Dec. 12, 2005 — The Foresight Nanotech Institute announced on Friday the appointment of Marc Lurie as president. Lurie succeeds Scott Mize, who will return to the for-profit sector, according to a Foresight release.

Prior to joining Foresight, Lurie was a founder and chief executive of @hand, a software and services company in the mobile computing and communications area. As CEO, Lurie established customer relationships with Fortune 500 companies, built long-term partnerships with large system integrators, and raised three rounds of financing totaling more than $21 million.

An intellectual property lawyer by training, Lurie previously worked with a variety of technology startups, including Acuity (acquired by what is now Avaya), where he served as the senior marketing executive for nearly three years, and Vignette (VIGN), where he was director of channel marketing.

Outgoing president Mize joined Foresight in the summer of 2004 as the organization shifted its focus to include coverage and analysis for nearer-term commercial nanotechnology. He oversaw the launch of its Technology Roadmap for Productive Nanosystems, built relationships with industry and research institutions, focused the organization on a group of organizing principles and began an effort to revitalize its annual awards.

Lurie is expected to continue those initiatives. Christine Peterson, founder and vice president of policy and research at Foresight, said in a prepared statement that she expected Lurie’s background in intellectual property, international law, and business development to help to advance Foresight’s mission.

– David Forman