What is PTAP? The Photonics Technology Access Program [PTAP] provides pre-commercial, state-of-the-art photonic devices to universities for teaching and research. The rationale behind PTAP is that in a rapidly changing technical field, if researchers have to acquire devices on the commercial market, by the time their research is completed and published, the devices are one or two generations behind. By providing researchers access to devices before they are available on the market, the quality and timeliness of their research product is improved. Furthermore, students gain hands-on experience with leading-edge technology, which in turn enhances the quality of their academic experience. Lastly, the program creates and strengthens relationships between faculty and industry. PTAP compensates industry for the devices that they supply to the program. PTAP allocates government-funded devices to researchers based on brief proposals that are competitively evaluated. Alternatively researchers can request devices and pay for them with their own funds. IMPORTANT: PTAP does not provide research funds - only devices. Researchers are expected to demonstrate in the proposal that they have funds necessary to perform the research using the device requested. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA-MTO) sponsor PTAP. It is administered by the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association (OIDA), which acts as the broker between industry and the universities. How to Participate >> © OIDA 2003