Two bits of news in the past week should give disciples of academic cooperation some encouragement:
University of Wisconsin campuses in Madison and Milwaukee announced a $300,000 grant program designed to encourage intercampus research. Either campus could take the lead on a project, but at least 25% of the work would have to be done at the other school.
The Madison campus, meanwhile, is cooperating with two Wisconsin manufacturers to develop stronger and lighter metals using nanotechnology. Oshkosh Corp. and Eck Industries of Manitowoc are partners with UW-Madison in a five-year research project. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has given the project $5 million. According to an article by the Journal Sentinelâ??s Rick Barrett, the market for nanotech products will reach $1 trillion by 2015.