Carnegie Mellon University has consolidated its research in the hot area of nanotechnology into a new Center for Nano-Enabled Devices and Energy Technologies.

The center will be headed by Elias Towe, professor of electrical and computer engineering and materials science and engineering, and will include 23 scientists already pursuing nanotech research in Carnegie Mellon's engineering and science colleges.

That initial team of researchers has a total of $13 million in research funding. The Institute for Complex Engineered Systems, which is housing the new center, also will provide seed money for 11 new projects.