Archive for January, 2012

NanoBusiness News – Winter Edition 2012

Posted on January 30th, 2012 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

I want to share with the members of the Nanotechnology Community an amazing story of one young woman’s scientific journey.

Calif. HS student devises possible cancer cure
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57358994/calif-hs-student-devises-possible-cancer-cure/?tag=pop;stories

And in other NANO NEWS . . .

Global Nanotechnology Market to Reach US$30.4 Billion by 2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/nanotechnology_nanotubes/nanomaterials_nanofilms/prweb9120599.htm

2012 Predictions For TSCA Reform And EPA Initiatives
http://www.lawbc.com/uploads/docs/00088951.pdf

Research 2.0
Equity Research Coverage
Harris & Harris Group: Compelling Value in Nanotech
http://blog.research2zero.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/HH-Update-Jan-9-2012.pdf

Nanotech a ‘cross-cutting technology,’ state official says
http://m.heraldsun.com/heraldsun/db_39935/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=gvLy0b7B&detailindex=1&pn=0&ps=5&full=true#display

America’s Dirty War Against Manufacturing (Part 2): Carl Pope
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-19/america-s-dirty-war-against-manufacturing-part-2-carl-pope.html

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE
Nanotech Commercialization Conference
April 4-5, 2012
American Tobacco Campus
Research Triangle, Durham, NC
www.nanoevent.org

If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.
– Albert Einstein

Regards,

Vincent Caprio “Serving the Nanotechnology Community for Over a Decade”
Executive Director
NanoBusiness Commercialization Association
203-733-1949
vincent@nanobca.org
www.nanobca.org

Nanotech Commercialization Conference April 4-5th Research Triangle, NC

Posted on January 23rd, 2012 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The NanoBusiness Commercialization Association www.nanobca.org has joined with the N.C. Department of Commerce http://www.nccommerce.com/ and the Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology (COIN) http://www.nanobiotech.org/ to co-host the Nanotech Commercialization Conference http://www.nccommerce.com/scitech/ncc. The event will bring together every facet of our Nanotech Community: a coalition of nanotechnology stakeholders including nanotechnology companies (public and private), nanotechnology innovators, cutting edge start-ups, leading scientists, investors and executives from Fortune 100 companies. The event will be held on April 4-5, 2012 at the American Tobacco Campus http://www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com/rent-bay-7.html in Research Triangle, NC.

We are very pleased to be teaming with COIN on this groundbreaking event. Last fall I had the opportunity to spend a week in North Carolina and was very surprised at the activity in the nanotechnology community, particularly in the biotechnology sector. At present time, there are over 40 NanoBio companies located in North Carolina with leading research being undertaken at Duke, UNC, NC State, Wake Forest and the region’s other universities.

“For several years, North Carolina has been recognized as a top state for nanotechnology research and practical application,” said John Hardin http://www.nccommerce.com/scitech/board-of-science-technology/executive-staff/dr.-john-hardin , Executive Director of the Office of Science & Technology in the North Carolina Department of Commerce. “This conference, which focuses on moving nanoscience from the lab to the global market, will both highlight North Carolina’s pioneering role and help participants turn emerging nanotechnologies into skilled, high-wage jobs.”

“Having the founding business organization of the nanotechnology sector, the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association, choose to partner with COIN and N.C. Department of Commerce on this event is most gratifying and demonstrates North Carolina’s leadership in the nanotechnology field,” said Griffith A. Kundahl http://www.nanobiotech.org/about-us/meet-our-team, Executive Director of COIN.

About N.C. Department of Commerce
N.C. Commerce is the state’s lead economic development agency, developing and implementing strategies around job creation and investment, community and workforce development, and innovation. For more information, see: http://www.nccommerce.com/

About COIN
Established in 2009, COIN is a nonprofit, virtual center of innovation for nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine based in North Carolina. COIN supports those organizations that are most-impacted by the convergence of nano (advanced materials) and bio (life sciences) by ensuring that they have immediate structured access to all relevant resources and a conduit to key regulatory agencies impacting the field. COIN is a premier source of networking opportunities, information, and tailored innovation services that address client needs and catalyze and advance commercialization of nanobiotechnology. Through a network of academic and emerging company researchers, COIN provides access to a myriad of nano-biotechnologies that may be applied across a range of life science sectors. COIN provides a single point of entry to the nanobiotechnology community, connecting key players at the intersection of advanced materials and life sciences.

Save the date April 4-5, 2012! We look forward to seeing you in the spring in North Carolina.

Regards,

Vincent Caprio “Serving the Nanotechnology Community for Over a Decade”
Executive Director
NanoBusiness Commercialization Association
203-733-1949
vincent@nanobca.org
www.nanobca.org
www.vincentcaprio.org

NanoBusiness Selects Most Influential Nanotechnology Leaders of 2011

Posted on January 5th, 2012 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

I love lists, data, statistics and all types of information. Every year, for over 40 years, my mother has purchased the Farmer’s Almanac for me.

America has many World Records. Here are a couple of questions for our Nanotechnology Community.
1) What D.C. Monument is the World’s tallest Obelisk?
2) Batavia, Illinois is the home to the World’s largest atom smasher. What is the name of the facility?

Today, we announce our Most Influential Nanotechnology Leaders List from 2011. I have enjoyed communicating with all these leaders in the Nanotechnology Community. The common thread amongst them is that they are all Nanotechnology Evangelists. Kudos to these leaders for their contributions to our Nanotechnology Community.

Dr. Ajay Malshe, Founder, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, NanoMech Inc.
http://www.nanomech.biz/company-profile/leadership/

Alain E. Kaloyeros, PhD, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, CNSE; Vice President and Special Advisor to the President, University-wide Economic Innovation and Outreach; Professor of Nanoscience
http://cnse.albany.edu/AboutUs/FacultyStaff/ExecutiveStaff/AlainEKaloyeros.aspx

Anil R. Diwan, PhD, Chairman and President, NanoViricides, Inc.
http://www.nanoviricides.com/board.html

Dr. Anita Goel, MD, PhD, Chairman & Scientific Director, Nanobiosym and Chairman & CEO, Nanobiosym Diagnostics
http://www.nanobiosym.com/our-team/chairman-and-ceo.html

David J. Arthur, Chief Executive Officer, SouthWest NanoTechnologies (SWeNT)
http://swentnano.com/about/management.php

Douglas W. Jamison, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Harris & Harris Group
http://www.tinytechvc.com/team.cfm

Fern P. O’Brian, Partner, Thompson Hine
http://www.thompsonhine.com/lawyer/FernOBrian/

Griffith A. Kundahl, Executive Director, Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology
http://www.nanobiotech.org/about-us/meet-our-team

Harry Bushong, President and Co-founder, nanoTox, Inc.
http://www.nanotox.com/management/management-team.html

James M. Hussey, Chief Executive Officer, member of the Board of Directors, NanoInk, Inc.
http://www.nanoink.net/management-team.html

Jeffrey Morse, Managing Director, National Nanomanufacturing Network, NSF Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
http://www.internano.org/index.php?option=com_internanodirectory&task=view&id=4&Itemid=179

Jess A. Jankowski, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nanophase
http://www.nanophase.com/about/executives.aspx

Jim Phillips, Chairman and CEO, NanoMech Inc.
http://www.nanomech.biz/company-profile/leadership/

Josh Wolfe, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Lux Capital
http://www.luxcapital.com/team/profile/josh-wolfe

The Honorable Kelly H. Carnes, President and Chief Executive Officer, TechVision21
http://www.techvision21.com/techvision/team/kellycarnes.html

Lloyd Whitman, PhD, Deputy Director, Center for Nanoscale Science & Technology (NIST)
http://www.nist.gov/cnst/whitman.cfm

Lynn L. Bergeson, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
http://www.lawbc.com/about/professional-resumes/attorneys-shareholders/

Dr. Mihail C. Roco, Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology, National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/eng/staff/mroco.jsp

Mostafa Analoui, PhD, Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences, The Livingston Group and Chairman and CEO of Cense Biosciences, Inc.
http://www.livingstonsecurities.com/about.php

Peter Hébert, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Lux Capital
http://www.luxcapital.com/team/profile/peter-hebert

Dr. Sally Tinkle, Deputy Director, National Nanotechnology Coordination Office of the National Science and Technology Council
http://www.internano.org/nms2011/tinkle

Scott Livingston, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Livingston Securities LLC.
http://www.livingstonsecurities.com/about.php

Scott E. Rickert, PhD, President, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Nanofilm
http://www.nanofilmtechnology.com/about_nanofilm/bio-scott.htm

Travis Earles, Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Initiatives, Lockheed Martin Corporation

William Moffitt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nanosphere
http://www.nanosphere.us/page/management-team

The answer to question one is The Washington Monument. The answer to question two is Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, named for Enrico Fermi.

Happy New Year and here is to a prosperous 2012.

Regards,

Vincent Caprio “Serving the Nanotechnology Community for Over a Decade”
Executive Director
NanoBusiness Commercialization Association
203-733-1949
vincent@nanobca.org
www.nanobca.org
www.vincentcaprio.org

NanoBusiness 2011 Year End News – Top Trends & SBIR Reauthorization

Posted on January 3rd, 2012 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

I would like to share with you two Nanocentric articles that are relevant to our Community.

Our first article is written by our good friend Scott Rickert, CEO of Nanofilm http://www.nanofilmtechnology.com/index.aspx?bhcp=1 and NanoBusiness Board member. Mr. Rickert’s insight as a Nanotechnology entrepreneur is an interesting read.

NANOTECHNOLOGY: SIX TO WATCH IN ’12
A look back at 2011 nano-topics, pointing the way in 2012.
By Scott E. Rickert
Dec. 21, 2011
http://www.industryweek.com/articles/nanotechnology_six_to_watch_in_12_26211.aspx?SectionID=4

It’s been a year, hasn’t it? Not always as good as we’d hoped, but never as dark as we feared. My take? We’ve learned. And with that knowledge, we’re moving on. That’s why this month I’m making some prognostications about 2012 by revisiting our hottest topics in 2011.

The #1, #2 and #3 Nano-Topics to Watch in 2012 are the same as for 2011: globalization, commercialization and partnership – as I reported from Zurich, Cyprus and Boston gatherings. It’s clear that we can’t talk about one without the others – the SWOT analysis brings them all to the table. Is it a threat to America’s technology leadership? An opportunity for our innovators? A call for more government funding? A plea for less interference? All that and more.

So my advice for 2012? Get on with it. The world is going to keep getting flatter. That’s why I’ve been to talk business in India, the Middle East and Europe during the fourth quarter. Others are doing the same. This month India announced a NanoPark near the Mumbai airport to serve the 50+ nanocompanies there looking for worldwide commercialization partners. China held a conference in October for 500 R&D, industry, government and investment leaders to explore public-private commercialization partnerships – including a couple of America’s best-known consumer and nanotech names – plus companies from Japan, Iran, Israel, Germany and Korea.

And what about funding for commercialization in the U.S.? The 2012 Obama administration budget, with its $2.1 billion for nanotechnology, still languishes in Congress, and the 2013 version is likely to face the same fate. It’s an important facet to the jobs creation plans in the government’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership program, so it may get at least some of the attention it deserves.

But here’s the really interesting development that happened in November. The National Nanotechnology Initiative made a formal response to questions about commercialization progress from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Some pundits suggest PCAST was challenging the value of the billions of tax dollars already invested. The good news? There was plenty to say. Speakers reeled off activities for some 7,800 projects, touching all 50 states and involving 15 agencies, from the Department of Defense to the National Institutes of Health.

There’s cause for concern, of course. A university nanotechnology institute warns that other countries are building (and spending!) to rival our government program. Lux Research cautions that Europe may surpass the U.S. in nanotechnology-enabled products by 2015 unless we take an aggressive commercialization stance.

Still, there’s plenty of encouraging commercialization news. Nanomedicine and environmentally friendlier nano-enabled batteries, both topics we explored here in 2011, continue to have breakthroughs.

Hot topic #4 in our nano review was how nanotechnology is making hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” for oil and natural gas faster, easier – and more environmentally friendly. Despite recent concerns about a Wyoming location, statistics count seven billion barrels of oil and 600 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in safe results. And, I’d bet my bottom dollar that future eco-improvements will be nano-enabled ones.

That’s the perfect segue to Topic #5: environmental health and safety concerns. Work by the EPA, FDA and other regulators continues apace, as do the efforts of private industry. While I saw a flurry of panic early in the year, the mood now is calm, focused and reasonable.

We need to keep it that way – because of Topic #6: nano-terrorism. Remember September’s column about the package bomb mailed to nanotech faculty at a Mexico university? I had expected to call an “all-clear” – until December 7. That’s the day another professor in Mexico suffered minor burns from a letter bomb. No one has yet claimed responsibility and authorities aren’t ready to speculate – or even name the addressee. And, while the college is installing metal detectors, no one is slowing down their research.

So let’s close out 2011 on a positive note, too, by a stop by the geek-chic nanotechnology t-shirts we donned in July’s column. Favorite then: “Nanotechnology. Don’t sweat the big stuff.” New favorite: “Grey Goo. There’s greater risk from the back of your fridge.” The perfect sentiment for a Happy Nano New Year greeting.

Scott E. Rickert is chief executive of Nanofilm, Ltd.
——————————————————————-

Our second article is a technical analysis of SBIR reauthorization brought to us by By David T. Ralston, Jr., Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

CONGRESS FINALLY REAUTHORIZES SBIR/STTR PROGRAMS AND DECIDES TO PERMIT OWNERSHIP OF SBIR APPLICANTS BY VENTURE CAPITAL ENTITIES

After more than five years of debate and legislative battles, Congress recently re-authorized the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) for six years, ending September 30, 2017, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, H.R. 1540. In addition to the reauthorization, H.R. 1540 permits federal agencies to allocate a portion of their SBIR funding for small business concerns (SBCs) owned by multiple venture capital firms, private equity firms, and hedge funds (collectively herein VC entities), and requires that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issue new regulations governing SBIR program participation by such SBC applicants. The outcome will be dramatic changes in the SBA’s rules concerning affiliation and citizenship of SBCs with VC entity investment.

Provided in this article is a quick assessment of the provisions permitting VC entity investment in SBIR participants. These changes will be a major discussion topic in 2012 as H.R. 1540 mandates that the SBA issue proposed regulations implementing the new approach to VC entity investment by mid-April 2012 (within 120 days of H.R. 1540’s enactment), and adopt final rules by December 2012.

As to agency SBIR funding, H.R. 1540 provides that the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) may award up to 25% of their annual SBIR funding to SBIR applicants that are SBCs majority-owned by multiple VC entities. All other federal agencies may award up to 15% of their annual SBIR funding to such applicants. The impact of this provision is to cap agency SBIR funding for SBC applicants majority-owned by multiple VC entities, and thereby preserve the lion’s share of SBIR funding for all other applicants.

To implement the 25/15% funding authority, NIH, DOE, NSF or another agency desiring to make such grants must first file a determination with Congress that SBIR awards to such SBC applicants are necessary to induce needed investment by VC entities in small business research and are consistent with the agency’s SBIR program. Furthermore, SBC applicants that are majority-owned by multiple VC entities must register with the SBA, thereby providing public notice of their application status.

Turning to SBIR applications by SBCs owned by VC entities, the statute, after setting out supportive Congressional intent, directs the SBA to issue new regulations permitting SBIR participation by SBCs majority-owned by multiple VC entities (unless such an SBIR applicant is: (1) a large business, (2) owned or controlled by a large business, or (3) is, or is majority owned by, a foreign entity or non-U.S. citizen). To accomplish that goal, H.R. 1540 effectively mandates that the SBA’s new regulations revise (1) the applicable SBIR size standards, (2) the related “affiliation” rules governing SBC SBIR applicants and VC entities, and (3) the rules governing U.S. citizenship of SBC SBIR applicants.

Current SBA rules effectively limit VC entity investment in SBIR applicants to a minority position, using a combination of the SBA’s size standard and the SBA’s “affiliation” rules, plus a restrictive U.S. citizenship requirement. In short, if a VC entity or group of VC entities with common shareholders holds a controlling interest in an SBIR applicant, the SBA deems the VC entity (or the VC entity group) and the entire portfolio of investments held by the VC entity or group to be “affiliated” with the SBIR applicant. As the SBA size limit for SBIR participants is 500 employees, the typical impact of VC entity affiliation with the SBIR applicant is to render the SBIR applicant ineligible for SBIR grants because the total employee count of (1) the SBIR participant’s employees, plus (2) VC entity’s portfolio employees, will exceed the 500 employee limit. The SBA’s current U.S. citizenship requirement applicable to SBIR applicants also prevents control by VC entities, because it requires that 51% of the ownership and control of the SBC SBIR applicant be held by U.S. citizens who are natural persons, not corporate entities such as VC entities. The impact of those rules has been to preclude SBCs controlled by VC entities from the SBIR program.

H.R. 1540 will now permit SBIR applications by SBCs majority-owned by multiple VC entities, a result principally accomplished through changes to the affiliation rules governing VC portfolio investments. The statute provides that, even when a VC entity itself is determined to be affiliated with an SBC SBIR applicant, a portfolio investment of that VC entity shall not be determined to be affiliated with the SBIR applicant when (1) the VC is not a majority owner of the SBIR applicant, and (2) the VC is not a majority owner of the portfolio investment and does not control a majority of the board of directors of the portfolio investment.

This appears to be a “safe-harbor” provision, meaning that (a) a non-affiliation determination is mandatory when those two criteria are met, and (b) a non-affiliation determination could still be found even if the two criteria are not met. Notably, the statute retains the SBA’s general authority to find that VCs and their portfolio investments are affiliated with an SBC SBIR applicant, but subject to (1) the foregoing provision, and (2) that affiliation cannot be based on shared portfolio investment investors.

As to the U.S. citizenship requirement, H.R. 1540 mandates that the SBA provide new rules on determining citizenship, and consider whether the SBIR applicant is (1) 51% owned and controlled by natural U.S. citizens or domestic VC entities, (2) domiciled in the U.S., and/or (3) a direct or indirect subsidiary of a foreign firm. A finding that the SBIR applicant is a direct or indirect subsidiary of a foreign firm will occur when (1) a foreign VC entity owns more than 20% of the SBC SBIR applicant, or (2) in the aggregate, foreign entities own more than 49% of the applicant.

Questions on H.R. 1540 may be directed to David Ralston dralston@foley.com in the Washington office of Foley & Lardner LLP.

2012 is shaping up to be a great year for our Nanotechnology Community. I would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year.

Regards,

Vincent Caprio “Serving the Nanotechnology Community for Over a Decade”
Executive Director
NanoBusiness Commercialization Association
203-733-1949
vincent@nanobca.org
www.nanobca.org
www.vincentcaprio.org