USC, Westinghouse Savannah River Company sign research collaboration agreement

The University of South Carolina and Westinghouse Savannah River Company signed a strategic memorandum of understanding March 30 that will allow the two institutions to share resources and to expand significantly on past collaborative research, joint funding proposals, exchange of researchers, and teaching activities. Researchers, students and South Carolina's economy are likely to reap big benefits as a result, officials say. In the agreement, signed by USC President Andrew A. Sorensen and G. Todd Wright, director of WSRC's Savannah River Technology Center, the research organizations pledge to develop a strong research partnership program in a number of targeted areas, including hydrogen research, fuel cells, bio-defense, and environmental research. These targeted areas build on existing complementary strengths at USC and SRTC. The Savannah River Technology Center is the applied research and development laboratory for the Savannah River Site. "This collaboration will bring together scientists and engineers from two of the nation's leading research institutions to develop answers to some of the country's toughest technological challenges," Sorensen said. "This is another example of how a research university can establish partnerships with industry for the good of South Carolina and the nation." "We are excited to announce this MOU with USC," Wright said. "By combining our resources, we will be able to expand opportunities for collaborative research and the advancement of educational opportunities. This MOU formalizes the already excellent joint-research efforts already under way between USC and SRTC." USC and WSRC have worked together closely before on hydrogen storage and fuel-cell research. In 2002, USC and WSRC signed an agreement that called for collaborative research and development in the area of hydrogen technology, including energy applications and development of hydrogen fuel-cell technology for transportation, electric power, and portable power applications. In 2003, the National Science Foundation selected USC as the site of an NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Fuel Cells. WSRC leads a team that manages the Savannah River Site for the U.S. Department of Energy. 03/04