April 10, 2001 — SINGAPORE — The National University of Singapore’s engineering facility has received an $11 million boost to explore nanotechnology that will result in the creation of a state-of-the-art cleanroom facility.

The National Science and Technology Board (NSTB) gave the money to the university to begin researching the possibility of extremely small and fast microchips that have much larger memory capacities than standard chips. Most of the money will be used to renovate an existing 5382 square foot cleanroom at the National University of Singapore.

The new chips – approximately 200 times finer than a strand of human hair – will be measured in nanometers, not micrometers and will allow consumer products to perform more functions while staying the size or smaller.

Around 50 NUS faculty members, master’s degree students and Singapore researchers are expected to work on the project. Professor Dim-Lee Kwong, of University of Texas, Austin, will lead the project.