Nov. 1, 2005 – The NanoCommerce trade show and SEMI NanoForum begin today in Chicago. The events, which run through Thursday, are designed to cover both business and technology issues. More than 600 attendees are anticipated, according to event staff.

The program is comprised of business-related content on Tuesday and Wednesday and more technical content on Thursday. Scheduled to kick off the show Tuesday morning are presentations by Jim O’Connor, vice president of the early stage accelerator at Motorola, and Rick Snyder, chief executive officer of Ardesta and chairman of Gateway Inc.

Specific business tracks for attendees will cover nanomaterials, bio pharma, electronics, energy, environmental and societal implications, and defense and homeland security. Technical tracks include a variety of sessions covering metrology, processing and other semiconductor-related issues.

In addition to the trade events, the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative’s regional, state, and local initiatives in nanotechnology workshop — a federal effort to draw together regional nanotechnology development groups — is slated for the latter part of Thursday and Friday.

During Wednesday’s luncheon session, Small Times magazine will unveil its 2005 Best of Small Tech awards, the fourth annual industry awards for achievement in micro and nanotechnology.

The shows will also feature the emerging nanobusiness showcase this year for the first time, a conference component combining technical content and company presentations by 20 jury-selected participants. The showcase is intended to provide greater exposure for newly-emerging companies or for more established companies unveiling a nanotechnology-related development effort for the first time.

Check back at Smalltimes.com for more conference news during the week, including the unveiling of the 2005 Best of Small Tech winners on Wednesday afternoon.

– David Forman