Ford Motor Co. and Boeing Co. announced Thursday an intent to work with researchers at Northwestern University in Evanston , Ill. to research commercial applications of nanotechnology. The intent to form this new alliance is being announced on the same day that Ford and Northwestern University dedicate a new $30 million engineering center on the school\'s campus near Chicago . Ford provided a $10 million grant to build the new Ford Motor Co. Engineering Design Center as part of the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.