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INTPART-International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research

HSN, NCE-MNT, SFI-CIUS US-Norway Collaboration on Ultrasound Technology and Harsh Environment Sensor

Alternative title: USA-Norge samarbeid på ultralydteknologi og sensorer for krevende miljøer

Awarded: NOK 2.7 mill.

The INCoNUS project is a Norwegian-US partnership project to develop world-class education and promote research within the fields of ultrasound tranducer technology and sensors for harsh environments. The partners are:University Colege of Southeast Norway(HSN)/University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Norwegian Centres of Expertise Micro- and Nanotechnology (NCE MNT, Centres for Research-based Innovation Center for Innovative Ultrasound Solutions (SFI CIUS), University of Illinois at Chicago(UiC) and the Ultrasound Transducer Research Center (UTRC), at University of Southern California (USC). The project has helped to increase the extent and enhance the quality and relevance of the scientific cooperation between the partners, in particular by establishing strong ties between education, research and industry. During the period from March 2016 up to June 2019 the following activities have taken place: a. Kick-off visit to UTRC at Un of Southern California and AMFG at University of Illinois at Chicago by HSN project group in March 2016 b. Visit from AMFG to HSN in May 2016 c. Visit from UTCR to HSN in June 2016 d. Two exchange master students from HSN to UTRC in January 2016 for 3 months exchange stay. HSN supervisor visiting UTRC in March 2017. e. One exchange master student from HSN to AMFG in February 2016 for 3 months exchange stay. HSN supervisor visiting AFMG in June 2017. f. Visit from UIC AMFG to HSN in June 2017. g. The exchange student visiting AMFG offered and accepted a PhD student position at UIC AMFG in August 2017. h. Visit from UIC AMFG to HSN in October 2017. i. Visit from HSN to UIC AMFG Workshop in October 2017. j. One faculty 1 year exchange from USN to UIC AMFG started January 2018 and finished December 2018. k. One PhD student from USN on a 3 month exchange from USN to UIC AMFG started June 2018 until September 2018. l. One professor from USN had one year exchange stay at USC from June 2018 until May 2019. m. One professor from USC on a one week exchange visit in June 2019.

The exchanges have been successfully implemented

Buskerud and Vestfold University College (HBV) vision and strategy is to be highly competitive internationally within micro- and nanotechnology education and research in close collaboration with its industry partners and international centres of excellence. HBV has world-class research groups within micro- and nanosystems technology, focusing on applied and industry-relevant research. HBV also offers studies within micro- and nanosystem technology at BSc, MSc and PhD level. Located at campus Vestfold is NCE Micro- and Nanotechnology (MNT), an industrial cluster centred on the production of ICT systems, microsystems and the usage of micro- and nanotechnology. Recently the SFI "Center for innovative ultrasound solutions for health care, maritime, and oil & gas industries" (CIUS) was formed, in which HBV will join forces and explore synergies between academia and industry using ultrasound technology for different applications. For HBV, NCE MNT and SFI CIUS ultrasonic imaging transducer technology and MNT based sensors and actuators are important, established and focused R&D areas. On this basis HBV, together with NCE MNT and SFI CIUS, wants to develop world-class education and research with Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC), at University of California at Berkeley and the Ultrasound Transducer Research Center,UTRC, University of Southern California, two well recognized research institutions in USA. In this project, activities in higher education are focused towards improving the quality and attractiveness of the education by expanded and improved curriculums, and with student and faculty exchanges. Within the project period, we will stimulate to establish joint R&D projects together with associated enterprises in NCE MNT and in CIUS. We will also promote the project in the international scientific communities in ultrasound technology and MNT for harsh environment to attract both talented students and highly qualified international experts.

Funding scheme:

INTPART-International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research