Clarkson's CAMP boosts state's economy

POTSDAM — In the past decade, a research arm of Clarkson University has pumped $275 million into the state's economy.

Each year for the past two, the Center for Advanced Materials Processing has received $6 million to $7 million in funding for research that has contributed about $30 million to the economy.

"That's been constant, but it's important to remember that a lot of the companies have not done well in recent years," Center Director Suryadevara V. Babu said. "The stocks and companies have gone down. In spite of that, we have been able to maintain that."

The center, also known as CAMP, researches and develops nanomaterials, colloid chemistry, chemical-mechanical planarization and particle synthesis. The results of that research improve manufacturing efficiency, processes and new products ranging from better microchips to less expensive and more environmentally friendly building materials.

The projects also have helped to create 180 jobs and retain 20 more during the same period, according to the university.

At least some of those jobs and technologies have been located in and around Potsdam. Through a partnership with CITEC Manufacturing Solutions, Potsdam, CAMP helped create a more sustainable, less expensive form of concrete using glass shavings from Potters Industries with Woodruff Block, both of Potsdam.

"Working with us saves the company money," said Mr. Babu, who has been CAMP director since 1999. "The students are not as expensive as private engineers. We can try a lot more and, if it doesn't work out, abandon it very quickly."

CAMP itself has created dozens of jobs for students, as well. Thirty Clarkson faculty members are affiliated with the center, and 50 to 60 graduate and postdoctoral students work there. An additional 20 to 30 undergraduates are employed over the summer on research projects with faculty.

It is not only companies in New York that come to CAMP for the latest research; companies from across the country, as well as in Europe, Japan and China, work with Clarkson.

"Imagine, a small place like this," the director said. "These companies can go anywhere in the world, but they come here to work with us."

The benefit to the partnerships with government agencies and private companies is that the research going on at CAMP does not languish in the university. Instead, developments are applied immediately within industry because those industries are the ones footing the bill.

"It's easy to stay in your lab in the ivory tower. That's not the case here," Mr. Babu said. "We have people who are working for tomorrow and people who are working for 10 years from now."