The Charlotte Research Institute at UNC Charlotte hosted nearly 100 people today to celebrate the grand opening of 14,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory space in Grigg Hall. Grigg houses the Physics Department and the Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications.

Funding for the $2.8 million lab was jointly funded by the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and the State of North Carolina in a project that was approved in 2006.

The lab provides an environment where regional businesses can collaborate with UNC Charlotte researchers in order to leverage talent, provide access to cutting-edge facilities, grow businesses and create new jobs.

The grand opening celebration was held in conjunction with the annual 2009 UNC Charlotte Optoelectronics Symposium which focused on industry-university partnerships designed to establish a new National Science Foundation Center for the Development of Metamaterials.

Board of County Commissioners and Centralina Council of Governments member George Dunlap and U.S. Economic Development Administration Southeast Regional Manager Robin Cooley participated in the event with Charlotte Research Institute Executive Director Robert Wilhelm, Associate Director, Barry Burks and UNC Charlotte Provost Joan Lorden.

For more information, contact Barry Burks at 704.687.8283.

Public Relations media contact: Buffie Stephens, 704.687.5830, BuffieStephens@uncc.edu.