Our History
In 2018 NU established Northeastern SMART (https://youtu.be/CDv6RQGCZUA), a university research center that, by fostering partnership between university, industry and government stakeholders, focused on the discovery, pilot manufacturing and rapid transition of new micro and nano systems technologies that are foundational for emerging paradigms like zero-power sensing, 5G/6G communications, artificial intelligence, quantum information science and nanomedicine. Northeastern SMART relied on an interdisciplinary, collaborative and strongly interactive team consisting of 15 core faculty and over 100 researchers (graduate students and research staff).
The center had been funded through over $20M per year in federal and industry funding and it is home to leading national programs supported by DARPA, ARPA-E, DoD, DHS and NSF in RF and mmWave devices and systems, ultra-low power sensors, advanced functional materials, nano photonics and quantum devices and systems, medical devices. Northeastern SMART had access to unique experimental capabilities including a 5,000 sf class 10 and 100 cleanroom and over 5,000 sf of laboratory space with state-of-the-art electrical, mechanical and optical testing capabilities for micro and nano systems and RF, mmWave ant THz devices and systems. Northeastern SMART had also recently deployed the nation’s only 8-inch academic R&D line for piezoelectric micro and nano systems. Furthermore, Northeastern SMART was supported by a vibrant industry consortium with $2M in membership fees to date.
East Coast Facilities
- 14-acre hub dedicated to innovative research and entrepreneurship
- University students work hands-on alongside experienced and well-educated faculty members and professionals within various industries, government agencies, and academia
- The campus, located on Boston’s Route 128 high-tech corridor, accelerates innovation and discovery in emerging fields, from nano and quantum technologies to cybersecurity and nanomedicine
- New 20,000 square foot cleanroom planned in Building VI
West Coast Facilities
- 135 acre campus nestled in the Oakland hills
- SF Bay Area location enables close collaboration with Silicon Valley industry leaders, US National Labs (LBNL, LLNL, Sandia), and other universities
- Leverages existing university cleanroom facilities at UC Berkeley & Stanford
- SF Bay Area is home to numerous startup incubators and VC funds