Office of University Communications
Bank of America Charitable Foundation awards $125,000 grant to JVIC
University officials also provide construction updates, detail new federal funding
Date: January 23, 2008
Contact: Dr. Ryan Giedd
(417) 836-5279
“In a relatively short period of time, JVIC has spawned redevelopment efforts in our community,” said Michael Homeyer, Springfield president for Bank of America. “To compete effectively, we must look to new economic drivers and Missouri State University has done that by creating this lab. Bank of America is proud to support a cutting edge endeavor that will benefit our community for years to come.”
The new laboratory – one of only a limited number of such labs in the country – will allow corporate and academic scientists to work side-by-side to develop state-of-the-art nanotechnologies that can see beyond the human senses, said Dr. Ryan Giedd, JVIC’s executive director. For example, JVIC scientists are developing defense and homeland security technologies that can “see” heat, radio or microwave energy – much like some insects and snakes can sense mammals by their “warm-blooded” heat.
The work performed in this lab will add to continued economic development spurred by JVIC, which occupies the former Missouri Farmers Association milling facility in downtown Springfield. JVIC houses the university’s Center for Applied Science and Engineering (CASE), the Center for Biological and Life Sciences (CBLS), Springfield Innovation, Inc., the nonprofit arm of the center, and offices and research space for JVIC senior corporate affiliates.
The capabilities of the center include applied research in nanotechnology, bio-materials, advanced technologies, genomics/proteomics, bio-systems, software engineering and medical material device and instrument technologies. Through the center, students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty and corporate scientists.
“Bank of America recognizes the importance and role of applied and basic research in economic development,” said Dr. Jim Baker, Missouri State’s vice president for research and economic development. “We are very grateful for Bank of America’s support. This is the lead gift that will hopefully stimulate other companies to invest in the research enterprise of JVIC.”
Giedd explained that the combination of corporate gifts and federal funding are vital to JVIC’s continued success.
As part of Wednesday’s events, JVIC officials also announced that they – in conjunction with corporate affiliate Nantero – have received $6 million from the federal government for the development of carbon nanotube-based radiation hard non-volatile RAM. Giedd explained that this funding will allow continued development of circuits capable of operating in multiple environments.
Additionally, Giedd said that corporate affiliate St. Louis-based Crosslink has committed to building out the third floor, which is expected to cost approximately $650,000. That amount includes both construction and equipment costs.
More information about JVIC can be found at http://jvic.missouristate.edu.
Missouri State University
Missouri State University is a public, comprehensive university system with a mission in public affairs, whose purpose is to develop educated persons. The University is committed to achieving five major goals: democratizing society, incubating new ideas, imagining Missouri’s future, making Missouri’s future, and modeling ethical and effective behavior as a public institution.
Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, Bank of America is in its fourth year of achieving an unprecedented 10-year goal to donate $1.5 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will give more than $225 million in 2008, making the bank the most generous financial institution in the world and the second largest donor of all U.S. corporations in cash contributions. Bank of America approaches giving through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Through Team Bank of America, bank associate volunteers contributed more than 650,000 hours in 2007 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.