At The Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), our goal is to be the recognized global leader for innovation and education in the science and technology of optical materials. We pursue this mission by conducting research; teaching at the 2-year, 4-year, and advanced college degree levels; performing contract services within the scientific and business communities; and transferring and expanding our technologies to new venture firms, other educational institutions, and the regional, national, and international community.
Cutting-edge research is at the heart of COMSET's success. We actively pursue sponsored research in the areas of organic and inorganic optical materials.
Our research focuses on optical polymers, glasses, and crystals, with a range of programs as diverse and exciting as the expertise of our world-class faculty. COMSET personnel currently hold 10 patents, 7 of which are commercially licensed, and have applied for 20 more. For a detailed description of our current research projects, click here.
Teaching is an integral part of COMSET's mission, and we adopt a collaborative approach that ensures both breakthrough research and practical applications for the community. Our research alliance with UNC Charlotte and Western Carolina University led to the creation of the Carolina Micro-Optics Triangle, which has been named a National University Photonics cluster by the International Society of Optical Engineers. We also work with local technical colleges to tailor specialized 2-year optical technologies curricula for the technical workforce, and participate in Clemson's Emerging Scholars summer program for talented economically disadvantaged high school students.
Individual members of the COMSET faculty have received numerous awards, grants, and other recognition for superior teaching as well as research initiatives and community outreach. COMSET now maintains a $10M Endowed Chair in Optical Fiber, distinguishing us as a South Carolina Research Center of Economic Excellence.
Performing application-specific services for a wide range of industrial partners is a critical component of COMSET's mission. The application of optical fiber and photonics technologies is making possible many new innovations.
COMSET personnel lead a wide range of projects for both the public and private sectors. Our clients include several branches of the United States Military, Dow Chemical, and 3M Corporation, to name just a few.
Transferring and expanding our technology base to the local, regional, national, and international business community is a critical part of COMSET's initiative. Our goal is to advance scientific knowledge and workforce skill in optical technologies. Two new South Carolina companies have emerged from COMSET, and between them have won 13 National Science Foundation grants, totaling $4,000,000. Photonic material companies now are recruited actively for relocation to upstate South Carolina to take advantage of the new pool of talented personnel graduating from Clemson University and from technical colleges that use our 2-year optical fiber technologies curricula. COMSET's transfer of technology has been so successful that we received the InnoVision Technology Development Award for commercially competitive breakthroughs in the field.
COMSET has also partnered with the Spiro Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, a Clemson University initiative to create the resources and human networks necessary to drive an entrepreneurial culture at the university and in the region. The COMSET/Spiro alliance assists COMSET spin-off companies, educates College of Engineering and Science graduate students in entrepreneurial opportunities, and brings together local resources for economic development in the region. The COMSET/Spiro alliance received a prestigious Partnerships for Innovation grant to realize its vision of transitioning innovation for the economic benefit of the citizens of South Carolina.
http://comset.clemson.edu/article.php?story=missionstatement