Not many people have the expertise it takes to build massive x-ray microscopes or particle colliders, you know? But we’re all about sharing the goods. In fact, we encourage universities and private companies to use our facilities to develop new technology.
The glowing vacuum chamber above was built at our National Synchrotron Light Source by the communications pioneers at Bell Labs to explore the structural and electronic properties of different materials.
Here’s how one IBM (ibmblr) researcher described similar collaborative work that led to new equipment and experimental techniques:
User facilities like the NSLS—and down the road NSLS-II—are unique extensions of the research tools we have at IBM. Also, because IBM does more applied work, we like to collaborate with many people from other institutions who get down to fundamental materials studies.
The return on IBM’s investment has been so valuable. This has been a great example of government-industry cooperation: we provide the beamlines and the government provides the photons!