1. Nano-Proprietary, Inc., through its subsidiary, Applied Nanotech, Inc., has announced that Japan-based Mitsui & Co., Ltd. has purchased an exclusive option that will allow Mitsui to extend royalty-bearing licenses, on behalf of Nano-Proprietary, to companies headquartered in Japan. This will allow the use of Nano-Proprietary's carbon cold cathode intellectual property for the manufacture of lighting devices, such as backlights for LCDs. The first technical discussion with a potential manufacturer is scheduled for March at Nano-Proprietary's Austin, Texas, research centre.
2. Niro AS, a process engineering company with Danish roots, is playing an important role in what may well prove to be the start of the new industrial revolution: the production of materials and products using nanoparticles. The four-year, €15.7 million project, is partially funded by the European Commission and involves 21 industrial partners including SMEs, universities and research institutions from 11 European countries and Canada. The project is called SAPHIR and was launched at CEA Saclay (the French Atomic Commission) in October last year. Its overall objective is the safe, integrated, controlled, economic production and recycling of hi-tech, multifunctional, nanostructured products.
3. NanoCoolers Inc., based in Austin, TX, has received $3 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund for its "refrigerator on a chip" cooling device. NanoCoolers Inc. is the third Austin company to receive money from the state fund, which is designed to support companies in cutting-edge industries that sometimes find it difficult to attract investment from traditional sources. The goal is to expand Texas' base in "industries of the future" such as nanotechnology and biotechnology.
4. In a deal worth more than $100 million Nano Chemical Systems Holdings, Inc. has announced plans to merge with SolarDiesel, Inc., a biodiesel manufacturing and distribution operation. Post-merger, the combined NCSH/SolarDiesel companies will begin construction of a 45 million gallon per year plant and thus potentially become the largest biodiesel producer.
5. Nanosys, Inc. today announced they have entered into a collaboration agreement with Rockwell Collins Display Systems (RCDS), a division of Rockwell Collins Aerospace and Electronics Inc., to incorporate Nanosys' nanostructure device technology for use in avionics display systems. Under the terms of the agreement, RCDS will fund joint development at RCDS and Nanosys, and Nanosys will manufacture and supply a proprietary nano-enabled optical subsystem to RCDS. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.