Fluid Power Group Makes First Cut in Bid for NSF Funding

March 7, 2005

The good news at this year’s National Design Engineering Show and subsequent ConExpo event is that the fluid power industry may be on the verge of getting a major research boost. Last week, an influential group of institutions said they are now a step closer to creating the “Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power.” The group, which includes the University of Minnesota, Georgia Institute of Technology, Purdue University, the University of Illinois, Vanderbilt University and the National Fluid Power Association, pitched a funding proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in February. Last week, they learned that their pitch was one of 30 proposals (out of 109 total entrants) that has been made “the first cut” and is being earmarked for further review.

If the group is successful, their effort would represent a subtle change in government funding of technology in this country. Unlike Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom, where government alliances with industry are common, U.S. funding agencies have often had uneasy relationships with industry.

Members of the fluid power industry, however, are optimistic that business-as-usual will change in this case. If NSF provides aid to the new center, it could change the future for the U.S. fluid power industry.

“We’ve lost some industries – steel and machine tools – that could have been saved,” says Kim Stelson, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota, who helped write the group’s proposal to NSF. “We want to change that here.”

Stelson adds that even if the group fails to receive NSF funding, it might continue on a private basis. “If the government doesn’t kick in, we might re-group and try to do it ourselves,” Stelson says.

The group of institutions plans to submit a final proposal to NSF by mid-June, and, if successful, could ultimately be targeted for funding by July 1, 2006.

–Charles J. Murray

Posted by Staff Staff on March 7, 2005 | Comments (2)

May 21, 2006

In response to: Fluid Power Group Makes First Cut in Bid for NSF Funding
Alisher commented:

Here it is possible

March 20, 2006

In response to: Fluid Power Group Makes First Cut in Bid for NSF Funding
Bud Trinkel commented:

Sure is a typical Fluid Power forum to say the least.

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