Category: Media Mentions

from the Small-stuff dept.
According to a press release (20 December 2001), two Virginia Tech research projects — to develop new sensors for detecting pathogens and DNA, and to improve molecular devices in electronic applications — received Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Research by Massimiliano Di Ventra of Virginia Techís Department of Physics and a joint effort of Randy Heflin of physics and Kevin Van Cott of chemical engineering is exploring the nanoscale world through computer simulations and a combination of optics, thin-film technology, and analytical biochemistry.

from the World-Watch dept.
An extensive article on the Small Times website ("China, emboldened by breakthroughs, sets out to become nanotech power", by Jen Lin-Liu, 17 December 2001) describes recent advances in the production of carbon nanotubes in China, and discusses the overall direction and strategies of Chinese nanotechnology programs:
"In laboratories across China, researchers at universities are intensely studying the potential of nanotubes and nanowires ñ some reporting breakthroughs that have escaped the West. The scientists, most of whom have interdisciplinary backgrounds in chemistry, physics and engineering, are first seeing how far they can stretch their imaginations before they translate their discoveries into practical applications. China plans to intensify research in the field, aiming to prove that the country has the potential to become a powerhouse in nanotechnology."

An article in the Philadelphia Business Journal (ì$1.3M raised to aid area nanotechnologyî, by J. George, 16 November 2001) reports a coalition of Philadelphia-area universities, economic development groups and businesses have raised $1.32 million to bolster efforts to turn the region into a nanotechnology hub. A portion of the money will be used to develop associate degree programs in nanotechnology at community colleges in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. A coalition led by the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and Ben Franklin Technology Partners has received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation under its "Partnerships for Innovation" program. That grant was augmented by a $300,000 matching grant from the state of Pennsylvania, $300,000 from Ben Franklin Technology Partners and $118,000 from five corporate partners. Last year, The Pennsylvania Technology Investment Authority awarded the coalition a three-year, $10.5 million grant for the creation of a Nanotechnology Institute that would link university researchers and businesses developing molecular-scale technologies.

Thereís a brief article on the Wired Magazine website ("Nanotech's Pitch for Megabucks", by Declan McCullagh, 15 December 2001) that provides additional coverage of the panel-discussion-as-lobbying-session presented at the U.S. Capitol by the NanoBusiness Alliance on 13 December 2001. According to the article, one person whom the Nanobusiness Alliance invited to speak at Thursday's panel discussion was Meyya Meyyappan, director of the Nanotechnology Research Center at NASA Ames. "If (corporations) know it's going to take 15 years, why are they going to invest?" Meyyappan said. "The role has traditionally come through government funding. That's a role, knowledge creation."

The article also quotes Foresight President Chris Peterson: "The fraction of federal funding going to the universities that result in products in the marketplace is not high. Even though the fraction is not high, it may be an excellent investment in the sense that the payoff is high." . . . Looking toward the future, Peterson said, "Eventually nanotechnology will bring up unique regulatory challenges." But she added: "It's not necessary today. There is no need to be concerned either way, if you're afraid of the regulation or if you want it."

An article on the Small Times website ("NanoBusiness Alliance goes to Washington", by D. Brown, 14 December 2001) provides coverage of a brief panel presentation sponsored by the NanoBusiness Alliance (NBA) in Washington, D.C. on 13 December 2001. The panel presented background information on nanotechnology to U.S. House of Representatives and Senate staffers, lobbyists and policy wonks as part of the NBAís efforts to influence U.S. government policy on nanotechnology-related issues. At a press conference earlier in the day, the NBA also announced that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich will join the organization as its honorary chairman.

KPalmquist writes "Small Times reports today on the global pursuit of carbon nanotube mass-production. The interesting thing is that in this situation it's not necessarily a race of who can produce the most at the least expense; the diversity of nanotube types and quality are also key factors."

from the World-Watch dept.
A pair of items that provide some coverage of nanotech-related developments in Boston and elsewhere in Massachusetts:
An article from the Boston Business Journal ("The next big thing? More local biotechs adopt atomic-level product development", by Allison Connolly, 23 November 2001) discusses bionanotechnology research and development by several firms in the Boston area.
An item on the Multex Investor Marketguide.com website ("Ready for nanotechnology?", by Carla Drysdale 10 December 2001) has a brief general introduction, but focuses primarily on profiling Woburn, Mass.-based Nantero, a firm which is attempting to develop non-volatile random access memory (NRAM) products based on carbon nanotubes.

KPalmquist writes "Newt Gingrich announced today that he will be honorary chair of the NanoBusiness Alliance. F. Mark Modzelewski, head of the Alliance, says: "Newt Gingrich has long been the strongest voice in nanotechnology among America's policy and governmental leaders. The emerging nanotechnology sector has gained a brilliant and tested leader.""

In its annual review of the yearís highlights in the field of chemistry, the 10 December 2001 issue of Chemical & Engineering News, a publication of the American Chemical Society, includes an extensive article describing a broad range of advances in nanotechnology and molecular electronics that have occurred in the last year.

Interesting news continues to come out of Texas, one of several states emerging as a center of nanotech-related research and development activity. An article in the Houston Business Journal (30 November 2001) notes the announced move of the Toronto-based firm of C Sixty to Houston, in part lured by $4 million in venture funding for its efforts to develop applications for fullernes (buckyballs). The article also notes other recent events such as the $10.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create a Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology at Rice University, and development of Houston-based firms Carbon Nanotechnologies (the venture by Richard Smalley and partners to commercialize carbon nanotubes) and Molecular Electronics Corp., co-founded by molectronics pioneers Jim Tour, Mark Reed, and their partners. The article quotes James Calaway, a C Sixty board member, and president and CEO of Center for Houston's Future: "We're developing a sophisticated group of early-stage nano investors," Calaway says. "Houston is really becoming a hotbed for this area . . . "We're building a nano-cluster here. That's the most important thing. We're building the commercial aspects early enough that we can become a leading nano-cluster in the world."
Perhaps the cooperative agreement between the UT Dallas and Canadian nanotech centers announced in December 2001 was meant as compensation for drawing C Sixty away from Toronto?
Another article in the Ft. Worth Business Journal ("Big Things come in small packages", by G. Bennison, 6 December 2001) makes a few general comments about the developing Texas nanotech boom, but focuses primarily on the Center for Nanostructure Materials and Quantum Device Fabrication (NanoFab) at the University of Texas at Arlington.