ORAU, ORNL, Kauffman Foundation Sponsor Nano Nexus 2007 Event
April 2-4, 2007, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Designed to advance nanotechnology research collaborations and to explore new avenues for nanotechnology innovation and commercialization
Details are available at www.nanonexus.org.
A main theme of the Nano Nexus 2007 event is the role that education plays in each stage of the innovation and commercialization process. The Nano Idea to Product (I2P)®, an early-stage technology commercialization plan competition founded at the University of Texas at Austin, was selected for the Nano Nexus event because it is the newest format being used for student business competitions. It provides an unmatched educational opportunity for students from different disciplines to work together and gain experience in the technology commercialization process. By matching technologies resulting from a university's fundamental research programs with potential markets, a strong foundation is set for educating and developing the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.
The Nano Nexus 2007 will feature three tracks:
- Nano Idea to Product (I2P) ® - A business competition for university graduate students to present new nanotechnology product ideas based on real market needs and to receive direct feedback from experienced entrepreneurs.
- Nano Industry Forum – A one-on-one opportunity for private industry to present their research challenges and needs and for university faculty to map their research to industry priorities.
- Nano Venture Showcase – Start-up companies that are commercializing nanotechnology will present their business plans to an audience of the nation’s top institutional and individual investors, as well as industry representatives and professional service providers.
University participants will benefit in a variety of ways:
- Students can:
- Develop skills necessary for technology commercialization and entrepreneurship
- Experience first-hand what happens in the commercialization process
- Meet with and learn what venture capitalists look for when investing in start-up companies
- Learn the value of working with different disciplines (science, business, law) before entering the workplace
- Network with potential employers
- Research faculty can:
- Learn about cutting-edge nanotechnology development at ORNL
- Learn how to more effectively collaborate with ORNL scientists and engineers
- More effectively set the direction of their research efforts based on industry priorities
- Develop new contacts with potential industry partners.
- Technology transfer staff can:
- Identify promising nanotechnology intellectual property by having student teams investigate the market opportunity
- Accelerate their licensing revenue by recommending companies to participate in the Nano Venture Showcase
Tours will also be available for the Center for Nanophase Material Science (CNMS) and the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS).
The Nano Nexus 2007 Web site, www.nanonexus.org, contains additional information on team requirements, idea sources, application guidelines, judging criteria, and schedule.
For more information, contact one of the following individuals:
- General event information: Teresa Nichols, tnichols@tech2020.org, 865-220-2020
- Student teams/I2P®: Joy Fisher, fisher@nanonexus.org, 828-817-2388
- ORAU point of contact: Cathy Fore, cathy.fore@orau.org, 865-241-8158