INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
• Research and markets claims to have published the most comprehensive report so far on nanotechnology products and markets. The 400-page document profiles over 950 companies involved in nanotechnology, from multinationals to university spin-outs, by country, technology and market application focus.
In a separate report, the analyst firm finds that Germany is Europe's leading player in nanotechnology in terms of funding (approximately €300–330 million per annum), the number of companies and dedicated research centres. According to Research and Markets, the Federal Government apparently spent €330m on nanotechnology in 2006.
DIAGNOSTICS
• Nanobiosym has been awarded a $2 million contract from the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a branch of the US Department of Defense. The company and its commercial partner Nanobiosym Diagnostics, have been privately developing what it calls Gene-RADAR – a portable nanotechnology-enabled platform that can rapidly and accurately detect genetic fingerprints from any biological organism.
BIOSENSORS
• Biosensors are undergoing rapid growth in the medical diagnostics industry, according to market analyst Frost & Sullivan.
"There is increased investment in the development of nanobiosensors, as it proves to be a much-demanded technology once it hits the commercial stage," comments the firm. "However, nanosensors need to undergo enormous developments to target issues such as biocompatibility, controlling a nanoswarm in its environment, and the capability to be replaced in case of defects."
CARBON NANOTUBES
• RASIRC, a steam purification company, is promoting a white paper on the use of water vapour to improve the growth rate and uniformity of the carbon nanotubes. The document can be downloaded (in pdf format) here.
• ReportLinker.com is offering a detailed look at the carbon nanotubes industry. The analysis features 94 companies including Catalytic Materials, LLC, Hyperion Catalysis International Inc, ILJIN Nanotech, Nanocyl, Nanoledge, Raymor Industries, Rosseter Holdings, Shenzhen Nanotech, SouthWest NanoTechnologies, Sun Nanotech and Unidym.
SOLAR ENERGY
• Nanosolar, a developer of nanostructured, roll-to-roll processed solar cells, has been awarded a cost-shared, three-year cooperative agreement by the US Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the Solar America Initiative (SAI). The firm will receive $9.5 million (excluding partner allocations) through October 2008, with this award bringing total DOE funding for Nanosolar to approximately $20 million (excluding partner allocations), subject to availability of funds appropriated by the US Congress.
"The Solar America Initiative provides support for Nanosolar's objective of realizing grid-parity solar electricity in the near term," said Brian Sager, Nanosolar's SAI principal investigator. "Our research under this program will accelerate our plan of taking photovoltaic system cost performance to a new level."
• Konarka, a manufacturer of what it describes as "power plastic", has appointed Dan Williams, a former employee of Reebok and Motorola, as vice president of product and business development. The company's photovoltaic film uses a network of dye-impregnated titanium dioxide particles sandwiched between flexible electrodes to convert light into electricity.
"I will work to improve Konarka's ability to get our Power Plastic into consumer and industrial markets," commented Dan Williams. "We will continue to work to partner with smart textiles, mobile device and portable equipment suppliers, as well as building systems suppliers that will integrate Konarka's material into final product applications."