and distributes its process
solutions worldwide through an experienced sales and service operation. The
Group currently markets in over 30 countries and has an installed base of over
750 systems. For more information about STS please see
http://www.stsystems.com .
About Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.
SPP has expanded from their core field of aerospace products into a
diverse range of industrial markets, such as heat exchangers and heat-control
systems, industrial machinery employing hydraulic control, cryopumps, ozone
generators and their own unique motion sensors. Having begun supplying
equipment for semiconductor manufacturing in 1986, SPP purchased STS in 1995
and currently retain approximately three quarters of the shares after the
flotation of STS on the London Stock Exchange in 2000.
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