An NSF I/UCRC carries out industry-driven pre-competitive research in a specific technology area. This means that industry leads and/or strongly influences the research process from definition of the problem and project scope through mentoring and monitoring the progress. The members of a center work together on this process and the result is a research scope that is pre-competitive.
What does Pre-competitive Research mean?
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Pre-competitive Research enables the following:
The Center for Freeform Optics (CeFO) focuses on technologies based on freeform optics. It provides vertical integration of mathematics, optics, optical science, materials science, optomechanics, precision optical manufacturing and testing, and instrument design in order to realize the full potential of freeform optics in wide array of future technologies. As an NSF I/UCRC, CeFO follows the industry-driven research program management structure outlined above.