Nanotech may be finding a high-plains outpost in Fargo, N.D. The North Dakota State University Center for Nanoscale Science & Engineering moved into a new facility in the NDSU Research Park last year.
      The Center focuses on radio frequency identification (RFID) tag research and development. RFID tags, which use tiny silicon chips to store information, may eventually replace bar codes for tracking inventory.
      "We are targeting to be the epicenter for the RFID industry," says Dr. Philip Boudjouk, NDSU's vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer. He says the region has plenty of potential to build on the university's strong engineering college. He says the required elements are in place.
      "The stars seem to be lining up for us," Boudjouk says. "We have good air connections to Minneapolis, Denver and Chicago. We're near the intersection of two Interstates and we're located in a big open area in a progressive, economically healthy city. North Dakota State is an enormous engineering college with one in four students an engineer, so every May you have a pretty good class coming out."
      The eventual cornerstone of the NDSU Research Park will be the world's highest capacity RFID manufacturing and research center, developed by Alien Technology.
      Alien, based in Morgan Hill, Calif., planned to begin construction of a 47,000-sq.-ft. (4,370-sq.-m.) facility this spring. The facility will have an eventual capacity of 20 billion RFID devices per year. Alien is currently operating in Fargo in a rented facility.