Daily News Briefs

Konarka Technologies Inc., a Lowell, Mass., maker of power plastics that convert light to energy, announced it has opened European operations, Konarka Technologies GmbH, in the Energy Technology Center, a business incubator and science research center in Nuremberg, Germany. The new facility includes research and development laboratories. In September 2004, Konarka acquired Siemens' organic photovoltaic research activities in Germany. It also has R&D subsidiaries in Linz, Austria, and Zug, Switzerland. . . . Nanophase Technologies Corp., a Romeoville, Ill.-based developer of nanomaterials and nanoengineered products, has been working with Carl Zeiss SMT AG, in Oberkochen, Germany, to use its NanoTek cerium oxide dispersions in EUV lithography optics polishing. The companies will present the results of this work at Optifab 2005, being held this week in Rochester. . . . The University of Arizona announced Friday that the Arizona Board of Regents has recognized its College of Optical Sciences, formerly the Optical Sciences Center. Professor James C. Wyant, dean of the new college, said, "Our new name is a reflection of our commitment to provide the world’s highest-quality graduate and undergraduate education in the optical sciences." The College of Optical Sciences includes a bachelor’s degree program in association with the University of Arizona (UA) College of Engineering, video classes leading to a master’s degree or graduate professional certificate and an optical sciences minor. Beginning in August, in conjunction with the UA Eller College of Management, it will offer a three-year program leading to both a master's degree in optical sciences and an MBA.