Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.46
Liaison Paul Mathisen
Submission Date May 22, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
IN-27: Innovation D

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Paul Mathisen
Dir. of Sustainability & Assoc. Prof
Civil & Environmental Engineering
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Laboratory for Education & Application Prototypes (LEAP @ WPI/QCC

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

Part of the national American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) and funded through the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), the LEAP @ WPI/QCC supports the integrated photonics manufacturing sector in central Massachusetts through an open-access facility and service center model. Photonics involves the transmission and processing of information using light (photons) instead of electricity (electrons). Photonic devices are often faster, use less power, and can be made at smaller scales than electronic ones. This creates opportunities to develop new and better sensors,
imaging technologies, medical diagnostics, and more. These technologies are receiving increased attention as critical technologies in sustainable manufacturing, and their role is considered to be essential for a sustainable future. While photonics is already applied widely in communications, computing, healthcare, and other industries, the field has the potential to usher in a new era in the Information Age. LEAP@WPI/QCC expects to make next big breakthrough by providing infrastructure, and expertise to enable internal and external users to explore materials, components and systems that can interface with integrated photonics. The facilities include separate laboratories for photonic integrated circuit fabrication and functionalization, wafer/die/chip prototyping, and testing and characterization. The facilities include 750 square feet of active learning classroom/lab for courses, workforce training and outreach activities. The classroom has computers with software for simulation and design of photonic integrated circuits and other system design components.Researchers in multiple disciplines at WPI and QCC, in collaboration with several strategic partners, use these facilities to design and test prototypes of PICs (photonic integrated circuits) and systems that emerge from interdisciplinary research in such areas as health and biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and robotics and cyberphysical systems.


Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Research
Public Engagement
Energy

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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