This participation has resulted in the creation of new tools, methodology, software, and spinoff companies. The importance of the STC program to industry can be effectively highlighted by the direct role that industry plays in center management and direction. More than 20 STCs have an external advisory committee with members from industry. These members contribute to the centers direction in research and provide feedback on the types of knowledge transfer activities. The Center for Photoinduced Charge Transfer has a similar partnership with pre-competitive research, facilities, and ownership in technologies shared between the University of Rochester, Xerox, and Eastman Kodak.
Every funded project has at least one industry leader on the project team.
The affiliates programs promote research collaboration, industrial access to technical reports, and overall guidance of center research. Most affiliate programs are tailored to the center. Knowledge transfer through affiliates programs create and solidify the bonds between centers and their affiliates. Shared Resources Whether it is facilities or information, industry can draw upon the tremendous resources that the STCs have to offer. The resource facility at the Center for Advanced Liquid Crystalline Optical Materials provides synthesis, characterization, and prototyping services to companies, national laboratories and universities.