In 2012, Nanophase Technologies Corporation entered into a collaboration to investigate aspects of engineered nanoparticle dispersions in polishing applications. Jess Jankowski, President & CEO commented Nanophase approached Lewis University for its expertise in particles and precision polishing and provided a grant, which will be used to support applications-specific research related to Nanophase's business development activities that would be impossible to undertake with existing internal resources. "The project that joins Nanophase's Research and Development team with Lewis University's Chemistry department, has been valuable in helping Nanophase to validate its product technology, potentially reducing time-to-market, while continuing to build relationships with the external scientific community." Nanophase currently employs a Lewis University chemistry student as a Research & Development intern.