The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP) was established in 1985 by Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. At that time, nearly half of the research at Clarkson was materials-related but was conducted in seven separate departments of science and engineering. To coordinate and encourage this strong materials program, CAMP was created as an interdisciplinary center dedicated to research on high-technology materials processing.

The current corporate sponsors of CAMP are Corning Incorporated, Eastman Kodak, Xerox Corporation, and IBM. These and over 30 other industrial members support individual research projects. In 1987 the New York State Science and Technology Foundation designated CAMP as the New York State Center for Advanced Materials Processing, entitling CAMP to $1 million per year in operating funds. In addition, CAMP is supported by federal and University sources.

In its role as an education and research initiative, CAMP has three goals:

1. Enhance Clarkson University's expertise and reputation as a center of excellence in materials processing research.

2. Greatly increase the mutually beneficial relationships between industrial organizations and the University; and

3. Strengthen graduate and undergraduate education in materials processing.

Innovative research by Egon Matijević, Distinguished University Professor, has contributed greatly to the development of the fundamental principles for the formation and interactions of colloidal dispersions. Using Matijević's work as a foundation, CAMP has developed four programs in high-technology materials research: electronic materials processing, fine-particle processing, particulate control in process equipment, and polymer processing.