DENVER, COLORADO – June 23, 2009 – An announcement was made today at the 2009 Nano Renewable Energy Summit in Denver, Colorado that nanotechnology stakeholders in five states in the Southwest United States, along with northern Mexico, are joining forces to create the Southwest Nano Consortium. The consortium will pool resources to highlight nanotechnology activity in the region, encourage collaborative ventures, and host internationally recognized events. The Southwest Nano Consortium consists of Nano Networks and Alliances in Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico
"The nanotech expertise and activity represented in this corridor of the southwest is unparalleled elsewhere," stated Griffith A. Kundahl, Executive Chairman of the Colorado Nanotechnology Alliance. "This consortium will be a key vehicle to expedite the commercialization of technologies which will have a significant impact on renewable energy, biotech, IT and other key sectors, and boost the economy in the process."
"The Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative and its funding organization the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) have long believed that working together as a region makes so much sense," said ONI Executive Director Jim Mason. "We are very enthusiastic to be one of the partners in the newly formed Southwest Nano Consortium which is an outgrowth of the National Nanotechnology Initiative's Regional Nano Initiatives meeting, hosted in Oklahoma City in April, 2009. As a region we have so many strengths and assets which will accelerate our abilities to support and assist each other as we advance our efforts in Nanotechnology."
"Existing nanotechnology-related assets, endowments, and activity in the Southwest United States exceed $4 Billion dollars. There are more world class national laboratories, institutes, centers of excellence, universities, defense installations, researchers, super computers, grants, and commercial activity around nanotechnology here than anywhere else in the US," stated Scott Bryant, Executive Director for the Micro and Nanotechnology Commercialization Education Foundation. "What has been missing is a platform for regional collaboration. This consortium will enhance the interaction between education, investment, research, and commercialization; and will vastly improve the environment for economic development. With cooperation and communication, the Southwest will become a Small Tech superpower . . . quietly at first, but dramatically as time moves forward."
"Nanotechnology is firmly entrenched as one of the 2-3 technologies that are powering the next wave of economic and human development. The Southwest Nano Consortium, consisting of Nano Networks and Alliances in Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico, are an example of how collaboration will seed wide-spread economic and educational success," stated Dr. Steven Walsh, Chair of the Nano Network of New Mexico and Alfred Black Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of New Mexico. "Regions which collaborate and proactively invest in innovative technologies are likely to receive unparalleled job and wealth creation benefits over the next 50 years."
Dr. Alberto Correa, President of Quantum Research of the West, Inc. and Professor of Science Entrepreneurship, University of Texas at El Paso, considered that establishing the Nano Consortium "is another firm step in integrating regional innovation efforts, where the private sector and academia can join forces to find solutions via nanotechnologies, to the many challenges globalized economies face in the XXI Century".
The Southwest Nano Consortium will gather in Albuquerque, NM for an event hosted by the Nano Network of New Mexico on October 26 & 27, 2009 which will include a Business Matchmaking and Nano Convergence session designed to facilitate economic development in the region. Visit www.mancef.org/nnnm for more information.
About The Colorado Nanotechnology Alliance
The Colorado Nanotechnology Alliance is a non-profit association that represents the Colorado nanotechnology community. The Colorado Nanotechnology Alliance works to promote, enhance and strengthen Colorado's global economic development competitiveness through public-private partnerships focused on nanotechnology commercialization. For more information visit www.coloradonanotechnology.org or contact Executive Chairman Griffith A. Kundahl at conano@coloradonanotechnology.org.
About The Oklahoma Nano Technology Initiative
The Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative (ONI) serves as a mechanism for creating statewide awareness of the emerging nanotechnology industry and its potential impact on the state of Oklahoma. The ONI works to promote Oklahoma and its resources as a valuable site for nanotechnology industry location and serves as a clearinghouse of information to the academic, financial, industrial and business communities. For more information visit www.oknano.com or contact Jim D. Mason, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative at jmason@okstatechamber.com.
About The Nano-Network of New Mexico
The Nano-Network of New Mexico supports the exchange and dissemination of knowledge vital to people and organizations interested in the commercialization of nanotechnologies emanating from New Mexico-based knowledge-capital and organizations. It provides a forum for nanotech developers, innovators and investors to discuss the latest developments and breakthroughs; promotes collaboration of New Mexico nanotech groups and start-ups with corporate nanotech developers and international partners; and increases sponsored research, licenses, and strategic partnerships for New Mexico based nanotech companies. For more information visit www.mancef.org/nnnm http://www.oknano.com/ or contact Dr. Steven Walsh, Chair of the Nano Network of New Mexico at mancef@gmail.com.
About The Nano Renewable Energy Summit
The Nano Renewable Energy Summit is an annual gathering of world-renowned experts at the intersection of renewable energy and nanotechnology, with a specific focus on the business, commercialization, and economic development potential of emerging technologies in the renewable energy and sustainability sectors. This year's summit was held on June 22-23, 2009 at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. The summit is produced by the NanoBusiness Alliance and co-hosted by the Colorado Nanotechnology Alliance, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the University of Denver. For more information, visit www.nanoenergysummit.org or contact NanoBusiness Alliance Vice President Vincent Caprio at vincentcaprio@nanoenergysummit.org.