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6-16-97

Contacts:
Robert Harris, CATD, (515) 294-5808
Dalene Abner, ISU Foundation, (515) 294-8681
Skip Derra, News Service, (515) 294-4917

TAKANO GIVES $100,000 FOR ISU FELLOWSHIP

AMES, Iowa -- Asakazu Horii, president of Takano Co. Ltd., Nagano, Japan, presented a $100,000 check today (June 16) to Iowa State University in support of an endowed fellowship for students pursuing graduate work in the electrical and computer engineering department. The presentation was made to Iowa State University President Martin Jischke during a reception at the Durham Center.

Takano has made yearly gifts to the graduate fellowship since 1992 when Satish Udpa, professor of electrical engineering, and his group began contract research for the company through ISU's Center for Advanced Technology Development (CATD). The latest gift, which brings the company's support for the fellowship to $500,000, will make it possible to award the first fellowship to a student this fall.

"Our work with Takano has been a technology transfer success story on a variety of levels," Jischke said. "It has been successful in terms of education and it has given our students real-world experiences. It also has resulted in the application of Iowa State technologies and expertise to industry -- where it will be most useful."

Through the fellowship and sponsored research, Takano's investment in Iowa State is nearly $2 million and has involved more than 45 undergraduate students and 35 graduate students, Udpa said.

"The level of interaction with industry has been greater for Iowa State students than in most projects," Udpa added. "It has given our students a chance to work on real-world problems and has provided them a better educational experience."

Takano first sought assistance from Iowa State in 1992 when Udpa began contract research on an electrical inspection device. A scanning acoustic microscope, which uses sound rather than light to inspect small parts, was successfully transferred to the company three years ago.

Since that project, Takano has provided financial support for development of two other nondestructive evaluation devices and started AMTAK Inc., located in the ISU Research Park. AMTAK, a spin off of the CATD contract research, specializes in the development of testing devices and systems that can inspect a part without damaging it by using techniques such as x-ray and ultrasound. Its clients include the U.S. Navy, General Motors, NASA, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney.

Takano is a corporate member of the ISU Foundation Order of the Knoll. The company was founded in 1941 as a manufacturer of precision springs, and since then has moved into the production of office chairs, exterior products, advanced electronics and health care-related equipment.

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