Rockwell Collins invests in nanostructures facility at Canadian Light Source

Saskatoon, SK – Rockwell Collins says it has become the first international aerospace company to invest in the Canadian Light Source (CLS), Canada’s first synchrotron research facility owned by the University of Saskatchewan.

Rockwell Collins Canada has provided $315,000 to the University of Saskatchewan, an initial investment for use in the Canadian Synchrotron nanostructures facility at the CLS. The investment in CLS is part of Rockwell Collins’ fulfillment of a substantial, country-wide Industrial Regional Benefits (IRB) commitment to the federal government.

“World-class research in the CLS nanostructures beamline will speed development of the next generation of advanced communications and avionics systems,” says Kevin Ferguson, general manager of Rockwell Collins Canada. “We’re making this investment because Rockwell Collins recognizes that this kind of cutting-edge research is crucial to competitiveness and technology leadership.”

“This investment supports one of our goals of being a research facility that spawns innovation and practical applications for our industrial and commercial partners,” says Dr Bill Thomlinson, executive director of CLS. “The relationship with Rockwell Collins is an important contribution to the CLS business plan, which calls for 25% of beamline capacity to be used for industrial applications.”

Through the power of the synchrotron’s brilliant light (millions of times brighter than sunlight), the nanostructures beamline will be used as a step in the manufacture of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanostructures (billionths of a metre). This micro/nano research has potential applications for creation of extremely small and highly powerful communications devices, including new optics and wireless systems.

Canada Light Source’s official opening is being held on October 22, 2004.