BSAC

The Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC) operates as a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC). BSAC was organized as an NSF Center in 1986 to develop a science, engineering, and technology base for microsensors, microactuators, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In 1998, BSAC expanded to a multi-campus NSF I/UCRC with the addition of UC Davis, a major campus of the University of California 60 miles from UC Berkeley.

From the beginning, BSAC has, under its NSF I/UCRC charter, focused on providing Industrial Member companies early pre-commercial and pre-publication access to important research results on a highly leveraged basis. This leverage derives from the funding model in which less than 15% of BSAC operating funds are provided from member fees, but in which Industrial Members have access to all research results of the Center. Industrial Member relationships with faculty, graduates, and students create unique opportunities for furtherance of our technology transfer goals.

BSAC includes a multi-disciplinary research team of 120 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers led by 10 BSAC Directors from the engineering faculties of electrical, mechanical, and bio engineering at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. BSAC Directors oversee nearly 100 projects with cooperation, collaboration, and guidance of 30 industrial member companies and government laboratories and 15 additional Affiliated Faculty from UC Berkeley and Davis. BSAC utilizes research laboratories throughout the engineering campuses at UC Berkeley and UC Davis, including intensive use of the UC Berkeley micro fabrication facility (MicroLab).

Primary Activity

Material Manufacturer