A significant part of Vermont's manufacturing base depends on advanced materials technology. By way of example, advancement in the micro-electronics industry depends on creating patterns of smaller and smaller dimensions using materials with suitable electrical properties. In addition, the integrity of such materials patterns and suitable methods to analyze and test whether the required
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integrity has been achieved are also important characteristics.
Likewise, Vermont's traditional industries depend on a constant infusion of new material skills, the application of new synthetic materials to achieve special physical or chemical characteristics, and obtaining special knowledge for electrically active materials for the purpose of sensing and obtaining required surface properties.
Vermont's academic institutions have acquired considerable knowledge and expertise in several of these fields. The Advanced Materials Science cluster of the Vermont EPSCoR program is working to increase the competitiveness of Vermont's materials scientists, through cooperation between various departments and institutions under the EPSCoR umbrella.
In addition, knowledge in sensor materials, surface deposition of thin layers of insulators and conductors, the tailoring of organic materials to meet special requirements, and the modeling of materials characteristics are all skills potentially of great value to Vermont manufacturing industry.
Within this context, the Vermont Technology Council believes there is the potential to develop a resource in advanced materials science around which current Vermont businesses can be nurtured and future business and, thus, job opportunities might evolve.
The Council proposes to establish a committee to research the potential opportunities of this important field and develop recommendations related to the feasibility of establishing an Advanced Materials Center. Further, if appropriate, the committee will be asked to define:
1. Existing areas with depth and breadth of intellectual resources in advanced materials.
2. Needs or areas that need additional resources or expertise in order to establish an Advanced Materials Center.
3. Specific areas of advanced materials science where Vermont has a reasonable potential to develop a viable business opportunity.
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