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| The Nanotechnology Institute is a comprehensive organization incorporating 12 regional research institutions centered around a common framework of technology development, intellectual property management, sponsored research, commercialization partnerships and new company formation. |
The largest conference in Philadelphia dedicated to nanotechnology in four years drew 150 people to the renovated Chemical Heritage Foundation in the Olde City section on October 28 to learn about key technology sectors, obstacles to commercialization and the latest policy issues on a regional and national basis.
Produced by the Nanotechnology Institute (NTI) and the NanoBusiness Alliance, the conference featured keynote speakers E. Clayton Teague, Ph.D., director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office; Brad Pietras, director of Nanotechnology Programs for Lockheed Martin; Rebecca Bagley, Deputy Secretary, Department of Community and Economic Development, PA; and Josh Wolfe, C-Founder and Managing Partner, Lux Capital.
Seminar topics included biotechnology, energy, manufacturing, intellectual property and finance.
A Comprehensive Nanotechnology Partnership
The NTI was founded in 2000 by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP), the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, with seed capital from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The NTI has helped produce more than 80 IP assets, facilitated seven technology licenses, created or assisted 13 young companies and attracted more that $172 million in public and private investment to the region.
On March 14, 2008, Gov. Edward Rendell announced that the NTI—the region's first multi-institutional partnership for accelerating nanotechnology commercialization and company formation—was re-funded with $3.5 million from Pennsylvania. The funding comes from the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority through the Commonwealth's Pennsylvania Initiative for Nanotechnology.
"The goal of the Nanotechnology Institute is to be a catalyst for the development and commercialization of nanotechnology in the region and to identify and develop ways to overcome the barriers to commercializing the technology," says RoseAnn B. Rosenthal, President and CEO of BFTP/SEP. "We navigate these barriers, providing incentives for people to think differently and giving them the motivation to try different things."
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