Bosch and Partners Receive Grant from National Science Foundation

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bosch has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation, under the joint National Science Foundation and Department of Energy partnership on Thermoelectric Devices for Vehicle Applications. The grant is titled "Automotive Thermoelectric Modules with Scalable Thermo- and Electro-Mechanical Interfaces," and was awarded to a collaboration among Stanford University, the University of South Florida and Bosch's Research and Technology Center North America. The $1.2 million grant, which will last for three years, will address the most pressing engineering and scientific aspects of thermoelectric devices for vehicles. These solid-state devices can harvest waste heat in vehicles by converting it to useful electrical energy and thereby can lead to an increase in overall vehicle fuel economy.

"We are pleased that the National Science Foundation selected Bosch and its university partners to receive this competitive grant," said Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO, Robert Bosch LLC. "Bosch is a demonstrated global leader in innovation, and maintains a strong commitment to research and development. Even today, nearly the half of Bosch's R&D spending goes into the development of products that protect the environment and conserve resources."

Bosch will provide its expertise in the fields of quantum mechanics and computational fluid dynamics. Using computer simulation methods at the atomistic level, Bosch researchers will investigate how to decrease inefficiencies present in contacts between different materials in the device. Conversely, using computer simulations at the device level, Bosch researchers will seek to increase overall efficiency by appropriate design and thermal management. Overall, this research project will advance the state-of-the-art toward an automotive-grade durable thermoelectric device that can harvest an increased amount of waste heat.

In addition, the research will be integrated with education and outreach activities to promote interest in energy technologies amongst the wider community. The education activities include potentially expanding current undergraduate courses at Stanford and University of South Florida, and adding course subjects on thermoelectrics. As part of the outreach activities, Stanford University also plans to partner with a local K-12 school in one of the region's most economically challenged communities by offering graduate student teaching assistance in energy and engineering topics, and inviting high school teachers and select students to participate in summer internships at Stanford labs.

In 1999, Bosch established the Research and Technology Center (RTC) North America with offices in Palo Alto, Calif. and Pittsburgh, Penn. An additional office was opened in 2007 in Cambridge, Mass.  RTC is committed to providing technologies and system solutions for various Bosch business fields primarily in the areas of sensors, circuit design, wireless solutions, energy materials and technologies, complex simulations, software engineering, human machine interface design, car infotainment, web technologies and autonomous systems such as robotics.

About National Science Foundation

"The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2010, its budget is about $6.9 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly."

About Bosch

In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, solar energy and healthcare products. Having established a regional presence in 1906, Bosch employs over 20,000 associates in more than 70 locations, with reported sales of $7.3 billion in fiscal 2009.  For more information, visit www.boschusa.com.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. According to preliminary figures, some 283,500 associates generated sales of 47.3 billion euros ($62.7 billion) in the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology in fiscal 2010. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spent some four billion euros ($5 billion) for research and development in 2010, and applied for over 3,800 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.  Bosch is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2011. 

SOURCE The Bosch Group