Industry

Our NSF-PIRE research and educational programs, such as NanoJapan, are strengthened by collaborations with industry. If your company or organization would like to learn more about opportunities to collaborate with our NSF-PIRE researchers or educational programs please email nanojapan@rice.edu.

Current Industry Collaborations
Become Involved - Research
Become Involved - Education Programs
Become Involved - Alumni Internship & Recruitment
Become Involved - ECE Affiliates Program
Become Involved - Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship


STS Elionix - Tokyo, Japan
STS Elionix has been a partner of the NanoJapan program since 2008 when they first hosted a Company Visit & Tour for the NanoJapan 2008 Orientation Program and the 2009 Orientation Program. Program participants received an introduction to STS Elionix and a tour of their research facilities. This relationship was further expanded in 2009 when STS Elionix agreed to be a host for the NanoJapan Alumni Internship Program. During this internship, the student will learn the intricacies of fabricating nanodevices using electron beam lithography (EBL), as well as gaining insight into the manufacturing of these systems. “We view this internship as a win-win situation”, says Ken Koseki, Elionix Overseas Marketing Director, “The student gains the cultural and educational perspective of how a Japanese high tech company operates, while we in turn establish a mutual friendship that will last over the student’s professional career in the nanotechnology field.”

Elionix has been manufacturing electron beam lithography systems for over 30 years. Their EBL systems have the largest market share throughout Asia, and they are able to routinely write patterns with line widths of 5 nanometers. Elionix continues to strive for innovation and develop excellent products to meet the high appraisal of its customers. “Forming close partnerships with our clients, bonded by great trust, have allowed Elionix to thrive throughout the years,” says Koseki, “We look forward to this same partnership with NanoJapan.”

Texas Instruments
Since the program's inception in 2006 Texas Instruments has generously donated funds to support the NanoJapan Poster Presentation Prize at the Rice Quantum Institute Summer Research Colloquium. Awarded to the top two NanoJapan student poster presentations these prizes acknowledge the high-level of research students are able to pursue through the NanoJapan International Research Experience for Undergraduates.

PBXL - Tokyo, Japan
PBXL has been a close partner of Rice University and the NanoJapan program by hosting a number of undergraduate internships with their company in Tokyo. In 2009 PBXL formally became a partner of the NanoJapan Alumni Internship Program and is hosting one student through this program during the summer of 2009. PBXL is a start-up telecommunications/PBX hosting company, co-founded by a Rice alumnus, Jim Weisser '91.

Become Involved - Research
Our program seeks new and innovative research collaborations with industry within the research areas of optical and electronic properties of semiconductor quantum structures and single-walled carbon nanotubes for understanding the states and dynamics of quantum-confined carriers as well as for exploring novel photonic and electronic device applications based on these nanosystems. If you would like to learn more about our Current Research and opportunities for collaboration please email Prof. Junichiro Kono at kono@rice.edu.

Become Involved - Education Programs
The NSF-PIRE program seeks to closely integrate cutting-edge research with educational opportunities for U.S. undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students. Our NanoJapan program provides summer research internships with leading nanotechnology laboratories in Japan for students from universities nationwide and seeks to contribute to the development of a generation of globally-competent engineers and scientists. Opportunities for collaborations and support of our educational programs include:

NanoJapan Site Visits: As part of the three-week Orientation program in Tokyo students participate in an Introduction to Nanotechnology seminar that includes site visits to engineering, science, and nanotechnology firms in the Tokyo-area. If your company would like to host the NanoJapan program please email nanojapan@rice.edu.
Recommended Support Level: In Kind Support

Student Sponsorship: NSF-PIRE funding enables our program to select 16 undergraduate students each year to participate in NanoJapan. However, with additional funding and support we could easily accommodate and find research lab placements for up to 20 students. If your company is interested in providing funding to support additional student participation in NanoJapan please email nanojapan@rice.edu.
Recommended Support Level: $10,000 per additional student.

Poster Prizes: At the end of their summer international research experience all NanoJapan participants return to Rice University and present posters on their research projects at the Rice Quantum Institute Summer Research Colloquium. We seek industry support and sponsorship for Best Poster Prizes for the top NanoJapan research projects presentations. Recommended Support Level: $750 - $1,000.

Student Travel Grants: Companies can further support the educational and professional development of NanoJapan students by contributing to our Student Travel Grant fund. These funds will provide travel scholarships for NanoJapan Alumni to present on their summer research projects at topical research conferences such as APS, SPIE, etc.
Recommended Support Level: $500 - $1,000 per student

Become Involved - Alumni Internship & Recruitment
The NanoJapan Alumni Internship Program began in the Summer of 2009 with two companies, STS Elionix and PBXL, agreeing to host students for short-term professional internships in Japan. We are currently seeking additional companies or organizations in Japan or the US who would like to work with us to develop professional internship opportunities for NanoJapan undergraduate and graduate alumni.

If you are a company in Japan who would like to learn more about our Alumni Internship Program please contact Ms. Keiko Packard at +81 90-7699-0699 or keiko@epackard.com.

If you are a company in the U.S. who would like to learn more about our Alumni Internship program please contact the NanoJapan program at (713) 348-6362 or nanojapan@rice.edu.

NanoJapan participants, both undergraduate and graduate students, represent the best and brightest engineering students from universities nationwide and your company may be interested in our Alumni Recruitment Program. NanoJapan alumni have received NSF Graduate Fellowships, US Fulbright Grants, and are currently enrolled as PhD candidates at universities throughout the US. For more information on our alumni see our Student Profiles, Student Achievements page and our Where Are They Now pages.

If your organization is interested in recruiting students from this program for internship or career opportunities please contact nanojapan@rice.edu.

Become Involved - ECE Affiliates Program
The Rice University Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering actively works with companies in a variety of innovative ways to shape the future of technology and address real world challenges to industry. We encourage companies that are interested in exploring or expanding specific research areas to sponsor a research grant or contract, and support the career development of students. Through our Affiliates Program, ECE faculty and staff members collaborate with many companies on research projects from conceptualization through completion, developing a well-defined milestones and deliverables. Companies can conduct research in emerging technologies without making the major investment required for operating a major internal research program. We encourage ongoing dialogue, technical exchanges, status reviews, and joint participation among Rice researchers, students, engineers, and student programs like NanoJapan. There are many opportunities to establish and build relationships with ECE. For more information about how to join the ECE Affiliates Program, please contact us at mshoward@rice.edu and indicate that you were referred by the NanoJapan program.

Become Involved - Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship is Rice University's flagship initiative devoted to the support of technology entrepreneurship including the Nanotechnology Venture Forum.

The mission of the Rice Alliance is to support the creation of technology-based companies and the commercialization of new technologies in the Houston community and Southwest.

Since its inception in 1999, the Rice Alliance has assisted in the launch over 225 new technology companies. Rice Alliance companies have raised more than $500 million in early stage funding. Over 600 early-stage technology companies have benefited from participation in Rice Alliance programs as either a presenter or technology showcase company.

The Rice Alliance vision is simple but grand: to help establish Houston as a leading technology and entrepreneurship center in the United States. We want Rice to play the leadership role that Stanford has played in Silicon Valley.

The Rice Alliance provides a collaborative network and forum for support, education, and exchange of ideas. It provides entrepreneurs access to the human and financial capital needed for success. Over the past 6 years, the Rice Alliance has conducted over 90 programs attended by over 22,000 individuals. Over 20,000 individuals subscribe to the Rice Alliance Digest newsletter.