Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering has received a six-year, $2.75 million contribution from Nortel Networks to further the schools efforts in photonics research and the training of future generations of engineers. The gift from Brampton, Ontario-based Nortel includes $1.5 million to create an endowment fund to support a new professorship at the Pratt School and $1.25 million to support research at the Fitzpatrick Center for Advanced Photonics and Communications Systems. In recognition of its gift, Nortel, a global manufacturer of telecommunications and networking equipment, has been designated a "founding partner" of the center.

"Nortel Networks' $2.75 million commitment to join the Fitzpatrick Center as a founding partner is a significant statement by one of the world's leading technology companies about the important role the Center will play in advancing photonics research and training future generations of photonics engineers," said Duke president Nannerl O. Keohane. "One of the principal goals of the Fitzpatrick Center is to partner with high-tech industry leaders to ensure that North Carolina is at the forefront of new technology research and development."

The center is named for high-tech entrepreneur Michael J. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Patricia, who last December announced a donation of $50 million to Duke and Stanford universities to make both schools international leaders in advanced photonics.

As a founding partner, Nortel will be actively involved in setting the strategic direction of the center as well as supporting faculty and student research. The company also will have seats on the center's advisory board, will participate as a technology mentor in research focused on specific applications, and will participate in various symposia at the center.

Current plans call for the center, which will be home to at least 21 research and visiting faculty, 33 postdoctoral fellows, and up to 138 graduate and 40 undergraduate students, to be completed in late 2003.