The National Institute for Nano-Engineering (NINE) is a Sandia/university/industry collaboration formed to help develop the next generation of nano-engineering innovation leaders for the nation. Research opportunities for students are enabled by Sandia’s capabilities together with those of 12 university and six industry partners. This year NINE carried out 15 technical projects, student programs, and a technical workshop and worked with partners to form NINECO, the consortium’s administrative arm. NINE is a prototype Discovery Science and Innovation Institute as envisioned in the America Competes Act of 2007. (1800, 1030) ST&E
Under the Lockheed Martin cooperative research and development agreement, Sandia developed a new self-assembled thin film coating technology that will generate economic, logistical, and environmental benefits for electronics and high-performance optical devices by assembling nanoparticles into engineered optical and electrical composite films at ambient conditions. The ability to repair coatings in the field reduces needs for spare parts and downtime. This application method is ideally suited for thermal management of aerostats and high-altitude airships and components such as adaptive micromirrors, which are extremely difficult to coat using conventional thin films. (1800, 300) ITS SMG
Two programs that leverage Sandia technologies to create jobs reached major milestones. The Entrepreneurial Separation to Transfer Technology Program, now in its 15th year, has created 3,100 jobs, started up Perma Works (www.permaworks.com), and helped expand eSolar (www.esolar.com). The Sandia Science & Technology Park celebrated its 10th anniversary with a series of events that recognized the park’s 28 tenants employing 2,100 people. The park also was honored by the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce with its Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. (1030) ST&E
Engineering Sciences Center 1500 provided an independent peer review of the structural analysis supporting the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the Minneapolis bridge collapse. On Aug. 1, 2007, the I-35W bridge across the Mississippi River collapsed suddenly, resulting in 13 deaths and 145 injuries. In a briefing to the NTSB chairman prior to public hearings on the investigation findings, the Sandia team substantiated the probable cause of failure as a design flaw rather than corrosion. (1500) NW
Providing support to Sandia’s Work for Others/OtherFederal Agency (WFO/OFA) customers, WFO/CRADA Agreements Dept. 10012 processed 1,145 WFO/OFA agreements in FY08, a 24 percent increase from FY07, and 786 WFO/OFA proposals, an 8 percent increase. The total dollar value of agreements processed increased by 21 percent. (10000)