Alan Hitchcox
editor
[email protected] Most modern developments in fluid power technology in America have come from industry, driven by competition. Any cooperative projects between industry and academia have been isolated efforts — driven by individual vision. In Europe and Asia, however, cooperative fluid power R&D between industry and academia has been (and still is) alive and well. But now we have the CCEFP, which brings together experts from industry with some of the top minds of academia. It was great to hear of so many projects and of such diversity being conducted at universities around the country.
The CCEFP is funded, in large part, by the National Science Foundation — $4 million per year comes from NSF, universities match up to $800,000, and about $700,000 comes from industry membership fees. Associated projects receive $1.6 million from the government and just about $800,000 from industry, says CCEFP Director Kim Stelson. NSF funding will begin to be phased out in three years and completely gone in five. Without more industry support, Americans may end up on the sidelines again by losing a driving force for fluid power advancements. And our recovering economy makes it an ideal time for industry to commit to filling the void that will be left when NSF funding runs out.
After all, CCEFP is beneficial for all of fluid power technology, no matter what country you call home.
