A team of six universities including North Carolina State University has been awarded a landmark contract to work with NASA's Langley Research Center and create a new, world-class aerospace research institute.

The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) will be an independent, nonprofit entity located near Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The institute will fund research, outreach activities and educational programs on the team's home campuses, as well as at the Hampton site.

The contract could be worth as much as $379 million in NASA funding over 15 years, with additional funding possibly coming from industry or other government agencies hoping to fund institute programs or piggyback on its success.

"This is huge. It will have a major impact on NC State and on the growth of the aerospace industry in North Carolina. It's going to make aerospace technology an economic thrust for our state, and be a catalyst for economic development," said Dr. Mohammed Noori, professor and head of mechanical and aerospace engineering, who will serve on NIA's board of directors. One of the primary goals of the new institute is to stimulate the commercialization of intellectual property and facilitate the growth of new business opportunities, he explains.

The new institute will have an equally big impact on students, says Dr. Nino Masnari, dean of the College of Engineering. Master's and doctoral degrees will be offered by NC State and its NIA partners through distance education and on-site instruction, giving students unparalleled access to cutting-edge research and instruction at NASA and the member
institutions. "The economic and educational benefits will extend far beyond our campus borders," Masnari said.

Other universities partnering with NC State to form NIA are North Carolina A&T State University, Georgia Tech, the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. They are joined by the nonprofit American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation. The seven partners have formed a new, nonprofit consortium, the National Institute of Aerospace Associates, to run the institute.

Last year, NASA officials launched a nationwide search for university and nonprofit partners to operate the institute, which they envisioned as a new type of center, where researchers from government, academia and industry could work together to conduct aerospace research, develop new technologies and educate and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Competition for the contract was intense.

"We competed against the nation's best, and we won," Noori said.

"It is gratifying but not surprising that NASA selected our proposal," said Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. "When you think of innovative partnerships and world-class science and engineering programs, you naturally think of NC State and these six partners."

NIA funding will be used to support research, teaching and technology transfer activities in numerous fields important to aerospace technology, including aerothermodynamics and acoustics; atmospheric and vehicle sensors systems technology; structures and materials; and atmospheric chemistry and radiation systems. NC State is the lead institution on these latter two.

The research could also have a big impact on supersonic and hypersonic aircraft design and technology; air traffic safety; and on emerging fields like biologically inspired, nano-structured adaptive-controlled materials and morphed concepts.

The seven-member consortium running NIA will encourage participation by other universities and research laboratories.

Several corporations have signed on as industry partners, and NIA officials expect more. Those that have signed on already include: Goodrich, Lockheed, Ball, Pratt & Whitney, Phoenix, Orbital Sciences, Gulfstream, Horne, Swales and Atlantic Research Corp.

Posted September 27, 2002

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