SBU is the Only Institution in New York State With Two Centers for Advanced
Technology
Stony Brook is the only institution in New York with two State-designated
Centers for Advanced Technology, one of the earliest initiatives by any
state to encourage industry-university collaboration in research, education
and technology transfer, with a strong focus on helping New York businesses
gain a technological edge on their competition.
In 1983, Stony Brook was one of New York’s first seven institutions to receive a CAT designation, as the New York State Center of Advanced Technology for Medical Biotechnology, which quickly became known locally as the Center for Biotechnology. CATs were designated in technology sectors that had been identified through an independent study as prospects for future market dominance, having both strong industry foundations in the state and great future potential because of the excellence of universities and other research institutions in the related academic disciplines.
In 1998, Stony Brook received a second CAT designation in Sensor Systems and Diagnostic Tools, recognizing the quality of its faculty and research programs in this burgeoning technology sector that has such important applications across fields from homeland security and national defense to environmental preservation to medical care.
The two CATs receive an aggregate total of $2M a year,
for which they must demonstrate at least $2.25M in industry and other
outside funding to advance the research and development agenda. Last
year they recorded an economic impact of $258.4M, including some 90 projects
with 63 companies that created or retained a projected total of 94 jobs.