HOUSTON and AUSTIN, Texas — November 5, 2026 — AMD Nano and Rice University have signed a three-year Strategic Master Agreement for Research Teaming (SMART), establishing a framework for future collaborative research in materials science and engineering. The agreement builds on work between AMD Nano and Professor Ajayan’s group at Rice, including advanced radar materials for a U.S. Army program announced in 2024.
“We are excited to continue our work with AMD towards the development of nano-engineered materials that could be useful for a variety of applications and our prior experience suggests that such collaborations can bridge the gap between fundamental science and practical applications and accelerate the time line for translational research.”
— Professor Pulickel Ajayan, Rice University
The framework allows the teams to identify research questions and develop individual project plans around applications in advanced materials. Potential areas include multifunctional materials, coatings and composites, sensing, and electromagnetic and thermal material systems.
“Working with Professor Ajayan’s group at Rice allows us to connect advances in nanomaterials with the practical challenges our customers need to solve. Our focus is on developing materials that deliver useful performance and can move from the laboratory into real applications.”
— Professor Alan Dalton, Chief Scientist, AMD Nano
Specific projects, funding, scope, schedules and deliverables will be agreed separately; the framework itself does not announce a new funded project or award.
“Our work with Rice to date has been customer driven. Rice’s outstanding reputation and the quality of Professor Ajayan’s group give our partners confidence that AMD Nano’s technologies can be shaped in the US for important security applications.”
— Richard Lee, Chief Executive Officer, AMD Nano
The agreement took effect August 15 and runs for three years, with an option to extend by mutual agreement. AMD Nano and Rice will share specific project announcements when the relevant plans are agreed.