15th Annual NanoBusiness 2015

Emily Walker attended the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. this week.  There were many interesting speakers covering significant new developments in nanotechnology.  They included not only OCSiAl’s strides in Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes which are setting the pace for quantity, quality and price not seen before in the market, but also developments in nanoblood and other areas of new products using nanotechnology.

In addition, the US Government under the National Nanotechnology Initiative, founded in 2000, is emphasizing how private sector led partnerships are supporting commercialization of nanotechnology.  Lloyd Whitman, Assistance Director, Nanotechnology, Office of Science & Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President presided over a meeting in the Indian Treaty Room to show-case the latest developments in public-private partnerships in the area of nano commercialization.  OCSial’s iNanoComp initiative was highlighted.

“OCSiAl, a major producer of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), in February of this year launched an award program to dramatically lower the cost of research and development aimed at commercializing and advancing nanotechnology with carbon nanomaterials. Through the program, the company has committed one metric ton of SWCNTs to be made available to universities and research institutions. Small samples are available for free, and award winners receive access to larger quantities of SWCNT materials at significantly reduced costs through a matching grant. Recognizing that commercial applications may not be apparent in earlier-stage research, OCSiAl is expanding its eligibility criteria for receiving SWCNTs to include more exploratory research proposals, especially proposals for projects that could result in the creation of startups and technology transfers.’’