Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Instituto Superior Tecnico announced an agreement to collaborate on a number of fronts, ranging from research to student and faculty/staff exchange. The formal agreement, which grew out of a desire by both universities to strengthen the links for cooperation, will focus on science, engineering, and technology.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute announced the launch of its new Center for Sustainable Urban Freight Systems. Dedicated to investigating new ways of infusing sustainability and efficiency into the way businesses send and receive goods, the new $4 million center is funded by the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations through its Future Urban Transport research program. The new Center for Sustainable Urban Freight Systems seeks to jumpstart the creation of a framework that engages and fosters collaboration between cities, the private sector, and academia to tackle this universal challenge. Center researchers will seek to develop and identify a holistic, integrated suite of technologies, regulations, and incentives to help shape a new paradigm of freight transportation systems that are more cost efficient, more energy efficient, and less disruptive to commuter traffic in urban centers.

Jonathan Dordick, director of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 's Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, has been named vice president for research. Dordick has been leading the biotech center since 2008. In his new position, Dordick will be responsible for advancing research across academic disciplines. Dordick will continue to lead the biotech center until his replacement is found.