By Avi Machlis
Small Times Correspondent

TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 10, 2001 — The German banking group Deutsche Bank has launched an international survey of nanotechnology companies aimed at discovering the factors likely to lead to commercial success for small tech.

Jurgen Ilgner, director of the Microtechnology Innovation Team at Deutsche Bank, said the new study, launched in September, is surveying 400 nanotechnology companies across the globe and taking an in-depth look at their development. He was speaking at the Nanotechnology Forum in Tel Aviv on Monday, the first Israeli gathering of nanotech researchers and investors.

According to Ilgner, the Deutsche Bank study is taking a different approach than previous surveys, which looked mostly at the market potential for various types of nanotechnologies.

“We want to understand what is of interest to companies and what is of interest to venture capitalists,” he said. “The result of our survey should be to understand the success factors [for nanotech companies].”

Ilgner said little about the preliminary findings of his survey, but he did point out that 44 percent of companies screened so far are less than six years old. Most, he said, are “in expansion phase” and are seeking actively seeking financing. Difficult market conditions and cautious venture capitalists, stung by the downturn in the information technology markets, are delaying expansion plans for many nanotech groups, he said.

Although there are “mutual opportunities” for entrepreneurs and investors, Ilgner cautioned against “overexpectations” and said investors would need “profound knowledge” to successfully exploit opportunities.

The final results of Deutsche Bank’s survey are expected next spring.