Industry and Possible Future Collaborations with the Center for

Adaptive Optics

First Industrial Advisory Board Meeting

March 23, 2002

Berkeley Marina Radisson Hotel

200 Marina Blvd.

Berkeley, CA 94710

                    

 

Background• NSF funded STC, established November 1999

– One of five selected that year by NSF for funding

• Center headquartered at the University of California at Santa Cruz

• Mission : Advance and Disseminate Adaptive Optics knowledge in service to science, health care, industry, and education

                    

 

CfAO Operations• Funded as an NSF STC

– STC Program started in 1989– Over 20 STCs currently exist

• CfAO is unique in the links established between astronomy and vision science

• Funded for 10 years at $40 Million (subject to 5th. Year review)– Matching funds of $2 Million/yr. from 25 affiliated institutions (academic and

industrial)

• Projects funded after internal and external review• Multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional work is encouraged• Knowledge transfer to industry is key requirement

                    

 

Center Highlights

• Close working relationship with Keck and Lick observatories• Center Researchers participated in “First Light” of Laser Guide Star at

Keck in December 2001• Multi-institutional team developing adaptive optics for vision science

applications - goal to commercialize• New Center facilities to be opened in Santa Cruz by end of March,

dedication in April• At UC Santa Cruz, CfAO has links with the Depts. Of Astronomy and

Engineering. New Engineering Dean at Santa Cruz encouraging nanotechnology research and links to adaptive optics

                    

 

Technology Areas

Vision Science

Communications Astronomy

                    

 

Executive Committee• Jerry Nelson: Director• Christopher Le Maistre: Managing Director• Claire Max: Theme Leader for AO for Extremely Large Telescopes• Lisa Hunter: Associate Director, E & HR (Theme 1)• Scot Olivier: Theme Leader for Extreme Adaptive Optics• David Williams: Theme Leader for Vision Science• Andrea Ghez: Associate Director for Astronomy Science• Richard Dekany: Associate Director Multi conjugate AO• Austin Roorda: Associate Director for Vision Science• Andreas Quirrenbach: AO Dissemination to the Scientific Community

                    

 

Partnering with Industry

Current Industrial Participants

                    

 Case Study in Multi-Institutional Team : Vision Science

• High-resolution retinal imagingdiagnostic purposessurgical microscopes

• Assess high-order aberrations while the patient observes visual benefit

• Permanent correction of high-order aberrations with custom laser eye surgery or contact lenses.

• Partnering with industry (large and small), universities

• DOE, Center for Adaptive Optics, NIH proposal

                    

 

Advantages of Adaptive Optics

Images of single cells in the living human retina

without AO with AO

                    

 Multi-Institutional / Multi-Disciplinary Team

Optical Equipment Manufacturers

Clinicians R&D Facilities

MEMS Manufacturer

Opthalmic Pharamceutical Manufacturer

                    

 

• Representatives from Corporations, Investors, Service Providers

• Provides feedback on industrial relevance, market needs, and feasibility of research

• Meets at least semi-annually

• Coincident with CfAO Spring and Fall Retreats

• Assists in setting direction of CfAO

Industrial Advisory Board

                    

 

Adjustments and New Trends in

Center Research

Industrial Advisory

Board

Market Needs

Technology trends

Executive Committee

Insuring Relevant Research

                    

 

Benefits for Members

• Leverage R&D funds • Ability to form multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional teams• Ability to commercialize Center technology• Ability to team and pursue 3rd Party funding• Access to potential strategic partners• Access to customers and end users• Fosters supplier / customer relationships• Access to a broad range of technical capabilities• Access to future R&D personnel

                    

 

Strategic Plan

Stage I

• Form IAB• Set directions for

R&D themes• Explore

partnering possibilities

Stage II

• Letters of support from Members

• Multi-disciplinary teams formed

• Success stories continue

Stage III

• Formation of Engineering Research Center (ERC)

• Set and implement fee structure

                    

 Future Directions• Form Industrial Advisory Board

– Facilitates commercialization of adaptive optics – Stimulates collaborative R&D through multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional teams

• Add Synergist Technologies – Continues the model of “crossing over” traditional technology barriers– Promotes “best of breed” approach– Nanotechnology is next logical focus

• Spin-out NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC)– $40 Million in funds over 10 years from NSF– Offers additional funds for Collaborative R&D

                    

 

Education at the CfAO

- Training the next generation

- Motivating more students to pursue science, engineering and technology

                    

 

Selected Current Projects

• Summer undergraduate internships– Full funding from CfAO (housing, stipend, travel)

• Short courses for undergrads. and/or grad. students• Networking/Opportunity Forum (grads. & postdocs)

– First one to be held in Maui, May, 2002– Corporate sponsorship by “Federal Network” (Boeing, Textron , Trex, MHPCC, etc) via

Maui Economic Development Board

• “Mini-Grants” for CfAO grad. students and postdocs– Funds visits to CfAO sites (academic, industry, education)

• AO Summer School– Santa Cruz, August, 2002

                    

 

Benefits to Industry• Technology requires a multi-disciplinary team• Shortage in labor pool of Adaptive Optics experts

– High demand, short supply

• Source for employees trained in AO• Opportunity for on-site training

– Ability to jump start projects

• Opportunity for personnel exchange– Re-train in-house personnel to meet demands

• Regional economic benefit by training local employees– Able to pull from local work force– Decreased recruitment costs

                    

 

Future Visions for Industrial Interaction

                    

 Envisioned Relationships

Institutes

Corporations

InvestorsService

Providers

                    

 Interactions Among Members

Institutes

Corporations

InvestorsService

Providers

                    

 Synergy of Nanotechnology and Adaptive Optics• Nanotechnology Companies

– Coatings to improve RMS roughness– Display applications

• Possible benefits for– Ophthalmic applications– Endoscopic applications– Drug discovery– Optical Networking– Free-Space laser communication– Consumer: Personal displays– Military: Helmut mounted displays

                    

 Program Management Considerations

Time

Resources and Cost

Phase 0 Phase I Phase IIIPhase II

                    

 

Product Development Cycle

Field TestFabricate and Test Device

Integrate Device

into System

Characterize Materials &

Model Behavior

Phase 0 Phase I Phase II Phase III

                    

 

Funding Milestones

Technical Milestones

Seed Round A Round B

Identify & Characterize

Material

Fabricate Device

Integrate Device to System

Round C

Field Testing

                    

 

Reducing Time-to-Market

• Centers Provide – Multi-disciplinary teams– Multi-institutional teams– Ability to progress from material / device /

system / field testing– Special facilities

                    

 

Input from Industry Today On:

• Needs and desires for– Collaborative teams

– Personnel exchanges

– Facilities usage

– Intellectual Property

– Membership structure