Innovation

June 02, 2008 | Year 3 | Number 25

A way of life

By Jaime Parada

The Center for Innovation, Research and Development in Engineering and Technology (CIIDIT) is a true reflection of the PIIT’s vocation, since it will generate, apply, and spread knowledge in the fields that are essential for the promotion of the changes our country requires.

Through this center, the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon is now integrated into one of the strategic projects of the Government of Nuevo Leon.  This administration has invested about 800 million pesos in the Research and Technology Innovation Park.

An additional investment of 2.5 billion pesos will be applied to the Park in the next three years.  At the end of this period there will be 30 public, academic and private institutions in operation with approximately 3,500 scientists and technologists working there.

This park is a clear example of Mexico’s capacity to conceive and execute ambitious and visionary projects when the academia, the government, and the productive sector work together.  We have the capacity to create better-paid jobs, design and produce goods and services with high-value added, as well as promote competitiveness and growth in the productive sector via innovation.

This is only possible if there is appropriate leadership and enthusiastic support.  In our case, this is provided by the Governor, University Presidents, Directors of Research Centers and Entrepreneurs.

The Water Institute, the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), the Engineering and Industrial Development Center (Cidesi), the Center for Research of Advanced Materials (Cimav), and CIIDIT are already in operation.

There is also space reserved for Monterrey Tech, the Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design of the State of Jalisco (Ciatej), the Mathematics Research Center (Cimat), the University of Arizona, and the University of Texas.

On the private sector side, the building that will house the 42 companies of the Monterrey IT Cluster is under construction.  The cluster will provide jobs for more than 1,000 engineers.

By working in unity, we seek to position Monterrey as an internationally competitive city.  Our most valuable asset is the entrepreneurial capacity and the talent of our people.

[-] Back

UANL COMES TO THE PIIT WITH AVANT-GARDE TECHNOLOGY

The Center for Innovation, Research and Development in Engineering and Technology (CIIDIT) operates with labs that set the trend in Latin America.

The Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL) is the only academic institution in Latin America which has a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with a 0.85-angstrom resolution.

In order to have an idea of what this means, let us remember that one angstrom is a unit of length equivalent to one tenth of one billionth of a meter. 

Therefore, the SEM is capable of characterizing the structure of a sample and determining its chemical composition to the level of just a few nanometers (nm).

This equipment is part of the Electron Microscopy Lab of the Center for Innovation Research and Development in Engineering and Technology (CIIDIT), which is part of the UANL’s R&D infrastructure.

The new multidisciplinary center, inaugurated on May 13 at the Research and Technology Innovation Park, will generate and apply avant-garde knowledge in Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, Mechatronics, and Software Engineering.

“With the opening of CIIDIT, where 50 researchers will work in the initial stage, the UANL is now participating in the efforts to consolidate Monterrey as an International City of Knowledge,” stated Ubaldo Ortiz-Mendez, Academic Secretary of the prestigious university. 

“We will be able to have up to 100 researchers and now have the capacity to receive up to 500 doctoral students.  We are also interested in attracting those who are working on their research or postdoctoral theses,” he explained.

Through this center, the UANL will establish links with micro, small, and medium-sized industries in the region to offer them technological and research services, as well as qualified human resources trained at the Center of Administration and diffusion of Knowledge.

The new center located at the PIIT, which was inaugurated by President Felipe Calderon, Governor Jose Natividad Gonzalez-Paras, and UANL President Jose Antonio Gonzalez-Treviño, represents an investment of 180 million pesos.

“The CIIDIT is a plus for the research infrastructure that already exists in the various departments of the University.  In addition, we will develop synergy with the CIMAV to create the nanotechnology cluster, and with the CIDESI for the development of prototypes,” indicated Ortiz-Mendez.

UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY
In a 7710-square meter floor area, CIIDIT houses systems and equipment which are unique in Latin America.  One example is the Nanotechnology Lab, which has the Nanosys 500 to synthesize nanoparticles between 0.7 and 20 nanometers.  We are talking about particles that are virtually invisible, since one nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter.

This equipment is used in the Biomedicine field for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, a metal with antibacterial properties that could be used to develop treatments against the AIDS virus.

This lab also has the Laser Ablation system which generates ultrafast pulses with approximately 300 megawatts of energy, capable of evaporating and synthesizing metals, semiconductors, and hard materials.

Another innovation is the Class 100 Clean Room.  It receives that name because there is a maximum of 100 0.5-micron particles per cubic foot of air.  “In this room, the third one of its type in Mexico, there is a very precise control of temperature and moisture,” explained Ortiz-Mendez.

One of the most impressive areas is the Mechatronics Lab.  They have humanoids for the study and reproduction of human movement; robots controlled via internet for remote applications; and drones, which are unmanned aircraft including helicopters, airplanes, and airships that can be used for surveillance, assistance, and security.

GLOBAL LINKS
CIIDIT will promote the internationalization of the UANL through agreements with institutions of worldwide prestige.

As a fruit of the agreement signed with Dassault Systèmes and France’s Ministry of Education, a computer-aided design laboratory focusing on automotive and aeronautics industries was established at CIIDIT.  It is the first of its kind in Mexico and the fourth in the world.

There is also an agreement with the University of Texas in Austin for the operation of the Center for Global Business Innovation, which will support students, professors, and researchers in the generation of ideas that will be transformed into high-tech businesses. 

Furthermore, the Center will also offer training on business incubator management, undertaking [emprendimiento] and technology transfer.

On its part, the International Center for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, which is part of the University of Texas in San Antonio, has an office at CIIDIT to promote the creation of networks of researchers and organize training programs at both institutions’ labs.  At the same time, it will promote the participation of industries both in Mexico and in Texas.

As part of its linking actions, the UANL will carry out projects in collaboration with companies such as Ternium, Metalsa, Nemak, Peñoles, Vitro, Whirlpool, and CFE.

[-] Back

DEVELOPING PROJECTS

NANOTECHNOLOGY

1. Interaction of silver nano-particles with HIV-1 (destruction of sick cells).
2. Conductive paramagnetic nanoparticles, core-shell type (purifying of waste water).
3. Magnetite nanoparticles in quilosan (systems for localized delivery of medication and positioning of nanoparticles in a specific area of the body).
4. Titanium-Nickel alloy nano-particles (electric and/or thermal activators).

MECHATRONICS

1. Autotronics:  Control for opening and closing of doors and windows, windshield wipers, etc.; electronic system for breaking, driving, ignition, lights, etc.
2. Domotics:  Access monitoring and automation of buildings, such as auditoriums, homes, etc.; motorizing of doors, windows, and blinds.
3. Drones (unmanned aircraft):  Control and prevention of fires and rescue operations; vehicle traffic and public safety.
4. Biomechatronics:  Electric chairs, prosthesis, monitoring of vital signs.
5. Design and construction of prototypes.

ADVANCED MATERIALS

1. Conjugated aldolic polymers (for applications in photo-electronic devices).
2. Hybrid composite of polyester-montmorillonite resin (improved mechanical properties at a lower cost).
3. Suspension of carbon nano-fibers with electrorheologic properties (sensors, actuators, MEMS and NEMS).
4. Luminescent polymers with self-assembly properties (biosensors).

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

1. Data Mining:  Methods and tools for automatic processing of large amounts of data used for the identification of patterns and regularities.
2. Embedded computation:  Integrated systems where computation takes place in an electronic device which is not a traditional computer.
3. Mobile and touch usability:  Evaluation and development of user interfaces in electronic devices such as cellular phones and touch screens.
4. Molecular Dynamics:  Simulation of behavior of materials at atomic level.
5. Computer aided design.

[-] Back

FUTURE EVENTS

JUNE 5-7
Certificate Course on TRIZ Innovation
Radisson Casa Grande Hotel
San Pedro Garza García
Contact: cTII Training    PHONE: 1365-0860
E-mail: innovacion@ctii.com.mx
Contact: Marta Gonzalez     PHONE: 8625-9131
E-mail: mgonzalez@coparmexnl.gob.mx

[+] Download Innovation PDF (in spanish)

Print | Send e-mail | Download Acrobat Reader | Download Flash Player

© Copyright Nuevo Leon State Government. The logo and the name “Monterrey, International City of Knowledge” are registered trademarks with the Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property.