$300 million nanotech investment sees international facility
By ALAN WECHSLER, Business writer
Times Union
First published: Thursday, February 1, 2007
ALBANY -- New York is hooked on nanotechnology.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer wants to spend $300 million to create what he called an international nanotechnology facility somewhere in the state. The move follows the state's successes in attracting such companies as Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Sematech Inc. and Tokyo Electron Ltd. to the Capital Region.
Would it be academic in nature? Or are they trying to attract another high-tech manufacturer to the Empire State? Officials wouldn't specify, but said a major announcement on the issue would come later this year.
There's still plenty of room in Luther Forest for more manufacturing plants after AMD arrives -- but don't mention that to some local critics, who say that AMD will increase traffic and other problems.
But, of course, New York is a big state, and plenty of other upstate regions are dying for economic activity. Especially the kind that requires clean rooms and PhDs.
Locally, officials said they were looking forward to hearing more about it.
"New York has established itself as a world leader in nanotech, and companies are looking at it," said Brian McMahon of the New York State Economic Development Council, a professional group.
"I think the AMD project opened a lot of eyes, and made a number of companies aware of the assets we have for chip-fab here in New York," he said.
Assemblyman Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes, said he also hadn't heard any news on the project. |
