Efforts to Increase Utilization & Reduce the Subsidy for a Mid-Size Cleanroom Facility

The annual operating budget of the University of Louisville´s 10,000 ft² 100/1000 class cleanroom or the Micro/Nano Technology Center is heavily subsidized to cover salaried expenses by the engineering school of the University of Louisville (Speed School of Engineering). Expenses of the cleanroom include liquid nitrogen, gowning supplies, chemicals, compressed gas cylinders, sputtering targets, glassware, maintenance, repairs, etc. It is expected that these expenses are paid via cleanroom fees, while the salaried positions are subsidized. Yet, aging of the facility has increased expenses and the MNTC has been challenged to cover its operational expenses via collected cleanroom fees. Additionally, budget cuts from the state of Kentucky have given the impetus to reduce the subsidy from the engineering school and increase cleanroom revenue by means of increasing internal users, external users and service center work.