Tag Archives: Small Times Magazine

May 18, 2006 — Austin, Texas-based Nano-Proprietary through its subsidiary, Applied Nanotech, has formed a strategic alliance with Mitsui & Co. Ltd of Japan to develop nanotechnology businesses. The companies plan to work together to develop and license products based on Applied Nanotech’s intellectual property and research capabilities, combined with Mitsui’s international business network.

The initial focus will be on creating prospective licensing and manufacturing partnerships to facilitate the commercialization of carbon nanotube field emission technologies, products and related businesses. The companies hope that they will be able to establish pilot lines for a future manufacturing base in Japan.

May 17, 2006 — Virginia Tech is utilizing a nanotech product to protect athletes utilizing its synthetic turf fields, sports medicine training room, locker rooms, whirlpools and wrestling rooms.

Virginia Tech says it’s setting new standards of proactive protection by treating its facilities with Sports Antimicrobial System to provide what it calls `the best possible environment for its student-athletes.’ The system creates a long-lasting antimicrobial layer effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, mold, fungi and algae.

SAS is made up ofTurfAide, SportsAide and SportsAide Fabric Conditioner that treat a wide array of sports surfaces. TurfAide provides antimicrobial protection to synthetic turf systems; SportsAide protects athletic facilities including training rooms, locker rooms, whirlpools, gym mats and exercise equipment; while SportsAide Fabric Conditioner provides antimicrobial protection, stain releasers and odor control to sports laundry.

The nanotechnology in the Sports Antimicrobial System has been used in consumer goods ranging from shoes to diapers and in medical applications from clean rooms to surgical dressings for more than 30 years.

May 17, 2006 – Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:CBMX)(Nasdaq:ACTG) announced that its CombiMatrix group will collaborate with EAI Corporation, a subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), for to deploy CombiMatrix’s influenza-screening technology in the field. The technology will be used to identify all versions of influenza A, including the Eurasian strain.

Funding for this program will be provided by the Center for Innovative Technology/Institute for Defense and Homeland Security.

May 17, 2006 – Owlstone Nanotech announced that its chemical detection device, the Owlstone Tourist, is now available. The device is based on the company’s micro-machined gas sensor and utilizes technology that the company says is smaller and less expensive than existing technology.

Owlstone Nanotech is focused on commercializing nanotechnology-based chemical detection products. Its initial commercial product, the Owlstone Detector, is a dime-sized device that can be programmed to detect a wide range of chemical agents that may be present in small quantities.

Owlstone Nanotech is a subsidiary of Advance Nanotech.

May 16, 2006 — The Laboratoire d’Electronique de Technologie de l’Information (LETI) in France is one of the first European sites to install and begin using the FEI Titan 80-300. This scanning transmission electron (S/TEM) microscope yields atomic scale imaging and analysis capabilities. It is installed in LETI’s new Center for Innovation in Micro and Nanotechology (MINATEC).

LETI is one of the largest European applied research centers in microelectronics, microsystems and applications. The grand opening for its new MINATEC facility is set for June 1, 2006.

May 16, 2006 – MEMSIC Inc., a CMOS-based MEMS accelerometer and motion sensor provider, announced it has opened an IC design center in Chicago, Ill. The center will focus on the next generation of new products. MEMSIC is planning to launch several products designed at the Chicago design center in 2006.

May 16, 2006 – Nanosphere announced that it has closed $57 million in a Series D financing round. The round was led by Bain Capital LLC and included financing from Allen & Company and founding investor Lurie Investments. The Northbrook, Ill.-based nanotechnology-based molecular diagnostics company was started with technology discovered at Northwestern University.

“We’ve validated our core technology and delivered early versions to customers, and now we’re focused on clinical trials in preparation for an anticipated commercial launch later this year,” Nanosphere CEO William Moffitt said in a written statement. “This funding will help ensure our ability to launch the Verigene System and to develop additional opportunities for commercialization.”

The company’s Verigene System is a platform for genomic testing that eliminates the need for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The financing will also help the company develop and commercialize its Biobarcode technology for protein and nucleic acid detection.

“When commercialized, the technology promises to make possible earlier detection of certain cancers, neurological disorders and other conditions, and has the potential to address a tremendous market opportunity,” said James Nahirny, managing director at Bain Capital Ventures, in a written statement.

James Nahirny and Jeffrey Crisan from Bain Capital were added to the company’s board of directors at the close of the funding round.

May 16, 2006 – Harris & Harris Group announced that it led a $14 million second round financing in D-Wave Systems. of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The second round financing included investments from existing investors, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, BDC Venture Capital, Growthworks Capital Ltd. and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation.

D-Wave Systems develops quantum computing systems for commercial use in several arenas, including logistics, bioinformatics, and life and physical sciences.

Harris & Harris Group is a publicly traded venture capital company that makes initial investments exclusively in tiny technology, including nanotechnology, microsystems and microelectromechanical systems.