NANOTECHNOLOGY BUSINESS

Given the field of Nanotechnology is so vast there are bound to many different industries involved. I decided to take a quick look at some business moves and shakes to give you a feel of just how active things are in the area at the moment.
Again I am not going to apply any particualar order but as the site grows I will eventually do up a list of the top ten movers and shakers in the industry and the top ten personalities.From the PRNewswire.com comes the news that Ener1 announced that it has declared a dividend to its shareholders in the form of a distribution of five million shares of common stock of Splinex Technology Inc. This is to do with a previously announced merger agreement, under which a non-active subsidiary of Ener1 will be merged into Splinex Technology. Splinex Technology is a developer of multi- dimensional, visual computing software and technology. Ener1 develops and markets nanotechnology-based materials through its NanoEner, Inc. subsidiary and fuel cell components and testing services through its EnerFuel, Inc. subsidiary. Ener1's products have applications for markets that include power tools and industrial equipment, medical devices, hybrid vehicle propulsion and military communications. It is also interested in clean efficient sources of energy.

Coming from the Daily Nexus which is the UCSB student mag on line, we learn that for the eight year in a row UCSB have received external funding for research worth over $160 million. It’s a 12% jump on last years funding and according to sources, has to do with Campus research becoming more prestigious. There seem to be a number of groups willing to throw money at research into the field of Nano especially the Military and other Federal Agencies.

Industrial Nanotech Inc., an aspiring world leader in nanotechnology-based solutions, announces that the Company is in the process of completing an application to become listed on the Over-the-Counter ;Pink Sheets market under the stock ticker symbol INTK. Industrial Nanotechs premier products include patent-pending Nansulate(TM), an industrial-grade liquid-applied insulation and corrosion inhibitor with revolutionary performance characteristics. Here for more on this news.

Atlas Mining Company, has entered into a strategic relationship to develop high value applications for the unique hollow microtubules currently being produced at the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah. NanoDynamics, headquartered in Buffalo, NY, will begin purchasing Halloysite clay from Atlas immediately in order to create commercial applications for this novel material. The Dragon Mine halloysite has a unique tubular quality, not unlike a grain of rice, only considerably smaller and hollow. The halloysite microtubules can act as a time-release capsule, dissolving over time, and can be filled with such things as antifouling paint, antiscalants, herbicides, pest repellents, and other agents which could benefit from a controlled release. Remember all the dot com hype that we had late 80s early 90’s well it might be about to happen again but this time Nano.com. The Chicago Tribune recently published a report that the National Venture Capital Association is predicting 2005 will bring a strong return of investment in start-up companies. The group's president, Mark Heesen, noted in a press release that many venture capitalists will have new money to invest in the new year. With so many mergers and so much research going on, it is not implausible to think many of these investors will be looking to Nanotechnology.
Hansen Gray & Company, Inc.is a publicly-traded venture capital firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm's management has substantial experience in all areas of investment banking, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, with an emphasis on emerging technologies including nanotechnology. They have just received the final part of a $2.5 million financing package. Lucky them I say. Actually they are involved with nanotechnology cooling systems for microchips. The funds are scheduled for use to further the development and commercialization of the Company's nanotechnology-based cooling system for PCs and notebook computers."
Accelrys, Inc. a leading provider of software for computation, simulation and the management and mining of scientific data used by biologists, chemists and materials scientists, including nanotechnology researchers for product design as well as drug discovery and development, have recently announced that it granted options to purchase its common stock to 3 individuals who commenced employment during November 2004. A total of 3,500 options were granted at an exercise price ranging from $6.40 to $6.76.

ObjectSoft Corp. announced that it has received investments totaling $250,000. In addition, it announced that it has invested the funds in a new Nanotechnology venture in partnership with Terra Solar Development Corp. A new website is under construction for OS and when its up I will link you to it.

More good news on the medical front Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. has signed an exclusive license agreement with NeoPharm for the Japanese development rights for IL13-PE38QQR, generically known as cintredekin besudotox, which is NeoPharm's lead drug candidate for the treatment of malignant cells.. It is basically a tumour-targeting molecule (interleukin-13) and a cytotoxic agent that manage to make cancerous cells self-destruct.

An IBM-led consortium of high-tech companies from across the globe - marking another step in the Governor George E. Pataki ‘s goal of making New York a worldwide leader in university-based research, business development, and job creation, has invested $2.5 Billion, yes billon dollars in research and investment.

This investment includes Sony's investment into the new IBM leading edge 300nm wafer chip making plant, while IBM and its international partners will work jointly on some of the most advanced semiconductor development programs in the world. IBM and a group of the largest equipment suppliers in nanoelectronics that includes TEL and Applied Materials intend to invest an unprecedented $450 million to expand the research and development capabilities of the Albany Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics.

Nano-Proprietary, Inc., or rather its subsidiary, Applied Nanotech, Inc. (ANI), has entered into a research and development agreement with KRI, Inc. to develop a hydrogen sensor for automotive fuel cell applications. KRI, Inc. is the research and development subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co. Ltd., the second largest gas utility company in Japan. All press release papers and other information is available from http://www.sec.gov/

Emergency Filtration Products, Inc. has entered into an exclusive, long term importation agreement with its partner, Itochu Techno Chemical Inc. whereby Itochu will distribute the company’s RespAide, Vapor Isolation Valve and Series One Breathing Circuit Filter products in Japan.

Itochu is one of the worlds largest trading companies with revenues of over $85 Billion dollars in 2003. EFP’s filter system has produced filtration efficiencies of ’greater than 99.99%’ at a particulate size of 0.027 microns and they are used in the resusitation of respiratory or cardiac cases. Itochu will work alongside its partner/affiliate Senko Medical Instrument Mfg. Co. Ltd.