The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials
Commercialization Center has announced its first round of funding for three
commercialization projects in nanomaterials throughout the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. The Center targets partnerships of researchers from
universities, small companies, large companies and entrepreneurs in the
growing field of nanomaterials, and it funds projects that have commercial
or defense applications. The close date for this first round of proposals
was January 7, 2007. The following companies were funded:
NanoRDC, LLC was funded in the amount of $51,250 to develop and
commercialize a chemical method for functionalizing carbon nanotubes
(CNT's). This initiative will enable CNTs to be more effectively dispersed
in a wide range of polymers at lower cost. Polymers using these treated
CNTs will have enhanced antistatic and electrical conductivity, resulting
in the expanded use of new rubber and plastic materials for the automotive,
electronics, aerospace and defense industries. Applications include
electrostatic painted plastic parts, static dissipation products, thermally
conductive components and EMI shielding products.
Illuminex Corporation was funded in the amount of $300,000 to
commercialize device technologies that utilize nanowire arrays. These
arrays will be incorporated into a new generation of heat pipes, which
makes the heat pipes more efficient in removing heat from microprocessor
chips used in computer servers and laptops. If successful, the new nanowire
technology has the ability to enable the computer industry to solve the
challenging problem of removing the higher heat loads generated by the new
generation of faster computer microprocessors.
Plextronics Inc. was funded in the amount of $200,500 to further the
development of Plexcore(TM) PV active layer technology for organic solar
cells. Organic solar cells use extremely thin layers of plastic
semiconductors, instead of silicon, to absorb light and create electricity.
This initiative will focus on the development of a new generation of
polymer- based semi-conductive inks, Plexcore PV, that increase solar
conversion efficiency, while extending the lifetime of the device. Success
will remove one of the remaining barriers to broad market commercialization
and make organic solar cells an economically viable form of renewable
energy.
In addition to the Center's funding for the three projects totaling
$551,750, the companies have added cash and in-kind matches totaling
$460,600.
In September 2006, the Center requested pre-proposal white papers prior
to the submission of formal proposals that resulted in 38 submissions
statewide, involving a wide range of partnerships between universities and
small and large companies. Each proposer received feedback from the Center
on the suitability of their white paper and adherence to the Center's
guidelines, along with advice on submitting a full proposal.
All proposals in the current round were judged by the Center's
technical advisory committee that recommended the most promising ideas to
the Center's governing board for funding. The advisory committee is made up
of 19 leading researchers in the field of nanotechnology from Pennsylvania
universities, small and large technology companies and federal
laboratories.
The grants were made possible as a result of funding from the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Air Force. A grant totaling $1
million from the state's Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority to
the Center was announced by Governor Rendell in August, 2006. This state
support is part of the Pennsylvania Initiative in Nanotechnology which is
intended to capitalize on the exciting new field of nanotechnology to
create new companies and high technology jobs throughout the commonwealth.
In addition, the Center recently contracted for funding in the amount of
$868,424 from the Air Force Research Labs through the Wright Brothers
Institute in Dayton, Ohio. Representative Mike Doyle helped the Center
obtain this Air Force funding in the 2006 fiscal year federal defense
appropriations budget.
A second round of projects will be funded in the early summer of 2007.
The Center will be announcing the invitation for proposals on April 2, and
full proposals will be due by June 15.
The mission of the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center
is to promote and support the commercialization of nanomaterials research
for new and enhanced products critical to the U.S. economy and
manufacturing base. The Center builds upon Pennsylvania's excellence in
advanced materials research, development and manufacturing, and it acts as
a new model for a public-private partnership among government,
universities, entrepreneurs, small and large companies to accelerate the
transition from nanomaterials invention and innovation to new products and
new companies.
http://www.pananocenter.org
