The Swanson Institute for Technical Excellence (SITE) was developed to promote research collaborations with industry and advance the economic capability of companies in Western Pennsylvania. The Swanson Institute houses three separate research centers: the Swanson Center for Product Innovation, the Swanson Center for Micro and Nano Systems, and the RFID (radio frequency identification) Center of Excellence.
The John A. Swanson Center for Product Innovation strives to be a vital force in the revitalization of the Pittsburgh region by supporting small businesses and large industries with technology and services for product development and design, from invention and manufacturing to business development and marketing.
The Swanson Center for Micro and Nano Systems conducts creative research involving engineering faculty members and industry partners and facilitates the transfer of the resulting intellectual property and technology to the industrial sector, specifically to the center’s industrial members.
The RFID Center of Excellence works directly with leading regional and global businesses on advancements in radio frequency identification. The RFID Center, with its leading-edge research facilities, has quickly become recognized as an international standard-bearer in this field. The center was responsible for establishing the basis of the 915 MHz standard for the U.S. Department of Defense and currently holds the major intellectual property for the future generations of RFID and related devices, such as sensors. Since 2004, four companies have formed as a direct result of Pitt’s RFID intellectual property holdings and research. In 2007, one of these companies, Powercast, headquartered in Ligonier, Pa., received the “Best of Show for Emerging Technologies” award at the international Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
For more information on SITE and its centers, visit the institute’s Web site at www.engr.pitt.edu/site.
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