The nanoFAB partially supports its ongoing mandate through user fees charged for access to equipment, materials, training, and on-site expertise. These fees allow for the proper maintenance, upkeep, and operation of all equipment. These fees are applied either through an hourly equipment rate structure or a cap and subscription model. Some materials are charged separately as resale items. If you have any questions regarding usage fees, please contact Melissa Hawrelechko. Equipment usage cap/subscription model: effective . |
CMC, Alberta Voucher, and IRAP sponsored projects must be administered separately. |
For high-volume internal academic research groups (paid via U of A SpeedCode), the nanoFAB offers the following cap, applying to tool use only (material costs are excluded):
The following scenarios illustrate how the academic research cap applies as an academic group’s total quarterly tool usage increases:
$5000 | In one quarter, the group’s total tool usage comes to $5000. This is below the cap threshold of $6000, so the academic cap does not apply. Total charges: $5000. |
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$8000 | In one quarter, the group’s total tool usage comes to $8000. This is above the cap threshold of $6000, but below the cap upper limit of $12 000, so the academic cap applies and they are invoiced a total of $6000. Total charges: $6000. |
$15 000 | In one quarter, the group’s total tool usage comes to $15 000. This is above the cap upper limit of $12 000, so the academic cap applies only to usage between $6000 and $12 000, for which they are charged $6000, with the usage exceeding the upper limit ($15 000 – $12 000 = $3000) invoiced at 50%. Total charges: $6000 + ($3000 × 50%) = $7500. |
For high-volume industrial groups committing to a term of least 6 months, the nanoFAB offers the following subscription model, applying to tool use only (material costs are excluded):
Monthly subscription rate | Value:Cost ratio | Maximum monthly value |
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$3000 to $6500 | 2:1 | $6000 to $13 000 |
$7000 to $10 500 | 3:1 | $21 000 to $31 500 |
≥$11 000 | 4:1 | ≥$44 000 |
CMC MNT vouchers
Financial assistance for academic projects is available through CMC Microsystems: please see CMC's MNT Award page for more information on this program.
Alberta Inovates vouchers
Industrial user groups are encouraged to apply to Alberta Innovates' Micro-Voucher program to help offset their nanoFAB usage costs.
NRC-IRAP program
Funding for industrial user groups is also available through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).
In addition to self-service access to equipment, the nanoFAB also offers custom fee-for-service fabrication and characterization services:
The tool rates for individual nanoFAB tools are given below, divided by process area. Most tools with a rate listed in $/hr have a 1-hour minimum charge associated with their use. Some tools have different rates for usage during and outside normal business hours. The following rates apply to self-service access to nanoFAB tools, except where "staff analysis" rates are explicitly indicated. The Academic rate applies to groups at Canadian educational institutions; the International Academic rate applies to groups at non-Canadian educational institutions; the Industrial rate applies to all non-academic entities, whether Canadian or international.