The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has a program designed to promote innovation through partnerships among universities and industry. The NSF program is called "Partnership For Innovation". Information on the PFI program can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5261&org=IIP&from=home, and I have attached a brief synopsis of the program.
UCF/CREOL is preparing a proposal to the PFI program, in partnership with the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester and with the College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona. Our proposal will be supported by other regional clusters and organizations such as SPIE and OSA, to build and begin operation of a network of photonics organizations that will facilitate photonics education and the rapid development and transfer of photonics technologies into a wide range of applications. The network we envision will contain universities, companies, professional societies, trade associations, and economic development organizations. I would like to include your company as a supporter of our proposal and as a participant in the network the program will build if we are successful in obtaining funding.
The funding from NSF for the PFI program is quite modest, so there would be no funding available in our proposal for your company. However, no funding from your company to UCF or the program will be required -- your contribution will be "in-kind" to the degree that the program supports your organization's objectives unless you would want to make a cash donation to the work of the project.
What I do ask that you consider is writing a letter of support for our proposal indicating your willingness to participate as a participant in the network that the proposed program will create. The schedule we are working to is as follows:
- Letter of Intent to NSF -- Oct 31, 2008
- Final proposal to NSF -- Dec. 31, 2008
All I need at this time is a letter or email from you indicating your willingness to support our proposal. If you can support us, I will provide you more information on exactly what we are proposing so that you can write a customized letter of support to go in the proposal.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of my request. I look forward to hearing from you.
Executive Director, Florida Photonics Cluster
Director, Research & Admin,
CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics
& Special Asst. to the VP for ResearchUniversity of Central Florida
CREOL: (407)823-6858
Alt office: (678)455-3459
Cell: (407)451-2199
jpearson@creol.ucf.edu
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