July 2010
Vol. 79
For more on these topics and others like them delivered by email each month, subscribe to NanoExpress News here.
Why Funding University Innovation Matters
Forbes
Commentary from Krisztina "Z" Holly
An article in the June 27 New York Times Sunday Business section ("The Idea Incubator Goes to Campus") highlighted a proposal I wrote for the Obama administration's 2011 federal budget designed to accelerate the movement of innovative research from university campuses to the marketplace. The National Science Foundation (NSF) budget proposal calls for $12 million a year to establish several university proof-of-concept programs -- "Innovation Ecosystems" -- in the hope that ultimately academic institutions everywhere can better assist their faculty and students to become successful entrepreneurs.
NSF to Ask Grant Applicants for Data Management Plan
Science Insider
Scientists seeking funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) will soon need to spell out how they plan to manage the data they hope to collect. It's part of a broader move by NSF and other federal agencies to emphasize the importance of community access to data.
Edward Seidel, acting head of NSF's mathematics and physical sciences directorate, described NSF's intention to require all applicants to submit a data management plan along with their grant application in a presentation this morning to the National Science Board, NSF's oversight body. "Not only is it a nice idea," he told the board's Committee on Strategy and Budget, "but it's a scientific necessity. We've been working on this for years."
Well Over 2000 Companies Worldwide Already Involved in Nanotechnology
Nanowerk News
At the latest count, over 2100 companies from 48 countries are involved in nanotechnology research, manufacturing or applications - a number that keeps growing at a considerable pace.
With more than 1100 companies, the U.S. is home to roughly half of all nanotechnology firms. 670 companies are in Europe, 230 in Asia and 210 elsewhere in the world. Within Europe, Germany is represented with 211 companies, followed by the U.K. with 146 companies.
Over 270 companies are involved in the manufacture of raw materials such as nanoparticles, nanofibers and -wires, carbon nanotubes, or quantum dots. More than 340 companies are active in life sciences and pharmaceutical fields. The vast majority with well over half of all companies are involved in manufacturing instruments, devices, or advanced materials and components.
China's Wage Hikes Likely to Lead to Higher Gadget Prices
Silicon Valley Mercury News
The era of cheap manufacturing in China is coming to an end.
Rising wages spurred by a series of labor disputes at factories in China, coupled with the country's just-announced decision to allow its currency to rise in value - making it more expensive to build things there - will lead to higher prices for tech gadgets, cut into corporate bottom lines and force companies to rethink manufacturing strategies anchored in China, the world's assembly line.
INNOVATION
The Daily Beast
While Obama dealt with his wayward general, his Innovation guru - the Google CEO - was trying to jump-start American business. Lauren Streib reports on the 7 sharpest moments at the meeting.
Using Carbon Nanotubes in Lithium Batteries Can Dramatically Improve Energy Capacity
Science Daily
Batteries might gain a boost in power capacity as a result of a new finding from researchers at MIT. They found that using carbon nanotubes for one of the battery's electrodes produced a significant increase -- up to tenfold -- in the amount of power it could deliver from a given weight of material, compared to a conventional lithium-ion battery. Such electrodes might find applications in small portable devices, and with further research might also lead to improved batteries for larger, more power-hungry applications
VA Announces $80M for Innovation Ideas from Private Sector
ExecutiveBiz
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced $80 million dollars in funding to boost the VA Innovation Initiative, looking to the private sectors for fresh ideas to address needs.
The VA will be looking for solutions from private firms in the following areas:
" Innovative Housing Technology to Address Veteran Homelessness: Eliminating Veteran homelessness is a top VA priority. New design and construction techniques, materials and building technology can enable VA to use existing buildings and unused space to rapidly create highly functional, energy efficient and affordable housing.
Update on Nanomaterials Application Center
Texas State University will return ownership of the Nanomaterials Application Center to Advanced Technology Incubator, Inc., effective August 1, 2010. All functions of the Center will be under control of Advanced Technology Incubator, Inc. management. In February, 2003, Advanced Technology Incubator, Inc. transferred ownership of the then named "Nanoparticles Applications Center" to Texas State University. Texas State, in collaboration with Applied Nanotech, Inc. and strong support of Winstead, helped manage and grow the Center by promoting solid scientific advancements in technology, disseminating nanotechnology research information, and helping emerging technology companies.
The University will continue to focus its efforts on the development of nanotechnology breakthroughs in the fields of research through the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Technology, and the Ingram School of Engineering. The University is continuing to work with emerging technology companies and has supported a number of successful ETF awardees.
The Nanomaterials Applications Center has matured to a point where operationally it is more effective to be managed by a dedicated enterprise than a public university. This new dedicated enterprise, Nanotechnology Advancement Center, will be configured as a non-profit organization and is in the process of forming a steering committee that will be comprised of Texas, national and international experts in nanotechnology. The founders' vision for the most important roles of Nanotechnology Advancement Center is:
- to become a center for inventory and assessment of nanotechnology assets and activities in Texas and worldwide;
- to become a network for competence and public education in the field of nanotechnology and its commercialization;
- to become a "lighting rod" for explaining and mitigating nanotechnology related effects on humans and the environment;
- to become the potential Texas partner to other similar national and international centers of nanotechnology.
Texas State University and the present NAC members will continue to partner as appropriate in order to help innovators develop their ideas into successful companies.
.
