New state-of-the-art analytical equipment is becoming more specialized and more expensive. With the availability of federal funding decreasing over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for University laboratories to maintain and upgrade existing analytical equipment, or purchase new analytical equipment. There are also instances where large industrial laboratories may only need a particular piece of analytical equipment on a part-time basis, or where small companies cannot afford to purchase a particular technique. An obvious solution to these problems is to merge industry and university into a viable working collaboration whereby resources are shared among partners.

The University of Central Florida and Cirent Semiconductor (a joint venture of Lucent Technologies and Cirrus Logic) have entered into such a collaboration with the development of the UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization facility (MCF). The MCF is a shared user facility that is available to (i) UCF and other State University System (SUS) Florida University students, faculty, and staff, and (ii) MCF industrial affiliates and others requiring specialized instrumentation and expertise.