The University of Toronto Academic Initiatives Fund (AIF) has granted $450,000 over three years to establish the Emerging Communications Technology Institute (ECTI). The AIF was set up by the Provost to assist in the implementation of initiatives arising from the academic planning process.

ECTI represents the combination of three key components from the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering: the Nortel Institute for Telecommunications Open Research Labs, the Micro Fabrication Research Laboratory in the Pratt Building, and new CFI/OIT funding for the nanofabrication of metamaterials.

ECTI Director, Professor J. Stewart Aitchison of the Edward S. Rogers Senior Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering notes that, “By combining these facilities into a single Institute, the University of Toronto will create a world class facility which will enable research across a broad range of micro and nano scale engineering and its application in information technology. This Institute will be unique in Canada and will allow University of Toronto researchers the infrastructure necessary to compete on the global stage.”

Specifically, the establishment of the ECTI will benefit both the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering and the University of Toronto by:

• Lowering the barriers to interdisciplinary research.
• Stimulating new interdisciplinary research areas such as bio-photonics, metamaterials, smart antennas, Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS), and ultra-large-scale smart networks and applications.
• Providing researchers access to state of the art research facilities.
• Facilitating international exchange of students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty members.
• Coordinating undergraduate and graduate level, as well as practice-orientated teaching across photonics, EM (Electromagnetism), and telecommunications.
• Coordinating large-scale applications for funding; CFI for enhancing facilities, NCE, NSERC, OCE for operating funds, and overseas sources for increasing our international visibility.

World leading research at the beginning of the 21st century is most often carried out by research partnerships. The facilities required to compete on the international stage are prohibitively expensive for individual researchers to acquire, manage, and maintain. By combining and consolidating resources the Institute provides a unique opportunity to coordinate individual research activities, leverage additional funding, and to compete on an international level.

This Institute will also form a link between industry partners and academic researchers through its innovative Industrial Partnership Program. In addition, ECTI will be the home to the $ 50 million Open Research Facility, a multidisciplinary, hands-on research environment providing valuable research opportunities and educational experiences for its users. The 1,100 square meter facility houses state of the art equipment in 10 laboratories and contains Network Architecture, RF & Microwave, Antenna Test, Device Prototyping and Fabrication, and Characterization Labs. ECTI will continue to focus on the key areas established by the Nortel Institute including research and development, education and training, information exchange, and strategic analysis.

For more information about the Emerging Communications Technology Institute, please contact Professor Stewart Aitchison, stewart.aitchison@utoronto.ca.

University of Toronto: Office of the Vice President and Provost