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Small Times NanoCon International is being held September 20-22, 2006 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The NanoCon Newswire is a micro-site built specifically to cover the show. It features news and announcements about speakers and events taking place at NanoCon International, and it features a newswire where sponsors and exhibitors can publish their press releases.
Check back often for the latest news about the show — and direct from the show floor.
The latest from NanoCon International, its sponsors and exhibitors.
NanoCon will be held in Las Vegas September 20-22, 2006
Sept. 25, 2006 (NanoCon Show Daily) — NanoCon wraps up with talks on biotech, funding
Small Times NanoCon International in Las Vegas came to a close on Friday with a keynote address by a veteran of the biotech industry and a second keynote on how the Sarbanes-Oxley act affects nanotech, as well as a trio of panels that covered the life sciences, what it takes to go public, and how to get early stage funding for a nanotech startup.
Sept. 25, 2006 (NanoCon Show Daily) — Small Times NanoCon International Photo Gallery 2
The photos included here are from Friday, Sept. 22, the final day of Small Times NanoCon International. Legendary biotech financier Steven Burrill delivered the morning’s keynote address, which explored lessons that people in the nanotech industry could learn from the history of the biotech sector.
Sept. 22, 2006 (NanoCon Show Daily) — Small Times announces 2006 Best of Small Tech Awards winners at luncheon
Attendees of NanoCon 2006 witnessed the announcement of Small Times’ Best of Small Tech Awards on Thursday in Las Vegas. The current issue of Small Times magazine presents a list of winners and runners-up, as well as descriptions of their products and contributions.
Sept. 22, 2006 (NanoCon Show Daily) — Afternoon sessions touch on energy, telecom applications
Two of Thursday’s afternoon sessions at NanoCon 2006 featured lively discussions on nanotechnology as it is currently being applied to and thought of in the areas of energy and telecommunications.
Sept. 22, 2006 (NanoCon Show Daily) — NanoCon all about production and applications
If Wednesday’s opening day of NanoCon 2006 was primarily about the overall picture for nanotechnology in the near-term future, Thursday turned greater attention to specific instances of nanotech applications and developments today.
Sept. 21, 2006 (NanoCon Show Daily) — Morning keynotes describe a nano-enabled future
David Soane only has to look in the mirror to see how central nanotech has become in his life. Soane, a self-proclaimed “serial entrepreneur” who has founded companies such as Aclara, Nano-Tex, Innovative Construction and Building Materials and Cosmetica, addressed NanoCon 2006 in Las Vegas on Wednesday with a personal anecdote about his graying hair and the development of a new nano-based commercial hair coloring system he is developing.
Sept. 21, 2006 (NanoCon Show Daily) — Afternoon sessions cover funding, policy, transpo, materials
The afternoon conference sessions at NanoCon 2006 in Las Vegas on Wednesday addressed current U.S. funding levels for nanotech, American and international nanotech policy considerations, the use of nanotech in the transportation industry and the development of nanomaterials.
Sept. 21, 2006 (NanoCon Show Daily) — NanoCon 2006 exhibit floor features novel products and applications
Concurrent with the educational sessions of NanoCon 2006 in Las Vegas, several companies and organizations are displaying their wares and demonstrating new products and technology. Magforce Nanotechnologies AG, for instance, is providing information on using iron oxide nanoparticles to fight cancer.
Sept. 21, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Michael Lefenfeld, a three-time entrepreneur, founded SiGNa Chemistry in late 2004 based on a process that stabilizes reactive metals. This technology enables companies to safely harness the legendary powers of alkali materials.
As President and CEO of SiGNa, Mr. Lefenfeld is applying his science and materials expertise to drive the adoption of these advanced materials into the mainstream of chemical reactivity and hydrogen fuel markets. Under Mr. Lefenfeld’s leadership, SiGNa will achieve profitability in its second full year of operation and has secured industry veterans such as BASF, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Motorola, Pfizer, and Shell Chemical as customers.
Prior to SiGNa, Mr. Lefenfeld independently commercialized several biomedical and chemical technologies, starting at the age of 19. Additionally, he has been employed as a Member of the Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories and a researcher at DuPont. In addition to over 12 scientific publications, he holds several patents and patent applications in areas ranging from controlled release to organic electronics to chemical reactivity. He will be moderating the Intellectual Property Issues panel at NanoCon International on Thursday, Sept. 21.
Sept. 20, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — NanoCon International 2006 opens in Las Vegas!
Sept. 20, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — John Howard is the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C.
Prior to his appointment as Director of NIOSH, Dr. Howard served as Chief of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the California Department of Industrial Relations from 1991 through 2002.
Dr. Howard received his Doctor of Medicine from Loyola University of Chicago in 1974, his Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health in 1982, his Doctor of Law from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1986, and his Master of Law in Administrative Law from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1987.
Dr. Howard is board-certified in internal medicine and occupational medicine. He is admitted to the practice of medicine and law in the State of California and in the District of Columbia, and he is a member U.S. Supreme Court bar. He has written numerous articles on occupational health law and policy. He will be appearing at NanoCon International on the nano policy panel at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Sept. 19, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Richard Russell was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August 2002 as Associate Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President. In that capacity he is OSTP’s Deputy Director for Technology. In addition to his role at OSTP, Mr. Russell serves as the Senior Director for Technology and Telecommunications for the National Economic Council.
Prior to being chosen by the President for his current position, Mr. Russell served as OSTP’s Chief of Staff. Mr. Russell also worked on the Presidential Transition Teams for the Department of Commerce, National Science Foundation and OSTP.
From 1995-2001, Mr. Russell worked for the House of Representatives Committee on Science and has a strong background in technology policy. The Committee has oversight responsibilities for all Federal civilian research and development and authorizing responsibilities for most civilian science and technology programs.
During his time on the Committee, Mr. Russell was charged with overseeing the Committee’s technology policy, coordinating its oversight agenda, and helping manage the Committee’s majority staff. He also helped draft a wide variety of legislation, including efforts to expand and improve coordination of federal information technology research, improve computer security, and authorize budgets for science and technology related agencies.
He will be speaking at NanoCon International at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Sept. 18, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — David Gusdorf is director of development for Washington Technology Center, an economic development organization whose mission is to spark ideas, form connections between people and resources, and foster job growth to position Washington State as a national technology leader. In this role, Mr. Gusdorf oversees the organization’s external development and public relations activities.
Mr. Gusdorf has over 25 years of biomedical industry experience, leading U.S. and international market development, and comprehensive product launches. He was most recently the vice president of marketing & sales and led the commercialization of the CLAIRSONIC Skin Care brush.
Previously, Mr. Gusdorf was vice president and general manager of Japan at SonoSite Inc., where he led the market development and rapid sales growth of hand-carried ultrasound products. He also worked at Chiron Corp. and LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company, where he orchestrated the introductions of two market-leading diabetes blood glucose-monitoring brands. Mr. Gusdorf has a bachelor of arts degree in marketing and advertising and a master’s degree in business administration from San Jose University. He will be speaking at NanoCon International at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21.
Sept. 15, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Scott Livingston is a managing director of Axiom Capital Management and head of the Livingston Group, an investment and corporate advisory group within Axiom focused on nanotechnology and its impact on our markets and society.
He has had a seventeen year career on Wall Street working in wealth management and banking with corporations, startups, institutional and individual investors and governments on emerging technologies.
Prior to Axiom, Scott served as a senior vice resident at Lehman Brothers, director at Cowen & Co. and senior vice president at Smith Barney. He began his career at Drexel Burnham in 1989. He will be appearing at NanoCon International at 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Sept. 14, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Scott Mize is an entrepreneur, advisor, and speaker in the field of high technology. He has 20 years of experience in the information technology, new media and Internet industries, and has worked in the nanotechnology field for more than five years. He currently provides business and venture development services to early-stage technology companies and established corporations.
Scott was recently president of Foresight Nanotech Institute, the leading nanotechnology think tank. Prior to joining Foresight Nanotech Institute, he co-founded AngstroVision, Inc., a research-stage nanotechnology tools company focused on creating a breakthrough imaging and metrology instrument, and raised its seed round of capital. Scott was the originator and chairman of the advisory board of the Nanotechnology Opportunity Report, the first comprehensive global report on the near-term commercial opportunities in nanotechnology, published by Cientifica. He will be moderating the nano policy panel at NanoCon International at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Sept. 13, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — David Macdonald is president and chief executive of Nanomix, a leading nanoelectronic detection company launching a portfolio of devices based on its Sensation technology.
He provides Nanomix with 25 years of product development and commercialization experience. Mr. Macdonald has cultivated several high performance teams that achieve aggressive goals in technical product and service environments. These teams have developed and launched hundreds of medical device and diagnostic products sold directly in the United States and Western Europe, as well as through independent distribution relationships worldwide.
Mr. Macdonald served as President and COO of Nichols Institute Diagnostics, a division of Quest Diagnostics, as President and CEO of Progeny Systems and Medical Electronic Systems, in operational roles at Behring Diagnostics and Nova Biomedical, and most recently as the Senior Vice President Global Operations and Business Development at Nanogen. Mr. Macdonald holds a BSBA degree from Northeastern University, a MBA degree from Babson College and is originally from the Boston area. He will be appearing on the nanobio panel at NanoCon International at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 22.
Sept. 12, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Joseph Cross is president and CEO of nanomaterials company Nanophase Technologies and a member of the board of directors. He has served as president & CEO of APTECH Inc., an OEM of electrical metering and control devices; as president of Aegis Technologies, an interactive telecommunications company; and held executive positions with DEC, HADCO, and ITT.
He holds a BS in Chemistry and attended the MBA program at Missouri State University. Mr. Cross has a background of successfully directing several high technology start-ups. He will be appearing on the nanomaterials panel at NanoCon International at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Sept. 11, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — John Roy is a senior research analyst/nanotechnology analyst at W.R. Hambrecht + Co., an investment bank providing underwriting and financial advisory services to emerging growth companies, as well as equity research, sales and trading services to institutions and full-service brokerage for individuals.
Dr. Roy joined WRH+Co from Merrill Lynch where he focused on nanotechnology and technology strategy. Dr. Roy has also worked at JPMorgan and Neuron Data. Dr. Roy has a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California and a MSEE from the University of Southern California. He will be appearing on the “Going Public?” panel at NanoCon International at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 22.
Sept. 7, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Morinobu Endo to accept lifetime achievement award at NanoCon
Nanotube manufacturing pioneer Morinobu Endo has won Small Times’ fifth annual Best of Small Tech Lifetime Achievement award. A professor at Shinshu University in Nagano, Japan, Endo will accept the award in person at NanoCon International in Las Vegas at an awards luncheon on Thursday, September 21 at 12:15 p.m.
A preview of the September/October issue of Small Times with the story about Dr. Endo is available online.
The lifetime achievement award is given to only one recipient a year and recognizes an individual who has made a lasting and foundational contribution to commercial micro and nanotechnology, including inventing critical tools, materials and manufacturing methods that help others create new products and build businesses. Professor Endo’s work developing manufacturing methods for carbon nanotubes has led directly to commercial applications, has enabled others to use the materials in their work, and has inspired other scientists to explore and harness nanoscale processes.
Awards in six other categories will be presented at the luncheon to individual winners and four runners-up in each category. They will also be unveiled in the September/October issue of Small Times Magazine. The other categories are product, company, business leader, researcher, innovator and advocate.
Sept. 6, 2006 (NanoCon Update) —
Edward Moran is director of product innovation and leader of the nanotech industry practice at Deloitte Services LP. He provides companies with consultative assistance in securing financing, strategic planning, product innovation, market segmentation, competitive positioning, and industry analysis.
An active member of the nanotech business community, Moran is a member of the National Academies’ National Nanotech Initiative (NNI) Review Committee and the Nanotech Working Group of the US Council for International Business, among other activities.
He will be moderating the nano transportation (aerospace, automotive, military) panel at NanoCon International on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Sept. 5, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Going public?
Thomas Mino has served as chief executive officer, president and a director of nanomaterials company Lumera since September 2001. Lumera went public in 2004.
From November 1999 to September 2001, he served as vice president and general manager of the high-speed long-haul business unit of Agere Systems Inc., an optical components supplier. From 1991 to October 1998, he was president and chief executive officer of Synergy Semiconductor Corp., a specialty high-speed semiconductor manufacturer. Mr. Mino has a B.S.E.E. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
He will be on the “Going Public?” panel at NanoCon International at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 22.
Sept. 1, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Of material concern
Peter Krueger is head of the working group on nanotechnology at Bayer MaterialScience AG, where since 2004 he has been head of the physics department within the coatings, adhesives and sealants business unit.
Krueger joined the department of polymer physics at Bayer Central Research in 1993, focused on structure-property-relationships of thermoplastics, especially of blends and rubber modification. He became head of the polymer physics department in 2000, focused on thermoplastics, synthetic rubber, polyurethanes, coatings and adhesives.
Krueger will be speaking on the materials panel at NanoCon International at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday Sept. 20.
Aug. 31, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — The best defense is a good…technology
Sharon Smith is director of advanced technology at Lockheed Martin’s headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. She is responsible for research and technology initiatives, including independent research and development projects, university involvement, and various other R&D activities.
The prior chair of the company’s steering group on microsystems and MEMS, she is currently the chair of the steering group on nanotechnology. Smith has twenty-five years of experience in management, program management, engineering, and research and development at Eli Lilly and Co., IBM Corp., Loral, and Lockheed Martin.
She will be speaking at NanoCon International on the nano transportation (aerospace, automotive, military) panel at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Aug. 30, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Shining a light on nanoelectronics
Jia Chen is a research staff member of Nanoscale Science and Technology at IBM’s T. J. Watson Research Center. She received her Ph.D. in physics in 2000 from Yale University where she pioneered breakthroughs in molecular memories and circuits.
Her work was recognized as part of the “Breakthrough of the Year” in Science in 2001. In 2003, she joined the Watson Research Center in the area of nanotechnology. Recently she has found novel methods to drastically improve the electronic properties of high performance carbon nanotube devices, and new ways to generate intense light from an ultra-small source. Her current research focuses on carbon nanotubes and nanoscale materials-based electronic and optoelectronic devices and technologies.
She will be speaking on the nanoelectronics panel at NanoCon International at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21.
Aug. 29, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Living in a nanomaterial world
Ralf Anselmann is head of exploration and validation at Creavis, the strategic research and development and corporate venturing arm of Degussa AG.
Creavis is charged with enhancing Degussa’s portfolio by building high-value businesses in specialty chemistry through new technologies and markets — hence, nanotechnology. Prior to joining Creavis, Anselmann was head of R&D for cosmetic pigments at Merck, where he had worked since 1986. Anselmann will appear on the nanomaterials panel at NanoCon International, to be held at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Aug. 28, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Tech transfer techniques?
Mike Slessor is the assistant director in the Office of Technology Transfer at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Slessor is part of a team that manages the Caltech intellectual property portfolio (along with that of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory), directs outside counsel in patent prosecution, and negotiates agreements to license intellectual property from JPL and Caltech to outside companies. He is a member of the board of directors of Micromanipulator Corporation, and a member of the scientific advisory board of Oraxion Corporation.
Slessor, a former Honeywell process engineer, will be on the intellectual property panel, speaking at NanoCon International at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21.
Aug. 25, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — What does it take to raise funding?
Ask Vinie Zhang, vice president of Hitachi’s corporate venture capital group responsible for strategic investment in IT, biotech, telecommunications and material sciences.
Prior to joining Hitachi, she was a vice president at Asiatech Ventures, an early-stage cross pacific venture fund, where she made numerous investments in enterprise software, wireless, and communications. She is appearing on the early stage funding panel at NanoCon International, to be held on Friday, Sept. 22 at 11 a.m.
Aug. 24, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Nanotech for aerospace, automotive and military use.
Leonard Chen has been with Raytheon for more than 15 years and is based out of Raytheon Vision Systems in Goleta, Calif.. As a Director of EO Strategic Components on a Contracted R&D (CRAD) team, his primary role is starting new CRAD programs that give key leverage for larger systems throughout Raytheon.
He will be participating in the Nano Transportation (Aerospace, Automotive, Military) panel to be held at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at NanoCon International.
Aug. 23, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — You must remember this.
Greg Schmergel heads one of the most innovative efforts to commercialize new memory technology. Nantero, the Woburn, Mass., startup of which he is president and CEO, is using carbon nanotubes to build fast, non-volatile memory chips.
The company has made significant strides in developing the technology, including developing procedures for using carbon nanotubes in a standard fab environment. Get the inside scoop on how he has pushed Nantero to the forefront of nanoelectronics innovation. Schmergel will be participating in the nanoelectronics panel at NanoCon International, being held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sep. 21.
Aug. 22, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Can you hear me now?
Nanotechnology has a variety of applications in telecommunications, and Motorola’s Iwona Turlik knows where they are. Turlik, corporate vice president at Motorola, has led Motorola’s technology acquisition office, its advanced technology center and other divisions — a unique perch from which to gauge nanotech’s impact on telecommunications technologies.
She will be speaking at NanoCon International at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21.
Aug. 21, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Expert explains innovation management
Battelle CEO Carl Kohrt knows a thing or two about managing technology innovation. His organization oversees 20,000 staff members and conduct $3.4 billion in annual research and development.
Battelle sees its commitment to nanotechnology as a logical extension of its research and development experience and its history of innovation. Kohrt will discuss how his organization fosters and manages science- and technology-based innovation, and how it helps bring emerging technologies to the marketplace. The complete cycle of innovation — from concept to commercialization — and the practical decisions necessary along the way will also be explored. His keynote address will take place at NanoCon International on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m.
Aug. 18, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — The life of a serial entrepreneur
There are the entrepreneurs, and then there are the serial entrepreneurs, those who found new startups on innovation after innovation. They are rare enough, and even more so in nanotech. But David Soane is one of them.
The founder of companies including Aclara, Nano-Tex, Innovative Construction and Building Materials, Soane Labs and Cosmetica, Soane will discuss his latest efforts at Alnis Biosciences and share his thoughts on what it takes to be a successful nano entrepreneur. His keynote presentation at NanoCon International is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Aug. 14, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Automotive nanoapplications driving future
Nanotechnologies in cars and trucks are not just about new paints and composites. They will most likely also be the driving technology behind higher fuel efficiency and improved performance. Mark Verbrugge, director of General Motors’ materials and processes laboratory, will overview recent developments and open questions associated with current nanotechnology-based materials for body subsystems and promising electronic materials for energy storage and transfer.
Mr. Verbrugge will be a keynote speaker at NanoCon International at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 21, as well as a panelist on the Transportation panel at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20.
Aug. 9, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Achieving nano success through partnership
What’s the hottest trend in nano? It’s all about partnering. Learn from Dr. Thomas Sawitowski, entrepreneur and corporate nanotechnology leader, how ALTANA/BYK Chemie has partnered with a nano company to shorten innovation cycles and time-to-market. Strategic relationships are essential in an age when there aren’t enough resources or time to build all the necessary capabilities internally.
Dr. Sawitowski’s keynote presentation will discuss how ALTANA Chemie entered into a strategic, global alliance with Nanophase Technology Corporation more than 2 years ago. This partnership has strengthened both companies in their position as leading companies for specialty chemicals, as well as tailor-made nanomaterials and nanomaterials dispersions. During this case study, Dr. Sawitowski will give insights into the strategic relationship, lessons learned, and opportunities that the partnership created.
Aug. 4, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — Leading researcher from PNNL joins nanoenergy panel
Dr. Paul Burrows, laboratory fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the energy science and technology division, will be participating as a panelist on the energy panel at Small Times NanoCon International on September 21.
With more than 71 U.S. patents and 45 international patents, Burrows is an innovator whose work has been instrumental in the creation of two new companies: Universal Display Corp., a developer of flat panel display technology, and Vitex Systems, a company spun off from Battelle to develop flexible encapsulation technology for organic light emitting displays. Prior to PNNL, Burrows held positions at Battelle, Princeton University, University of Southern California, and the Riken Institute in Japan.
Aug. 1, 2006 (NanoCon Update) — How is SOX impacting nano IPO’s?
Come hear Doug Jamison, president, CFO and COO of Harris & Harris, provide insight into this vexing question facing the nanotechnology sector.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), mandates, among other things, that all publicly held companies listing in the United States establish and attest to the effectiveness of their internal controls surrounding financial reporting.
The resulting cost related to the preparation and auditing of these internal controls far exceeded was first predicted, and has caused a backlash related to whether the Act makes it too burdensome for young companies to become public entities in the United States. This presentation will provide a brief introduction into what SOX requires, the expenses related to complying with SOX, and the potential impact it may have on the funding and emergence of nanotech companies. Mr. Jamison’s presentation is scheduled for 10:45am PST, September 22.