MIT and Industry

MIT implemented a new program this month to strengthen ties between academic institutions and industry.

The Faculty Fellows Program, supported by the American Can Company, will send junior faculty to sponsoring companies for one year to acquire industrial experience in their field of specialization.

"There is a noticeable increase in a student's desire to apply knowledge to real world problems." Ken F. Hanson, associate dean of engineering at MIT and the chief planner of the program, said. He added that a faculty with experience in industry is vitai ot meet this desire.

Although Harvard does not have an official program, "there are many opportunities for the faculty to have interchanges with industry" Harvey Brooks, Pierce professor of Technology and Public Policy, said.

"We currently have standing informal relations with Bell Telephone, IBM and other companies," Paul C. Martin, dean of applied sciences, said.

The first MIT fellow is Ming-Kai Tse, an engineer who will go to the headquarters of American Can in Greenwich, Conn. A $150,000 grant from the company will go towards his salary, benefits, and paymentsfor a research assistant, Richard Wrecht, an American Can spokesman, said.