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FEI Company Q2 2009 Earnings Call Transcript

2009-08-06T03:57:00.000-07:00

Presentation

Operator

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to the FEI second quarter earnings conference call. Here in today's presentation, all parties will be in a listen-only mode. Following the presentation, the conference will be opened for questions. (Operator instructions) This conference is being recorded today, Wednesday, August 5^th, 2009.

I would now like to turn the conference over to our host, Mr. Fletcher Chamberlin. Please go ahead, sir.

Fletcher Chamberlin

Thank you, operator. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. As the operator said, I'm Fletcher Chamberlin, FEI’s Treasurer and Communications Director. With me today at our headquarters in Oregon are Don Kania, our President and CEO; and Ray Link, EVP and Chief Financial Officer.

Before we begin our presentation, we have the regular housekeeping matters to take care of. This call contains forward-looking statements, to the extent that we discuss expectations about future corporate performance and guidance customer orders or revenue growth, performance by product and market, margin improvement, market developments and opportunities, the competitive landscape, product and technological developments, product introductions and shipment schedules, the effects of future movements in foreign exchange rates, cost savings and restructuring, changes in our effective tax rate or other future events and plans. Those statements are considered forward-looking, subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements made.

Our risk factors are cited in more detail in today’s press release and in our most recent 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K documents and other filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to read these documents. Copies are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or on our website or from our Investor Relations department at 503-726-7710.

The company assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements set out in those documents or made on this call. This call is the property of FEI Company. It will be archived in the Investor Relations section of our corporate website at www.efi.com.

I’ll now turn the call over to Ray for a review of the financials and then, Don will comment on the markets and the business environment.

Ray Link

Thank you, Fletcher and good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our second quarter call. I'll go through the financial report and guidance in detail and then turn the call back over to Don.

We had another solid quarter. Operating performance was similar to the first quarter, but EPS was reduced by a larger restructuring charge, expected higher non-operating expense and a higher tax rate. Bookings were very strong, up 21% from the first quarter and 12% from last year, giving us a record second quarter. Don will give you more color on that in a moment.

Revenue and earnings were in line with our expectations, given the severe decline in the global economy and capital equipment markets, our top line had settled very well and we continued to manage our expenses effectively.

In addition, gross margins improved compared to last year’s second quarter and was at 40%. Operating expenses were down from both the first quarter and the year-ago second quarter. Non-operating expense was greater than the first quarter. Nonetheless, this was our 13^th consecutive quarter of positive GAAP earnings and once again, we generated cash in the quarter.

Turning now to the details, net bookings for the second quarter were $157.8 million, up 21% from a $130.6 million in the first quarter and up 12% from a $140.4 million in the last year’s second quarter. Q2 bookings total includes $6.4 million due to reevaluation of backlog for currency movements.

The Euro finished the quarter at 1.40 compared with 1.34 at the end of the first quarter. The backlog at the end of the quarter was $336.9 million, an all-time record high with approximately 90% scheduled for delivery within a year.

Net sales of a $140.3 million were down 1% from the first quarter and 9% from last year’s second quarter. About 60% of the decline from the year-ago quarter was due to the stronger dollar compared to the last year.

Research and Industry revenue of $55.2 million made up 39% of the total and was down 5% from the first quarter and 12% from last year’s second quarter. Life Science revenue of $19.6 million was made up 14% of the total and was down 6% from the first quarter and leveled at last year’s second quarter.

The Electronics revenue of $32.3 million was up 10% from the first quarter and down 14% from last year’s second quarter. In total, Electronics was 23% of revenue in the current quarter compared with 24% in the second quarter of ’08 and 41% two years ago in the second quarter of 2007. Electronics remains at cyclical lows as percentage of revenue.

Revenue for the US and Canada was down 27% sequentially and 26% compared with last year. European revenue was down 17% from the first quarter and 27% from the last year’s second quarter with the portion of that decline reflecting the stronger dollar.

Revenue from Asia and the rest of the world including Japan was up 58% sequentially and 36% compared with last year, due to the global nanotechnology spending and our strategic emphasis on that part of the world.

Agricultural research key to food security

2009-08-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Boosting agricultural research in the developing world is the key to ensuring food security for the world's poorest, says Adel el-Beltagy, Chair of the Global Form on Agricultural Research (GFAR), writing in the latest issue of the TWAS Newsletter, published last week.

With nearly a billion people suffering from chronic hunger, global food security remains a major concern, despite being a key goal of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Extreme weather events due to climate change and the recent trend to convert croplands to biofuels both threaten to put even more people at risk.

The solution, says el-Beltagy – a member of TWAS, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World – must involve a renewed concentration on agricultural research in the South.

Writing in the spring issue of the TWAS Newsletter, el-Beltagy outlines the steps that will be needed to ensure that developing countries can take advantage of cutting-edge agricultural technologies, such as genomics and nanotechnology, that have the potential to increase crop yields without unduly stressing the environment.

Building such capacity will depend upon overcoming two obstacles: The North-South gap, which delays the transfer of technologies to the developing world, and the gap between developing world research communities and farmers working in the field.

Agricultural research institutions in the South, el-Beltagy says, must work more closely with their counterparts in the North, to develop technology transfer initiatives, and with policy-makers in their own countries, to convince them of the value of what they do and to advocate for policies that help farmers make use of the best available technologies and management strategies to increase crop yields.

New EU project links up top formulation-science experts

2009-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Formulation scientists study the mixing together of raw materials to create new products. The Formulation Science and Technology Group in the UK, one of the INFORM project partners, says that 'designing a formulation is akin to drafting a recipe, albeit with very specialist and highly sophisticated tools, and a more systematic approach'. The subject covers disciplines as diverse as chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical research and the biological sciences, and also touches on marketing, packaging, and environmental and toxicological issues.

Formulation science plays an important role in the development of many everyday substances, including personal care products, foods, pharmaceuticals and household cleaning products, as well as agrochemicals and coatings.

Furthermore, industry is increasingly looking to formulation science for support in the creation of high-performance, cheap and environmentally friendly products.

The latest developments in nanotechnology have not gone unnoticed by the formulation science community. However, the incorporation of nanomaterials in formulations requires a thorough evaluation of the impacts of these substances on human health and the environment.

The aim of the INFORM project is to enable the world's top formulation scientists to share best practice on the use of nanomaterials in formulations. It will focus its efforts in particular on six priority areas: the formulation of nano-bio materials; the handling and processing of nanopowders; process intensification and soft nanomaterial formulations; physical chemistry at the nanoscale; the nanoscale and the formulation of smart and functional coatings, films and tapes; and toxicology and other health effects of nanomaterials.

The project will encourage the transfer of ideas and knowledge amongst the project partners through a variety of tools. Scientific forums and technical workshops will boost the exchange of scientific ideas and the communication of research results, while networking events will help researchers find and cement contacts for future joint work.

Fact finding missions will allow partners to better understand each other's needs and facilities, and trade missions will promote the exchange of skills, ideas, services and products. In addition, a researcher exchange promotion will strengthen links amongst the project partners, who are scattered all around the world.

INFORM is coordinated by the University of Manchester in the UK, and the 17 project partners come from Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US. They include universities, public research laboratories and companies.

Particle research opens door for new technology

2009-07-09T02:31:00.000-07:00

Big uses for small particles will be explored at the annual Particle Technology Research Centre Conference at The University of Western Ontario July 9 and 10.

Particle technology has a wide range of practical uses including everything from making pills easier to swallow to producing fine-powder paint that has far less impact on our environment than traditional counterparts.

Amit Chakma, Western’s President and Vice-Chancellor, opens the two-day conference Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. in the Great Hall, Somerville House with a keynote lecture entitled, “Educating Global Citizens.”

During four separate student panels, approximately 30 papers, 15 posters and several video presentations will be delivered. All topics focus on research benefiting society, including powder technology, fluid dynamics and fluidization bed reactors, fuel cell/green energy and nanotechnology.

There is also a special industrial session where four senior managers representing the pharmaceutical, environmental, powder technology and nanotechnology industries will provide a current review and present the future directions of research within their sectors. A panel discussion is planned to debate the “Value of Graduate Studies in the Economic Meltdown.”

“The main objective of the conference is to present the latest advances in particle related research from both the academic community and the industrial sector,” says conference co-chair Milana Trifkovic. “We also want to create an environment to encourage interaction between graduate students and attendees from industry.”

Co-chair Mehran Andalib adds, “Another key objective is to provide our fellow students an opportunity to be exposed at a national conference. To encourage wide participation, we have also created nine awards for the presentations, all sponsored by our collaborative industrial partners.”

The conference is entirely organized by graduate students of the Particle Technology Research Centre, says Jesse Zhu, Director of the centre and advisor to the organizing committee.

The 150 participants, comprised of chemical engineering graduate students and their professors from across Ontario, as well as 20 representatives from industry, will also hear from three world-renowned keynote speakers, including Chakma, John Grace, a Canada Research Chair in Clean Energy Processes at the University of British Columbia, and Ted Knowlton, the Technical Director of Particulate Solid Research, Inc.

Ann Arbor biotech firm NanoBio secures $10 million in venture capital

2009-07-09T02:26:00.000-07:00

NanoBio, a University of Michign spinoff biopharmaceutical firm based in Ann Arbor, can operate for another two years after securing $10 million in venture capital from two of its top funding sources, officials said this morning.

The firm received the funding from New York-based majority shareholder Persaus and Ventures Investers, which has an Ann Arbor office. NanoBio is accelerating nanotechnology to pursue a variety of therapeutic products.

The latest round of funding comes as NanoBio is stockpiling to embolden its researchers in a distressed economic environment. The firm received a $12 million influx in cash in February. It's received a total of $90 million in investments and grants since U-M scientist James Bakr founded the Company several years ago.

NanoBio is poised to begin a Phase 3 study for one of its therapeutic candidates, which would treat herpes labialis. That's the final stage in the drug development cycle before a company can seek approval from theFood And Drug Administration.

"Our investors see the tremendous value of our platform technology from both a medical and commercial perspective," Baker, the CEO, said in a News Relese. "There is a clear need for novel topical anti-infective therapies and new vaccine-adjuvant approaches that offer safety, ease of use and enhanced efficacy.

NSG link opens up markets for Orla

2009-07-09T02:23:00.000-07:00

NANOTECHNOLOGY firm Orla has stepped up its presence in Asia by forming a partnership with one of Japan's biggest glass manufacturers.

The Newcastle company has agreed a collaboration with Japan’s NSG Group, to develop bio-surfaces used in biological research in areas such as cell growth and culture.

The biosurfaces will allow biologists to recreate the conditions cells require to grow and respond in a natural way.

According to Orla, the product’s appeal to potential industry clients is its ability to replace expensive alternatives and the elimination of animal derived materials in manufacture.

Orla and NSG will co-promote the new product range when they exhibit at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) annual meeting in Barcelona, Spain, later this month.

Orla chief executive Dale Athey said, “Our collaboration with NSG brings tremendous technological and manufacturing capability.

“This will enable us to deliver a range of exciting new glass-based products to our customers. The cell culture products will be first in a series of innovations from the partnership.”

The ISSCR annual meeting attracts stem cell researchers from all over the world and this year comes to Europe for the first time. Mr Athey said: “We attended the last ISSCR annual meeting in Philadelphia last year and found other delegates very receptive to our product prototypes.

“Now we’re ready to begin selling some of our products and we believe that this event provides us with a great opportunity.

The collaboration with NSG is the latest example of Orla’s growing links with Japan. In April it signed a new agreement with one of Japan’s leading electronics companies, Japan Radio Company (JRC), to develop the next generation of miniature handheld diagnostic biosensors, which are used to diagnose infectious diseases.

The partnership with JRC could spawn technology which would enable mobile phones to be used to detect diseases.

Projects are also ongoing with a number of other Japanese partners around a range of product opportunities which will utilise technology developed at Orla’s Newcastle headquarters.

Earlier this year Orla received £700,000 in government investment to support its work in developing technology to help protect the world from future flu pandemics.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR WISCONSIN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM

2009-07-07T00:22:00.000-07:00

The second annual Wisconsin Science and Technology Symposium, to be held July 23 and 24, will bring together science and technology researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors from across the state to help them share ideas and spark new collaborations.

Registration is open for the event, which is intended to encourage interdisciplinary research and offer valuable information and networking opportunities. Academic and industry researchers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and interested community members are encouraged to participate. Government officials and representatives from key companies also are expected to attend.

The symposium will be held at the Cartwright Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. It will feature the latest scientific discoveries from the UW System and Wisconsin clinical organizations in the areas of biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, bioenergy and clinical sciences. Participants will include representatives from the UW System, Marshfield Clinic, Aurora Health Care, BayCare Health Systems and private industry and state government. This event is a premier opportunity to network with scientists across the state and form partnerships and collaborations.

In addition to symposium registration, sponsorship opportunities and exhibit space also are available.

"The second annual Wisconsin Science and Technology Symposium will showcase technical innovations being developed by our comprehensive campus faculty and students," Gov. Jim Doyle says. "I am very encouraged by the efforts of the UW System and WiSys Technology Foundation in bringing together other research organizations to jointly develop discoveries that will benefit all of Wisconsin's residents."

"These gatherings strengthen the ties among our campuses, facilitate productive collaborations among all research institutions of our state, and showcase the creativity and innovative thinking of our faculty and students," UW System President Kevin Reilly says. "The symposium offers a unique insight into the cutting-edge technical discoveries occurring in our comprehensive campuses and the opportunities available to our students."

IBM working on battery breakthrough

2009-07-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Device will store 10 times the energy of current batteries

IBM is to develop a next-generation rechargeable battery, capable of storing 10 times more energy than today's top lithium ion batteries.

The new batteries could be used to power cars and smart energy grids, according to IBM.

The company will reveal details of the batteries at its Almaden Institute 2009 conference, which IBM said attracts "innovative thinkers" from academia, government research labs and industry. The gathering will be held on August 26 and 27 at the IBM Almaden Research Centre in San Jose, California.

"High-density, scalable energy storage technologies are emerging as the greatest game changer for this new era of renewable energy sources and smarter grids," said Sharon Nunes, vice president ofIBM's Big Green Innovations organisation, in a statement. "Today, the vast majority of the world's oil is burned for transportation. Energy sources, such as wind and solar power, fluctuate continuously. We believe the solution may lie in the development of an efficient, affordable energy storage network."

IBM also will be using nanotechnology, along with materials science and super computing in the multi-year battery research project.

"Being able to store large amounts of electrical energy in a small package is critically important," said Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group. "If we can't get higher energy densities in our batteries, then true electric cars are a non-starter."

And Olds added that better batteries also are the key to advancing wind, solar and tidal power.

"We can certainly generate energy from these sources, but the wind doesn't blow all the time and we also have 12 hours of night," he said. "Without better storage technology, energy from these sources is a use-it-or-lose-it proposition. Generating it is only half the battle. Efficiently storing energy for use when we need it is the key for making alternative energy actually pay off."

The IBM project is the latest of several disclosed in recent months.

In April, researchers at MIT reported they were combining nanotechnology with genetically engineered viruses to build batteries that could power hybrid cars and cellphones. According to the university, the viruses, which infect bacteria but are harmless to humans, build the positively and negatively charged ends of lithium ion batteries. In lab tests, batteries with the new material could be charged and discharged at least 100 times without losing any capacitance, MIT reported.

Prior to that, researchers at Stanford University reported usingsilicon nanowires to enable lithium ion batteries to hold 10 times the charge they could before. That means a laptop currently holding a four-hour charge could last for 40 hours using the new battery, according to Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford.

Nano Med Tech Cement US Expansion

2009-07-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

(1888PressRelease) July 07, 2009 - The original Nano Med Tech contingent consisted of an elite team of eleven Chinese Nationals, all of whom obtained doctorates in the nanotechnology field at top-tier US and UK universities. Since establishing themselves as a viable and marketable entity, the star of Nano Med Tech has seemingly maximized upon its’ smooth, upward trajectory. IPO gurus are approaching weariness in their lauding of this revolutionary nanotech-medical treatment which is currently under the scrutiny of a widely publicized FDA approval matrix. Additionally, the firms innovative technologies are said to be attracting the attentions of the pharma sector bellweathers as approval progresses.

Whilst the approval status and indeed, the precise nature of the patent are shrouded in secrecy, concrete support for market approval of this blossoming ‘IPO-to-be’ has recently been provided in the form of news that they have been granted expansive funding to include a hand-picked US-based group of headline-name doctorates for the purpose of steam-lining the regulatory process.

The latest arm of Nano Med Tech is understood to be benefitting from access to highly-funded university facilities across North America. A spokesperson from Nano Med Tech revealed “We can confirm that Nano Med Tech have engaged the services of a further six researchers based in the US who are focused on facilitating delivery of the ongoing FDA requirements”.

The spokesperson could not elaborate on the specifics; likely due to their rigid non-disclosure predicament with the elusive US-based financiers. The, as-yet, unidentified VC entity are widely believed to be providing funds to the universities at which the new Nano Med Tech channel are based, in exchange for the continued use of state-of-the-art research facilities.

Whilst relatively benign in its nature, the news has prompted comments from certain corners of the investment community which monitor the field, that Nano Med Tech are making better than expected progress with the approvals process, given their decision to provide an in-country US presence, and the apparent justification on the part of the, as yet, unidentified VC, to expand funding to finance the new personnel.

One emerging markets analyst monitoring the Nano Med Tech situation commented that “FDA gateway approval can be a lengthy and drawn out process” which, in cases where the argument for full approval is strong, but involves cases for which there is no precedent “can be facilitated through day-to-day dialogue between the applicants and the regulators to ensure fulfillment of this type of blue-sky requirement.”

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR WISCONSIN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM

2009-07-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

MADISON - The second annual Wisconsin Science and Technology Symposium, to be held July 23 and 24, will bring together science and technology researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors from across the state to help them share ideas and spark new collaborations.

Registration is open for the event, which is intended to encourage interdisciplinary research and offer valuable information and networking opportunities. Academic and industry researchers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and interested community members are encouraged to participate. Government officials and representatives from key companies also are expected to attend.

The symposium will be held at the Cartwright Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. It will feature the latest scientific discoveries from the UW System and Wisconsin clinical organizations in the areas of biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, bioenergy and clinical sciences. Participants will include representatives from the UW System, Marshfield Clinic, Aurora Health Care, BayCare Health Systems and private industry and state government. This event is a premier opportunity to network with scientists across the state and form partnerships and collaborations.

In addition to symposium registration, sponsorship opportunities and exhibit space also are available.

"The second annual Wisconsin Science and Technology Symposium will showcase technical innovations being developed by our comprehensive campus faculty and students," Gov. Jim Doyle says. "I am very encouraged by the efforts of the UW System and WiSys Technology Foundation in bringing together other research organizations to jointly develop discoveries that will benefit all of Wisconsin's residents."

"These gatherings strengthen the ties among our campuses, facilitate productive collaborations among all research institutions of our state, and showcase the creativity and innovative thinking of our faculty and students," UW System President Kevin Reilly says. "The symposium offers a unique insight into the cutting-edge technical discoveries occurring in our comprehensive campuses and the opportunities available to our students."

The symposium is being organized by WiSys Technology Foundation Inc. and UW-La Crosse.

Meg Gardiner captivates with her latest book

2009-07-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Ian Kanan is a mercenary, a subcontractor for a Silicon Valley company, who must deliver a stolen sample of a fictional biological weapon called Slick, developed from carbon nanotechnology. He is accidentally infected with the blood-borne pathogen, which causes his brain injury.

Early on, he discovers where his family is, but the knowledge is obliterated from his mind before he is able to write it down.

Eccentric characters stand out, especially Beckett's neighbor, a paranoid hypochondriac, with a fondness for Brylcreem. Not only does he provide comic relief, he supplies useful information and helps get her out of trouble.

"The Memory Collector" is filled with continuous action and clever plot twists, although some dialogue, attempts at witty repartee, seem contrived. There are also several unnecessary references to films that have little relevance; however, one "Lord of the Rings," reference is quite apropos. It is an exceptional follow up to her first Beckett novel, "Dirty Secrets Club.""The Memory Collector" (Dutton, 354 pages, $25.95), by Meg Gardiner: As a forensic psychiatrist, Jo Beckett is used to examining the minds of the dead. But in "The Memory Collector," she is called to assist in a case dealing with a volatile man with "anteretrograde" amnesia.

Don't be turned off by the terminology; Gardiner does a great job of explaining it.

A person with this condition is able to retain previous memories, but unable to form new ones. That means, new experiences are immediately forgotten. It's a brilliant concept, especially when the man is forced to engage in industrial espionage to save his kidnapped family.

World’s First Tech for ‘Cylindrical Lithography System’ Brings Light to Next-Gen Devices

2009-07-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

A long-sought-after dream technology for a “large-size cylindrical lithography system for manufacturing nanostructures” has been developed for the first time in the world by a Korean research team. The original technology for the cylinder-shaped large-area nanopattern printing equipment, which had been regarded as an insurmountable barrier until recently, was finally developed by a research team of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI). KERI is a state-funded think tank established in 1977, dedicated to providing companies and the Korean economy with short and long term tasks for development.

Dream Technology

For mass production of next-generation semiconductors, materials for high-luminance optical films for displays, and materials for next-generation solar cells, it is essential to develop and secure original technology to print nanopatterns nonstop on a large-area substrate. Despite painstaking efforts to develop this technology, many think tanks in Europe and Japan, as well as Korea, had failed up until recently to produce this technology to a satisfactory degree. Under these circumstances, the KERI research team succeeded in developing such long-sought technology to the credit of Korea.

According to a press release on June 16, the research team led by Dr. Oh Hyun-suk of the KERI’s nanoprocessing equipment research group succeeded in developing the original technology for a “large-size cylindrical lithography system for manufacturing nanostructures,” or technology for the cylinder-shaped large-area nanopattern printing equipment for the mass production of the next-generation semiconductors, displays and solar cells.

The epoch-making development of this technology for an optical lithography system is expected to help Korea play a leading role in the global market of semiconductors and displays for many years to come in such a way as to contribute to developing core materials for display panels, begin domestic production of high-priced optical films, and speed up development of products of original designs.

Cylindrical Lithography System

This new original technology was developed for cylindrical nanostages using magnetic levitation technology and a nanoimprint optical lithography system using this technology. The latest technology is expected to find a breakthrough in large-area nanopattern printing process. The KERI research team developed, first of all, a technology of floating a cylindrical mold material and turning and transmitting it in a micro-precise way in a vacuum based on its own magnetic levitation technology.

The team is now testing a nanoimprint optical lithography system, which can turn this cylindrical material into light and liberally create large-area nanopatterns on the seamless surface of the cylindrical mold. The KERI team’s development of this nanotechnology provided the possibility of developing a large-area printing electronics technology with nanometer precision, fulfilling the long-cherished desire of the domestic semiconductor and display industries.

Applicable to High-Value-Added Products

This core technology can be applied to high-value-added products using various large-area micro or nanopattern processing technologies, for which the country has so far relied on imports. They include high-luminance optical films, optical materials for next-generation displays, films for deluxe electronics devices, holographic security films for bank notes and gift certificates, high-efficiency solar and fuel cells, RFID tags, and high-brightness LED lamps.

The new technology will accelerate the advent of new applied industries and replace the existing production processes through development of a variety of original and innovative products. It is, therefore, expected to bring a big change to the global semiconductor, display, and solar cell industries, considering that it can drastically cut the production processes and improve productivity.

New Technology Brings Momentum

Dr. Oh said that the development of the latest technology “carries great significance in that we have gained momentum in taking a step ahead in the [worldwide] competition to develop next-generation semiconductors and displays by securing the original printing electronics technology, which is considered the core technology for the next-generation semiconductor chips and display panels.”

“Especially, the latest original technology is designed for various processes and related equipment, which are capable of carrying out the large-area nanopattern printing. It also provides an epoch-making turning point in the core equipment industry manufacturing semiconductors, displays and solar cells,” he added.

The latest technology was developed jointly by Sangjin Micron and 3SMK at the initiative and under the supervision of the KERI with a research fund of W10 billion (US$7.8 million) over three years. A total of eight patent applications for various types of this original technology have been filed. The research team is also jointly developing cylindrical optical lithography equipment at a cleanroom laboratory at Miryang Nano Center, which opened on June 16, with a view to producing the equipment by 2010 based on this original technology.

Global Market Potential

The global market of high-luminance optical films for displays, to which this technology can be applied, has been growing by about 11 percent annually from US$8.6 billion in 2008 to US$9.1 billion in 2009. It is also expected to expand to approximately US$9.5 billion in 2010. A new market for printing electronics worth US$25 billion is expected to arise by 2015, with expectations of growing at an annual growth rate of 10 to 15 percent.

Meanwhile, the domestic market for optical lithography equipment for displays drastically grew from W378.5 billion (about US$295.7 million) in 2006 to W529 billion (US$413.3 million). It is expected to expand to W724.2 billion (US$565.8 million) in 2010. Its overseas market was valued at US$985.6 million in 2006. Its value jumped to US$1.4 billion in 2008, and is expected to grow again to US$1.9 billion in 2010.

The global market for optical lithography equipment for semiconductors was valued at US$3.1 billion in 2005, but its value grew to US$4.4 billion in 2008. It will expand to US$4.8 billion in 2009 and US$5.3 billion in 2010.

In cooperation with Pusan National University (PNU), the KERI opened Miryang Nano Center on the PNU’s Miryang campus in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province on June 16, making public the technology for “large-size cylindrical lithography system for manufacturing nanostructures,” which Dr. Oh’s research team had developed after three-year research.

Miryang Nano Center

Invitation to the opening of Miryang Nano Center

The opening of Miryang Nano Center was a success also for the City of Miryang Government, which has been pushing for the development of the nanoconvergence industry, a key new growth engine as a major municipal policy, since June 2007 when it outsourced feasibility study for the construction of such a state-of-the-art science park. It was part of a grand plan to launch an industrial cluster consisting of enterprises, colleges and think tanks. The city government believes that the opening of Miryang Nano Center will help the National Nanoconvergence Industrial Complex project gain further momentum. The nanoconvergence industrial complex in Miryang is the only nanoconvergence industrial park of such a kind in Korea.

To prepare thoroughly for the launch of the nanoconvergence industrial park, the City Government of Miryang had signed agreements with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), and PNU’s College of Nano Science and Technology, as well as with the KERI. All in all, the city expects the opening of Miryang Nano Center to serve as momentum to revitalize the regional economy and pave the way for it to emerge as a global mecca of nanoconvergence industry.

Surrey, London and Peking get a yuan for spintronics

2009-07-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

Researchers from the University of Surrey, the London Centre for Nanotechnology and Peking University's Institute of MIcroelectronics have been awarded a £430,000 grant to get busy devloping silicon structures for use in spintronic devices. It's a three year project funded jointly by UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the National Science Foundation of China.

The UK is bringing its chops in watching and fixing the way electrons spin, while the Chinese are particularly good at building silicon nanotech. The aim is to investigate and build a silicon device where the electron spins are controlled by laser beams, which sounds as cool a 21st century job as exists on the planet.

Malaysian SMEs keen to learn from Taiwan counterparts

2009-07-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

In the fiercely Darwinist international business arena, Malaysia’s small and medium-sized enterprises are searching for innovation and new technologies, and are eager to learn from Taiwan’s SME sector, which has earned a reputation as a crucible for research and development that can lead to new technologies and innovations.

Indeed, Malaysia’s SMEs see technology as a means of acquiring cutting-edge competitive advantages in the global arena. This is also driving the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers to explore avenues of cooperation with Taiwan’s SMEs, whose innovative products, designs and services have enabled the island republic to achieve success in international business.

Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur, the FMM president, who played a key role in the successful run of the recent Sixth World Chambers’ Congress held in Kuala Lumpur from June 3 to 5, praised Taiwan’s SME sector “from whom we Malaysians can learn,” as he put it. Taiwan’s chamber of commerce and other associations were also represented at the WCC.

“The SMEs play an important role in a country’s economy and, as such, need to be supported. We have been monitoring Taiwan’s SME sector, which has made many innovative products and is a leading supplier to the world markets. We believe Malaysia’s SMEs can benefit immensely from the experiences of Taiwan’s SME sector,” Mustafa said in an exclusive interview with “Taiwan Today.”

The FMM president is particularly keen to get Malaysian SMEs technologically upgraded so that they can assert themselves in the ruthlessly competitive global business environment. “We are striving for automation and maximizing the use of high technology in our own SME sector,” he said.

However, Mustafa also stressed that Malaysia needs to develop its human resources capital by improving the skills of its workers with high-end technology. Many aspects of the worker training system, as practiced by Taiwan’s corporate sector, could also be emulated by Malaysian companies, he added.

Mustafa held discussions on the sidelines of the WCC with the secretary-general of the Taipei-based Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association, David T.C. Liu, on a wide range of issues, including cooperation in such pioneering fields as nanotechnology, robotics and fabrication.

“The only way for Malaysia to move ahead is to go for the latest technology. Malaysia cannot assert itself in the international arena with the present level of technology, which is being overtaken by competitors,” he cautioned.

To increase its interaction with Taiwan’s SME sector, the FMM is entering into a formal relationship with its Taiwan counterpart. The two sides have exchanged correspondence on bilateral cooperation. Taiwan has already sent a proposal to the FMM, which has agreed on a framework for cooperation.

The formalization of cooperation between Taiwan and Malaysia will give the latter’s small companies access to new technology which, if Mustafa’s strategy proves right, can help upgrade Malaysia’s SME sector. However, Taiwan companies should also gear to face fierce competition in Malaysia, which, as Robert Lee, a Penang-based distributor of Taiwanese products says, is “no cakewalk.”

Taiwan, which organizes a number of industrial trade fairs and exhibitions, attracts a large number of foreign SMEs that use such events as a springboard to the gigantic China market that is increasingly becoming an attractive playground for foreign suppliers as traditional markets in the West, particularly the United States, face contraction resulting from the severe phase of recession that has enveloped many of the world’s markets.

Conversely, Taiwan can also use Malaysia as a stepping stone into the lucrative 500-million-strong markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in which Malaysia has emerged as a key player.

“China and to a less extent India can be described as substitute markets. The Greater China region, including Taiwan, can partly compensate us for the loss of our traditional markets such as the United States, which is importing a lot less than in previous years. Taiwan’s SMEs could help guide Malaysian companies to that goal,” Mustafa maintained. Malaysia’s exports of electrical and electronic products, a mainstay of that country’s trade, have declined by some 20 percent as a result of the recession in the United States, which is its largest market. Malaysia’s exports to Europe have also dropped.

The FMM has been monitoring the development of Taiwan’s SME sector over the years. Malaysian businesspeople at the recent WCC, in conversations with this correspondent, described Taiwan’s SMEs as the “backbone” of the island republic’s economy. Indeed, Taiwan’s manufacturing and foreign trade rest on the “pillars of strength” provided by its proliferating number of SMEs.

Many small Malaysian companies appreciate the fact that Taiwan’s SMEs started to flourish after World War II when Japanese conglomerates pulled out of Taiwan and the domestic market was overrun by state-owned enterprises and large private companies. Taiwan’s SMEs have evolved from simple trading companies dealing initially in processed agricultural products and then light industrial goods, and later, high-tech and nanotech products.

Malaysia, which has gone up the value chain ladder, is losing out on classical manufacturing because of the high costs of production and labor. Malaysian experts believe that promoting the country’s SMEs by upgrading technological standards through the use of automation and nanotechnology, in which Taiwan excels, is one way to compete in global markets. There is another important lesson which Malaysia’s manufacturers can learn from Taiwan: manufacturers should work closely with trading companies to promote the export of their products.

Malaysian experts envisage relations between the SME sectors of both sides growing further after the formalization of cooperation between the FMM and its Taiwanese counterpart. Even though no formal diplomatic ties exist between Malaysia and Taiwan--Malaysia maintains a representation under the moniker Malaysian Friendship and Trade Center in Taipei, and Taiwan has a similar representation in Kuala Lumpur--economic ties between the two have progressed well in the past.

Two-way trade in 2008 increased by 2.52 percent to US$12.15 billion. Taiwan’s imports from Malaysia increased to US$6.78 billion, a 2.8-percent rise over 2007, while Malaysia’s imports rose by 2.2 percent to US$5.39 billion. Malaysia, which posted a trade deficit of US$1.1 billion, has emerged as Taiwan’s ninth largest trading partner.

All the major Taiwanese companies maintain a presence in Malaysia, with many taking advantage of the tax benefits accruing to them, for example, in the “high-tech state” of Penang and some even setting up manufacturing operations in the nearby Kulim Industrial Park.

“What is particularly appealing for us is the fact that Taiwan’s SMEs are willing to share their technology and are also looking for opportunities to invest overseas. Malaysia, with its abundant raw material base, a well-developed infrastructure and qualified and trained personnel, would be a good place to invest,” Mustafa said in a pitch for increased cooperation.

Surrey, London and Peking get a yuan for spintronics

2009-07-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Integrated optical trap holds particles for on-chip analysis

2009-07-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

SANTA CRUZ, CA--A new type of optical particle trap can be used to manipulate bacteria, viruses and other particles on a chip as part of an integrated optofluidic platform. The optical trap is the latest innovation from researchers at the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who are developing new sensor technology for biomedical analysis and other applications.

"Ultimately, it could have applications for rapid detection of bacteria and viruses in hospitals, for cell sorting in research labs, and for process monitoring in chemical engineering," said Holger Schmidt, professor of electrical engineering and director of the W. M. Keck Center for Nanoscale Optofluidics at UCSC.

The new technique offers the potential to create a smaller, cheaper version of the sophisticated equipment used to perform fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), Schmidt said.

"The capabilities of our optofluidic platform are continuing to grow. We have gone from the detection of single molecules and single viruses to now being able to control the movement of particles," he said.

Schmidt's group has received a $400,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to explore particle trapping and sorting and other applications of the optofluidics platform. An article describing the optical trap for on-chip particle analysis has been published online by the journal Lab on a Chip. First author Sergei Kuhn was a postdoctoral researcher in Schmidt's lab and is now at the Max-Born Institute in Berlin. Coauthors include David Deamer and Philip Measor at UCSC and E. J. Lunt, B. S. Phillips, and A. R. Hawkins of Brigham Young University, where the optofluidic chips are fabricated.

Optical traps and "optical tweezers" use the momentum carried by the photons in a beam of light to exert forces on microscopic objects, enabling researchers to manipulate objects ranging from biological molecules to living cells. Schmidt's group developed a new way to perform optical trapping on a chip-based platform.

The technique relies on an earlier innovation from Schmidt's lab: a hollow-core optical waveguide that can direct a beam of light through a liquid-filled channel on a chip. To trap particles, the researchers used two laser beams at opposite ends of a channel. A particle gets trapped at the point where the forces exerted by the two beams are equal, and the particle can be moved by changing the relative power of the two laser beams.

"We can also use this like an optical leaf blower to push all the particles in a sample to the same spot and increase the concentration," Schmidt said. "The goal is to control the position and movement of particles through channels on a chip so they can be studied using fluorescence analysis and other optical methods."

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The Jack Baskin School of Engineering at UCSC prepares technologists--and sponsors technology--for our changing world. Founded in 1997, Baskin Engineering trains students in six future-focused areas of engineering: biotechnology/information technology/ nanotechnology; information and communication infrastructure; mathematical and statistical modeling; software and services engineering; system design; and bioengineering. Baskin Engineering faculty conduct industry-leading research that is improving the way the world does business, treats the environment, and nurtures humanity.

S&T experts urge OIC nations to acquire emerging technologies

2009-07-01T23:21:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD, Jul 1 (APP): Science and Technology (S&T) experts from the member states of the Organisation of Islamic States (OIC) have strongly recommended acquiring new and emerging technologies for rapid development in the region.The experts observed this during a conference on Science and Technology held recently at Demuscus, Syrian Arab Republic as a parallel to the 36^th Conference of the OIC Foreign Ministers.

Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Coordinator General of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), was among the keynote speakers.

Highlighting the need for reviewing the current status of the science and technology policies of the OIC member states, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman stressed for matching those with regard to 21^st century’s challenges.

He also deliberated upon the role of COMSTECH in technology promotion and described importance of recently launched COMSTECH Technology Exchange I Forum for OIC member states.

The first session was also addressed by Dr. Mukhtar Hatim, Assistant Secretary General, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Razley bin Mohd Nordin, the Director General of the OIC Science and Technology Department.

The Conference held with the theme “Scientific and Technological Achievements and Discoveries in the Field of New and Emerging Technologies”, hailed OIC Vision 1441 for Science and Technology and the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action which urges acquisition of advanced technologies.

Early Harvest and Mega Projects, which speak for facilitating transfer of research and development results through joint design, development, manufacturing and common marketing of high technology products, were also elaborated before the participants.

The second session of the conference reviewed innovation systems in the OIC member states. The speakers examined innovation systems of the advanced nations and recommended how the OIC nations can evolve mechanisms and approaches for the joint action within the OIC countries and generate wealth through economic activities.

The speakers presented the progress, latest developments and achievements in biotechnology, agro-technology and nanotechnology fields and proposed joint action on the subjects in order to make collective advancement in the OIC region.

The closing ceremony of the conference, during which the keynote speakers shared their views in order to offer recommendations, was moderated by Ambassador AN Akbar Salehi, Assistant Secretary General of the OIC on science and technology.

The conference noted with concern that the indicators related to the share of OIC member states in high technology exports amounts to only 1.5 percent of the world’s high-tech exports.

These products are mainly produced by only three member states including Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey.

While acknowledging that the current contribution of the Islamic countries in the world science and technology development is very weak, the conference recommended that high priority should be accorded to the science and technology development, particularly, in the field of emerging technologies for progress and prosperity of the OIC member states.

In its final report, the 36^th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers commended the Syrian Government, COMSTECH, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and other related OIC institutions and made a note of the recommendations by the conference.

Tiny Robotic Assembly Lines

2009-07-01T23:19:00.000-07:00

The world’s smallest assembly lines may soon be made of DNA strands. Model versions are already at work in Ned Seeman’s cluttered laboratory at New York University, where chemists have “programmed” DNA arms to grab and pass a gold particle between them.

A team of researchers created platforms that fold and assemble themselves, each mounted with movable arms made entirely of DNA strands. The results,published last February in Nature Nanotechnology, represent the latest advances in DNA nanotechnology and may be the precursors to DNA-based computer chips and self-assembling drug factories. But for now, the prototypes of that sleek future are scrutinized under an atomic force microscope on the eroding floor tiles of a lab littered with lopsided models of wire and plastic tubes.

To picture how it works, you have to forget what you know about DNA’s role in cell biology and consider it from a chemist’s perspective. Imagine the familiar double helix untwisted, so it becomes a ladder with rails of sugars and phosphates and rungs of paired bases. The DNA strand has four bases that are finicky and will only link to one partner — guanine with cytosine, adenine with thymine. If you split the ladder down the middle, opening it like a zipper, you are left with two rails, each studded with bases that will stick to the bases on another rail, but only if they are the right kind. That degree of pickiness set Seeman’s cogs in motion nearly 20 years ago, when he realized they could be spliced together in specific ways. By mixing the right strands together, he thought, DNA strands can be “programmed” to assemble themselves into shapes and even machines.

Seeman is regarded as the father of DNA nanotechnology. He cuts an imposing figure with a formidable gray beard and hair halfway to his shoulders, and he is brusque when obliged to discuss his work with the layman.

If all you had were ladders, he explains, you could only link them into lines. Fortunately, there is a time when DNA takes a different shape: when it copies itself for reproduction. Momentarily, the double helix unzips forming a structure that resembles a crossroads, called a Holliday junction. Since Seeman uses them as building materials, and not the biological blueprints they usually are, he stabilizes the strands right after they unzip, yielding cross-shaped DNA with four “sticky ends” for construction. He pioneered the trick, and he has since created such junctions with many arms, rather than just four.

Hongzhou Gu is a young chemist in Seeman’s lab who is leading the nano-assembly-line research. To describe DNA arms, he casts around the lab’s paper-strewn desks and settles on staplers. An arm, represented by a stapler, gloms onto the gold particle in a process called DNA conjugation. Then, through precise washes with new solutions of DNA strands, it turns and passes its cargo down the line from arm to arm. He has also created a “walker” – a triangle of DNA strands that ambles along the platform past the arms hauling along a flea’s fortune in gold.

Gu, who led the research on the nano assembly line, says that machines of programmable DNA may be hard to imagine at first; he had not considered using DNA as a construction material before he heard of Seeman’s work. “It’s a pretty new area,” he says.

In a nod to the Japanese cultural scene, folding DNA into flat figures is calledorigami. Caltech chemist Paul Rothemund invented the technique and famously (in some circles) showed it off when he contorted thousands of DNA strands into a pair of smiley faces. Gu applies DNA origami to his rudimentary assembly line. He folds DNA strands into platforms that support the gold-grasping DNA arms. Rothemund compares Gu’s assembly lines to pegboards on which tools are hung, each fitted with multipurpose pliers, like a nano-sized Leatherman, that can be changed as needed.

“What they have done is create a reconfigurable jig at relatively low cost, so that different structures can be made from the same parts,” Rothemund says. The parts can be broken down and reassembled into new shapes for different jobs, thus offsetting the high cost of individual DNA machines.

Though the allure of puzzle-solving is enough to motivate Gu, his work hints at a future of practical, microscopic robotics. Future DNA machines could push molecules together to automatically manufacture drugs using the basic principle of the gold-particle-passing assembly lines — though the difference might be like that between a circuit board printer and a blacksmith’s hammer. Someday DNA could also be persuaded to assemble itself into computing devices — impossibly tiny chips that can transform from one specialized component into another.

In fact, experts say that new branches of technology could spring from the kind of work going on now in Seeman’s lab. The first useful inventions in the still-rudimentary fields of nanoelectronics and nanomedicine are on the horizon, says Chengde Mao, an analytical chemist at Purdue University. However, he cautions, it is folly to try to predict which of the tiny things imaginable might become a practical tool.

“They are pretty open questions and depend on how we define ‘practical,’” Mao says. “It is not that hard to demonstrate an application in the lab, but it is much harder to bring to the market.”

To describe the applications, Seeman uses the temporal reference of the Watson-Crick centennial: 2053, the 100th anniversary of James Watson and Francis Crick’s discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule. By then, he says, “I expect that fairly complex programmed DNA-based nanorobotics will have been achieved. I expect it will be applied in every field, from medicine to the basic sciences to engineering.”

Before the technology steps into such a privileged station, however, it is maturing in a humble adolescence. From the outside, the lab’s daily pace of technological advancement is plodding: Gu’s first success was to build platforms bearing two arms; now he is working on adding a third. He may be whisking us off toward a bright future, but the daily slog is banal. One afternoon in the lab, for example, Gu pored over yet another blurred printout from the microscope and said the gold particle didn’t look round like it did the day before. But only less than a decade ago Seeman had identified the third dimension as the next big hurdle in DNA nanotechnology. Now it is cleared and he is envisioning practical machines set to work within his lifetime.

The future is now for Vt. firm

2009-06-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

NORTHFIELD – A Northfield research facility will soon begin preliminary work on the protective military suit of the future.

Norwich University Applied Research Institute has landed a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study the cutting-edge sciences and materials that will one day be used to protect U.S. servicemen from 21st century biological and chemical warfare.

"The Department of Defense has been making evolutionary changes to its biochemical defense suits for a period of 100 years," says Phil Sussman, president of NUARI.

The primitive rubber suits of yesteryear, Susmann says, have been replaced by carbon-impregnated rubber suits of today. Defense officials are now looking to harness the latest technologies to revolutionize protective equipment that could play an increasingly important role in armed conflict.

"The Department of Defense is looking for the next big jump – the revolutionary change to create a set of materials that would handle those issues," Susmann says.

The $770,000 grant won't fund actual development of the suit, rather NUARI's team of experts will evaluate breakthroughs in the academic and private sectors to determine which materials and technologies offer the greatest potential.

"We are putting together forecasting methodology to be able to look at a set of emerging sciences to suggest which sets of sciences, based upon where they are today, have a realistic opportunity," Susmann says. "This is all high-risk, so it's looking to quantify those risks."

The Applied Research Institute, a Nothfield-based nonprofit with ties to the neighboring Norwich campus, survives largely on grants and contracts from the federal government. Until now, the facility's highest-profile work has come in the area of cyber-security and visual-augmentation systems. The institute's 18-member staff will jump to about 30 when two government grants begin to take effect later this summer.

"This particular grant is new for us, a new venture and an exciting venture and it is a little bit of a reach," Susmann says.

The nanotechnology, bioengineering, information management, and cognitive sciences Susmann and his team will investigate sound like the stuff of science fiction. Nanospheres and nanocytes – microscopic self-contained systems created in laboratories – have the potential to neutralize lethal or harmful contaminants within the suit.

Other technologies could allow the wearer's central nervous system to interface with the suit itself.

"It could indicate the presence of certain things to them, in the same way as when you put your hand on a burner and get a nerve response, that sort of direct brain interface," Susmann says. "It's not necessarily something you have to see through a screen."

Comfort and mobility also will figure chiefly in the utility of any future suit, according to Susmann.

"Human performance issues are a big concern because when you presently wear this equipment it's hot and hard to maneuver in," he says. "This suit … would increase human performance and keep the wearer cool while progressing to this type of environment."

NUARI was chartered by the federal government in 2002 under legislation sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy. Susmann, a Norwich alumnus and former chief information officer at the university, says the symbiotic partnership with Norwich offers real-world experiences to students and low-wage labor to NUARI.

"If you go to any major research institute, they're spending $1.10 to $1.20 for every dollar of research they bring in," Susmann says. "The way they're able to exist is doctoral students or masters students working slave labor … to conduct the research activity."

Susmann says the suit won't be worn on battlefields for some time. NUARI's team for the project will be based out of northern Virginia.

"We're looking for emerging science for technology between 12 and 15 years out," Susmann said.

Still, the work NUARI does today will inform major government investments later.

"We are science evaluators," Susmann says. "We'll look at emerging sciences … to report places where government should be making investments."

Secure and sustainable Nanotechnology as a motor for innovation in Switzerland and Europe

2009-06-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

(Nanowerk News) As one of the key technologies of the 21st century, nanotechnology will significantly shape our economy, our society and indeed our lives. Already today it finds uses in many areas, from IT and electronics via materials with “tailor-made” properties to medical applications in the fields of diagnostics and therapy. But the bright future for products and processes improved and enhanced by nanotechnology is clouded by questions of safety and security. How do nanoparticles behave in the human body? How do they react with our environment?

In order to discuss these questions, and also future (more or less) desirable developments related to the “nano” theme, among as wide an audience as possible, Empa decided three years ago to establish a platform for dialog – the NanoConvention. In 2009, for the third time, we are bringing together the most important players from science, industry, the economy, finance, politics, the administration and society, this time in Zurich. Workshops, lectures and discussion sessions will be organized where high profile speakers from Switzerland and abroad will illuminate from various perspectives the latest developments in the world of nanotechnology, debate the risks involved and the opportunities offered, and dare to predict what the future holds in store.

The aim is to encourage research and development activities in this promising field, with the object of paving the way for the development of safe and sustainable nanotechnology. For only by responsibly handling new technologies will they become the engines of national economies reliant on innovation such as those of Switzerland. Society and science have learnt from the past that evaluating the consequential effects of new technologies is an essential part of the development and implementation process.

We are convinced that the Swiss NanoConvention 2009 – now practically a traditional event – will offer an excellent opportunity for fascinating, controversial discussion, and we cordially invite you to Zurich to be a part of it.

Target audience

Those involved in education, research and innovation in the field of nano(bio)technology

High-tech SMEs and companies active the in the field of nanotechnology

Business associations, cantonal economic development bodies, CCIs, banks, investors

Local and central government departments and administrations, research support and development organizations, interested parliamentarians

Insurance companies, specialists in technology assessment

Bio-inspired and nanoscale integrated computing

2009-06-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

(Nanowerk News) Within the area of nanotechnology, the study of nano-scale and bio-inspired integrated computing has attracted major attention in recent years. This is the first book to specifically focus on the computing aspects of nanotechnology for engineers, computer engineers, and biomedical engineers who are interested in designing faster and denser computing architectures and algorithms. The books also serves as an ideal text for graduate students in engineering, biology, and the life sciences.

From the Back Cover

This pioneering book demonstrates how nanotechnology can create even faster, denser computing architectures and algorithms. Furthermore, it draws from the latest advances in biology with a focus on bio-inspired computing at the nanoscale, bringing to light several new and innovative applications such as nanoscale implantable biomedical devices and neural networks.

Bio-Inspired and Nanoscale Integrated Computing features an expert team of interdisciplinary authors who offer readers the benefit of their own breakthroughs in integrated computing as well as a thorough investigation and analyses of the literature. Carefully edited, the book begins with an introductory chapter providing a general overview of the field. It ends with a chapter setting forth the common themes that tie the chapters together as well as a forecast of emerging avenues of research.

Among the important topics addressed in the book are modeling of nano devices, quantum computing, quantum dot cellular automata, dielectrophoretic reconfigurable nano architectures, multilevel and three-dimensional nanomagnetic recording, spin-wave architectures and algorithms, fault-tolerant nanocomputing, molecular computing, self-assembly of supramolecular nanostructures, DNA nanotechnology and computing, nanoscale DNA sequence matching, medical nanorobotics, heterogeneous nanostructures for biomedical diagnostics, biomimetic cortical nanocircuits, bio-applications of carbon nanotubes, and nanoscale image processing.

Readers in electrical engineering, computer science, and computational biology will gain new insights into how bio-inspired and nanoscale devices can be used to design the next generation of enhanced integrated circuits.

What is Nanotechnology?

2009-06-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

A basic definition: Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. This covers both current work and concepts that are more advanced.

In its original sense, 'nanotechnology' refers to the projected ability to construct itemsfrom the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, high performance products.

With 15,342 atoms, this parallel-shaft speed reducer gear is one of the largest nanomechanical devices ever modeled in atomic detail. LINK

The Meaning of Nanotechnology

When K. Eric Drexler (right) popularized the word 'nanotechnology' in the 1980's, he was talking about building machines on the scale of molecules, a few nanometers wide—motors, robot arms, and even whole computers, far smaller than a cell. Drexler spent the next ten years describing and analyzing these incredible devices, and responding to accusations of science fiction. Meanwhile, mundane technology was developing the ability to build simple structures on a molecular scale. As nanotechnology became an accepted concept, the meaning of the word shifted to encompass the simpler kinds of nanometer-scale technology. The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative was created to fund this kind of nanotech: their definition includes anything smaller than 100 nanometers with novel properties.

Much of the work being done today that carries the name 'nanotechnology' is not nanotechnology in the original meaning of the word. Nanotechnology, in its traditional sense, means building things from the bottom up, with atomic precision. This theoretical capability was envisioned as early as 1959 by the renowned physicist Richard Feynman.

I want to build a billion tiny factories, models of each other, which are manufacturing simultaneously. . . The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom. It is not an attempt to violate any laws; it is something, in principle, that can be done; but in practice, it has not been done because we are too big. — Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize winner in physics

Based on Feynman's vision of miniature factories using nanomachines to build complex products, advanced nanotechnology (sometimes referred to as molecular manufacturing) will make use of positionally-controlled mechanochemistry guided by molecular machine systems. Formulating a roadmap for development of this kind of nanotechnology is now an objective of a broadly based technology roadmap project led by Battelle (the manager of several U.S. National Laboratories) and the Foresight Nanotech Institute.

Shortly after this envisioned molecular machinery is created, it will result in a manufacturing revolution, probably causing severe disruption. It also has serious economic, social, environmental, and military implications.

Four Generations

Mihail (Mike) Roco of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative has described four generations of nanotechnology development (see chart below). The current era, as Roco depicts it, is that of passive nanostructures, materials designed to perform one task. The second phase, which we are just entering, introduces active nanostructures for multitasking; for example, actuators, drug delivery devices, and sensors. The third generation is expected to begin emerging around 2010 and will feature nanosystems with thousands of interacting components. A few years after that, the first integrated nanosystems, functioning (according to Roco) much like a mammalian cell with hierarchical systems within systems, are expected to be developed.

Some experts may still insist that nanotechnology can refer to measurement or visualization at the scale of 1-100 nanometers, but a consensus seems to be forming around the idea (put forward by the NNI's Mike Roco) that control and restructuring of matter at the nanoscale is a necessary element. CRN's definition is a bit more precise than that, but as work progresses through the four generations of nanotechnology leading up to molecular nanosystems, which will include molecular manufacturing, we think it will become increasingly obvious that "engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale" is what nanotech is really all about.

Conflicting Definitions

Unfortunately, conflicting definitions of nanotechnology and blurry distinctions between significantly different fields have complicated the effort to understand the differences and develop sensible, effective policy.

The risks of today's nanoscale technologies (nanoparticle toxicity, etc.) cannot be treated the same as the risks of longer-term molecular manufacturing (economic disruption, unstable arms race, etc.). It is a mistake to put them together in one basket for policy consideration—each is important to address, but they offer different problems and will require different solutions. As used today, the term nanotechnology usually refers to a broad collection of mostly disconnected fields. Essentially, anything sufficiently small and interesting can be called nanotechnology. Much of it is harmless. For the rest, much of the harm is of familiar and limited quality. But as we will see, molecular manufacturing will bring unfamiliar risks and new classes of problems.

General-Purpose Technology

Nanotechnology is sometimes referred to as a general-purpose technology. That's because in its advanced form it will have significant impact on almost all industries and all areas of society. It will offer better built, longer lasting, cleaner, safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications, for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general.

Imagine a medical device that travels through the human body to seek out and destroy small clusters of cancerous cells before they can spread. Or a box no larger than a sugar cube that contains the entire contents of the Library of Congress. Or materials much lighter than steel that possess ten times as much strength. — U.S. National Science Foundation

Dual-Use Technology

Like electricity or computers before it, nanotech will offer greatly improved efficiency in almost every facet of life. But as a general-purpose technology, it will be dual-use, meaning it will have many commercial uses and it also will have many military uses—making far more powerful weapons and tools of surveillance. Thus it represents not only wonderful benefits for humanity, but also grave risks.

A key understanding of nanotechnology is that it offers not just better products, but a vastly improved manufacturing process. A computer can make copies of data files—essentially as many copies as you want at little or no cost. It may be only a matter of time until the building of products becomes as cheap as the copying of files. That's the real meaning of nanotechnology, and why it is sometimes seen as "the next industrial revolution."

My own judgment is that the nanotechnology revolution has the potential to change America on a scale equal to, if not greater than, the computer revolution. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

The power of nanotechnology can be encapsulated in an apparently simple device called a personal nanofactory that may sit on your countertop or desktop. Packed with miniature chemical processors, computing, and robotics, it will produce a wide-range of items quickly, cleanly, and inexpensively, building products directly from blueprints.

◄ Click to enlarge
Artist's Conception of a Personal Nanofactory
Courtesy of John Burch, Lizard Fire Studios (3D Animation, Game Development)

Exponential Proliferation

Nanotechnology not only will allow making many high-quality products at very low cost, but it will allow making new nanofactories at the same low cost and at the same rapid speed. This unique (outside of biology, that is) ability to reproduce its own means of production is why nanotech is said to be an exponential technology. It represents a manufacturing system that will be able to make more manufacturing systems—factories that can build factories—rapidly, cheaply, and cleanly. The means of production will be able to reproduce exponentially, so in just a few weeks a few nanofactories conceivably could become billions. It is a revolutionary, transformative, powerful, and potentially very dangerous—or beneficial—technology.

How soon will all this come about? Conservative estimates usually say 20 to 30 years from now, or even much later than that. However, CRN is concerned that it may occur sooner, quite possibly within the next decade. This is because of the rapid progress being made in enabling technologies, such as optics, nanolithography, mechanochemistry and 3D prototyping. If it does arrive that soon, we may not be adequately prepared, and the consequences could be severe.

We believe it's not too early to begin asking some tough questions and facing the issues:

	Who will own the technology?
	Will it be heavily restricted, or widely available?
	What will it do to the gap between rich and poor?
	How can dangerous weapons be controlled, and perilous arms races be prevented?

Many of these questions were first raised over a decade ago, and have not yet been answered. If the questions are not answered with deliberation, answers will evolve independently and will take us by surprise; the surprise is likely to be unpleasant.

It is difficult to say for sure how soon this technology will mature, partly because it's possible (especially in countries that do not have open societies) that clandestine military or industrial development programs have been going on for years without our knowledge.

We cannot say with certainty that full-scale nanotechnology will not be developed with the next ten years, or even five years. It may take longer than that, but prudence—and possibly our survival—demands that we prepare now for the earliest plausible development scenario.

More Background on Nanotechnology:

	Nanotechnology Basics - For students and other learners
	Managing Magic - A brief overview of the challenges posed by advanced nanotechnology
	Nanotechnology on an Upward Slope - An online PowerPoint presentation
	Turn on the Nanotech High Beams - An essay published by Future Brief
	Nano Simulation - A way to visualize what is meant by molecular manufacturing
	Debating the Future of Nanotechnology - Perspective from the Foresight Institute
	Safe Utilization of Advanced Nanotechnology - One of the founding papers of CRN
	*5-Minute Nanosystems* - A quick summary of Eric Drexler's foundational work on nanotechnology**
	Nanotechnology Press Kit - Compiled and published by Nanotechnology Now

Innovations in nanotechnology fuels clothing functionalities

2009-06-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Textiles are treated with nanotechnology materials to improve the properties of it, and make it more durable. To name a few, stain repellent, wrinkle resistant threads, body warmers, nano socks to protect the skin against infections etc. It also can be used to add new functionalities like energy storage and communications.

Nanocoatings are used as ski-wax. The ultra thin coating changes according to the temperature and adapts to the surface and snow-crystals. The surface structure remains completely free of wax enabling optimum gliding. Apart from clothing, nano technology finds effective uses in making cosmetics as well. It is used in making anti wrinkle creams, and to prevent dryness of the skin.

Future developments are to use nanotechnology to create Smart and Interactive Textiles (SMIT) that can sense electrical, thermal, chemical, magnetic, or other stimuli. Currently however, the major parts of advanced textiles are relative low tech products like photo chromic t-shirts.

Click here to read the complete article

The Nano-tech Revolution

2009-06-24T04:42:00.000-07:00

The first known human application of nano-technology can be seen in the stain glass panels on the churches & cathedrals of medieval Europe. The colors in these windows were achieved by a controlled heating & cooling process that alters the structure of tiny crystals in the glass changing their pigment. Similarly today scientists can reduce materials to their atomic scale causing them to exhibit a different color at varying stages of reduction toward a sub-atomic level. Unlike the medieval artisans however, Scientists can observe this process & control its behavior, allowing them to design materials on a nano scale rather than just discover them by accident.

The ability to construct machines at the sub-atomic level is called nano-technology & as so far removed from the natural world as it seems it actually is not. Nature has been constructing on the nano-scale since time immemorial, as evidenced in the protein assemblies that operate the rotors & engines such as the flagellum of a bacterium or the self assembling actuators of a reptile that has lost one of its limbs. The building principles that are intrinsic to molecular engineering are the very processes by which nature replicates itself.

Photo synthesis & voltaics are efficient reciprocal forms of energy conversion & exchange that allow plants to flourish. Every minute enough sunlight reaches the earth to meet the world’s energy demands for a whole year. This factor is drawing the pursuit of finding a clean perpetual alternative source of energy into the realm of nano-science. Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories’ Molecular Foundry are taking nanotechnology out of the realm of theorems & into the world of practical working reality. Researchers in the manufacture of solar panels are replacing heavy expensive & fragile silicon with improvised polymers that behave more like nylon. Researchers are replacing crystalline silicon as the light absorbing material in solar cells & replacing it with polymer.

Scientists can design conjugated polymers that exhibit conduction of the electrons to the electrodes by adding side chains to them to make them more soluble; to make them better conductors; that change the energy levels & band gaps of these polymers. Scientists have the ability to control individual molecules to increase efficiency & structural integrity of every single atom that composes the material they are examining as a whole.

The ability to observe & alter things at the atomic & sub-atomic levels has lead to the development of an excess of new materials applications, notwithstanding the construction of working nano-mechanical machines. Combined with the ability to observe this change Scientists are able to control & direct this altered behavior. What was once a simple list of Elements called the periodic table now branches out into new dimensions. A nano-meter is a unit of measure that is 1 billionth of a meter, in engineering this small Scientists have found that everyday materials exhibit characteristics that they otherwise would not in their macro-biotic state. These distorted behaviors have lead to the development of faster computer chips, tiny medical devices that can repair clogged arteries & new filtration systems that eradicate environmental pollutants.

One of the key techniques in creating these distortions is called Quantum Confinement, or the reduction of a material to the point that electrons are squeezed into a space they are not naturally comfortable with. The smaller you make the Chrystal the higher the electron’s charge will be. Its kinetic energy is increased shortening its wavelength causing it to travel around its space more quickly. In conjunction with this is the relationship between volume & surface & how it determines nano-scale behaviors. Things this small have more on the outside than on the inside, Most of the material is surface allowing more reactions to take place. Although the benefits of nano-technology when applied to environmental problems such as Global Warming, contamination of drinking water, air pollution & so forth are self evident, the technology still has its risks. Some Governments are talking about regulating nano-science by amending their hazardous materials law to include nano-particles. Because nano-scale materials can enter living cells the danger posed to the health of an individual & the natural environment is very real. Scientists are examining the nature of the interaction between new engineered artificial molecular materials & living systems in the hopes of finding ethical applications & programming safe guards into the new technology.

It is by no stretch of the imagination that we can extrapolate on how the materials enhancement applications of Nano-technology can be assimilated into a military soldier augmentation programme. Nano-technology affords the field operative various tools & abilities that could greatly increase the success of mission objectives & decrease the risk of danger to a soldier’s life. Technologies such as nano-reactive muscle propulsion systems could be designed into a soldier’s uniform that speed muscle responses to aid movement in pursuit & capture, & impact during unarmed combat. Nano-fibers could be built into the fabric of the uniform that could not only insulate from the cold & ventilate heat, but could penetrate sub-dermally to heal broken bones &form a thin membrane like a cast around the injury. Carbon fiber nano tubes being fugitive, that is unfixed, could cluster to form a protective casing like a shield to deflect projectiles & prevent the penetration of bullets.

This virtual exo-skeleton made from artificially engineered materials that bend light around 3 dimensional objects & sound suppression technologies, render its wearer invisible to all electrical forms of detection as well as the human eye. With the addition of a headgear unit that encapsulates all the advantages of x-ray, infer-red & night vision, GPS satellite navigation & fractal macro & micro zoom technologies the nano-technologically advanced super soldier surpasses any in military history.

Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food

2009-06-24T04:22:00.000-07:00

1. Introduction
The current global population is nearly 6 billion with 50% living in Asia. A large proportion
of those living in developing countries face daily food shortages as a result of environmental
impacts or political instability, while in the developed world there is a food surplus. For
developing countries the drive is to develop drought and pest resistant crops, which also
maximize yield. In developed countries, the food industry is driven by consumer demand
which is currently for fresher and healthier foodstuffs. This is big business, for example the
food industry in the UK is booming with an annual growth rate of 5.2%1 and the demand for
fresh food has increased by 10% in the last few years.
The potential of nanotechnology to revolutionise the health care, textile, materials.
information and communication technology, and energy sectors has been well-publicised. In
fact several products enabled by nanotechnology are already in the market, such as antibacterial
dressings, transparent sunscreen lotions, stain-resistant fabrics, scratch free paints
for cars, and self cleaning windows. The application of nanotechnology to the agricultural
and food industries was first addressed by a United States Department of Agriculture
roadmap published in September 2003.2 The prediction is that nanotechnology will
transform the entire food industry, changing the way food is produced, processed, packaged,
transported, and consumed. This short report will review the key aspects of these
transformations, highlighting current research in the agrifood industry and what future
impacts these may have.
1.1 What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the manipulation or self-assembly of individual atoms, molecules, or
molecular clusters into structures to create materials and devices with new or vastly
different properties. Nanotechnology can work from the top down (which means reducing
the size of the smallest structures to the nanoscale e.g. photonics applications in
nanoelectronics and nanoengineering) or the bottom up (which involves manipulating
individual atoms and molecules into nanostructures and more closely resembles chemistry or
biology).
The definition of nanotechnology is based on the prefix “nano” which is from the Greek word
meaning “dwarf”. In more technical terms, the word “nano” means 10-9, or one billionth of
something. For comparison, a virus is roughly 100 nanometres (nm) in size. The word
nanotechnology is generally used when referring to materials with the size of 0.1 to 100
nanometres, however it is also inherent that these materials should display different
properties from bulk (or micrometric and larger) materials as a result of their size. These
differences include physical strength, chemical reactivity, electrical conductance, magnetism,
and optical effects.
1.2 Nanotechnology in the Food Market
Nanotechnology has been described as the new industrial revolution and both developed and
developing countries are investing in this technology to secure a market share. At present
the USA leads with a 4 year, 3.7 billion USD investment through its National Nanotechnology
Initiative (NNI). The USA is followed by Japan and the European Union, which have both
committed substantial funds (750 million and 1.2 billion, including individual country
contributions, respectively per year).3 The level of funding in developing countries may be
comparatively lower, however this has not lessened the impact of some countries on the
global stage. For example, China's share of academic publications in nanoscale science and
engineering topics rose from 7.5% in 1995 to 18.3% in 2004, taking the country from fifth
to second in the world.4 Others such as India, South Korea, Iran, and Thailand are also
1 Taylor Nelson Sofrès, 52 weeks ended 5 January 2003, Geest estimates
2 Nanoscale science and engineering for agriculture and food systems, Dept. of Agriculture, United States, 2003.
3 Some Figures about Nanotechnology R&D in Europe and Beyond, European Commission, December 2005
4 Ranking the Nations: Nanotech's Shifting Global Leaders, Lux Research Inc.
3
catching up with a focus on applications specific to the economic growth and needs of their
countries. Iran for example has a focused programme in nanotechnology for the agricultural
and food industry. A recent study from the Helmuth Kaiser Consultancy predicts that the
nanofood market will surge from 2.6 billion USD to 20.4 billion USD by 2010 (see Figure
below).5 The report suggests that with more than 50% of the world population, the largest
market for Nanofood in 2010 will be Asia lead by China.
2.6
7
20.4
0
5
10
15
20
25
$ Billions
2004 2006 2010
Year (Helmut Kaiser Consultancy-2004)
Nanofood Market
World Nanofood market
More than 400 companies around the world today are active in nanotechnology research and
development (R&D) and this number is expected to increase to more than 1000 within the
next 10 years. In terms of numbers, the USA leads, followed by Japan, China, and the EU.
An estimate by the Business Communications Company, a technical market research and
industry analysis company shows that, the market for the nanotechnology was 7.6 billion
USD in 2003 and is expected to be 1 trillion USD in 2011.6 However, the full potential of
nanotechnology in the agricultural and food industry has still not been realised.
5 Helmuth Kaiser Consultancy, Nanotechnology in Food and Food Processing Industry Worldwide, 2004
6 Business Communications Company, Inc., Global Nanotechnology market to reach $29billion by 2008
4
2. Nanotechnology in Agriculture
The EU’s vision is of a “knowledge-based economy” and as part of this, it plans to maximise
the potential of biotechnology for the benefit of EU economy, society and the environment.
There are new challenges in this sector including a growing demand for healthy, safe food;
an increasing risk of disease; and threats to agricultural and fishery production from
changing weather patterns. However, creating a bio economy is a challenging and complex
process involving the convergence of different branches of science.
Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the agricultural and food industry with
new tools for the molecular treatment of diseases, rapid disease detection, enhancing the
ability of plants to absorb nutrients etc. Smart sensors and smart delivery systems will help
the agricultural industry combat viruses and other crop pathogens. In the near future
nanostructured catalysts will be available which will increase the efficiency of pesticides and
herbicides, allowing lower doses to be used. Nanotechnology will also protect the
environment indirectly through the use of alternative (renewable) energy supplies, and
filters or catalysts to reduce pollution and clean-up existing pollutants.
An agricultural methodology widely used in the USA, Europe and Japan, which efficiently
utilises modern technology for crop management, is called Controlled Environment
Agriculture (CEA). CEA is an advanced and intensive form of hydroponically-based
agriculture. Plants are grown within a controlled environment so that horticultural practices
can be optimized. The computerized system monitors and regulates localised environments
such as fields of crops. CEA technology, as it exists today, provides an excellent platform for
the introduction of nanotechnology to agriculture. With many of the monitoring and control
systems already in place, nanotechnological devices for CEA that provide “scouting”
capabilities could tremendously improve the grower’s ability to determine the best time of
harvest for the crop, the vitality of the crop, and food security issues, such as microbial or
chemical contamination.7
2.1 Precision Farming
Precision farming has been a long-desired goal to maximise output (i.e. crop yields) while
minimising input (i.e. fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, etc) through monitoring
environmental variables and applying targeted action. Precision farming makes use of
computers, global satellite positioning systems, and remote sensing devices to measure
highly localised environmental conditions thus determining whether crops are growing at
maximum efficiency or precisely identifying the nature and location of problems. By using
centralised data to determine soil conditions and plant development, seeding, fertilizer,
chemical and water use can be fine-tuned to lower production costs and potentially increase
production- all benefiting the farmer.8 Precision farming can also help to reduce agricultural
waste and thus keep environmental pollution to a minimum. Although not fully implemented
yet, tiny sensors and monitoring systems enabled by nanotechnology will have a large
impact on future precision farming methodologies.
One of the major roles for nanotechnology-enabled devices will be the increased use of
autonomous sensors linked into a GPS system for real-time monitoring. These nanosensors
could be distributed throughout the field where they can monitor soil conditions and crop
growth. Wireless sensors are already being used in certain parts of the USA and Australia.
For example, one of the Californian vineyards, Pickberry, in Sonoma County has installed wifi
systems with the help of the IT company, Accenture.9 The initial cost of setting up such a
system is justified by the fact that it enables the best grapes to be grown which in turn
produce finer wines, which command a premium price. The use of such wireless networks is
of course not restricted to vineyards, for example Forbes Magazine has reported that small
7 The US Department of Agriculture, Nanoscale science and engineering for Agriculture and food systems
8 Precision Agriculture: Changing the Face of Farming, Doug Rickman, J.C. Luvall, Joey Shaw, Paul Mask, David
Kissel and Dana Sullivan
9 Virtual Vineyard, Gregory J. Millman, Accenture,
http://www.accenture.com/xdoc/en/ideas/outlook/3_2004/pdf/case_sensor.pdf
5
nanosensors are being used by Honeywell (a technology R&D company with global branches)
to monitor grocery stores in Minnesota.10 This technology enables shop keepers to identify
food items which have passed their expiry date and also reminds them to issue a new
purchase order. The global market for wireless sensors is predicted to be 7 billion USD by
2010.11
The union of biotechnology and nanotechnology in sensors will create equipment of
increased sensitivity, allowing an earlier response to environmental changes. For example:
• Nanosensors utilising carbon nanotubes12 or nano-cantilevers13 are small enough to trap
and measure individual proteins or even small molecules.
• Nanoparticles or nanosurfaces can be engineered to trigger an electrical or chemical
signal in the presence of a contaminant such as bacteria.
• Other nanosensors work by triggering an enzymatic reaction or by using nanoengineered
branching molecules called dendrimers as probes to bind to target chemicals
and proteins.14
Ultimately, precision farming, with the help of smart sensors, will allow enhanced
productivity in agriculture by providing accurate information, thus helping farmers to make
better decisions.
2.2 Smart Delivery Systems
The use of pesticides increased in the second half of the 20th century with DDT becoming
one of the most effective and widespread throughout the world. However, many of these
pesticides, including DDT were later found to be highly toxic, affecting human and animal
health and as a result whole ecosystems. As a consequence they were banned. To maintain
crop yields, Integrated Pest Management systems, which mix traditional methods of crop
rotation with biological pest control methods, are becoming popular and implemented in
many countries, such as Tunisia and India.
In the future, nanoscale devices with novel properties could be used to make agricultural
systems “smart”. For example, devices could be used to identify plant health issues before
these become visible to the farmer. Such devices may be capable of responding to different
situations by taking appropriate remedial action. If not, they will alert the farmer to the
problem. In this way, smart devices will act as both a preventive and an early warning
system. Such devices could be used to deliver chemicals in a controlled and targeted
manner in the same way as nanomedicine has implications for drug delivery in humans.
Nanomedicine developments are now beginning to allow us to treat different diseases such
as cancer in animals with high precision, and targeted delivery (to specific tissues and
organs) has become highly successful.
Technologies such as encapsulation and controlled release methods, have revolutionised the
use of pesticides and herbicides. Many companies make formulations which contain
nanoparticles within the 100-250 nm size range that are able to dissolve in water more
effectively than existing ones (thus increasing their activity). Other companies employ
suspensions of nanoscale particles (nanoemulsions), which can be either water or oil-based
and contain uniform suspensions of pesticidal or herbicidal nanoparticles in the range of 200-
400 nm. These can be easily incorporated in various media such as gels, creams, liquids
etc, and have multiple applications for preventative measures, treatment or preservation of
the harvested product.
One of the world’s largest agrochemical corporations, Syngenta, is using nanoemulsions in
its pesticide products. One of its successful growth regulating products is the Primo MAXX®
plant growth regulator, which if applied prior to the onset of stress such as heat, drought,
10 Quentin Hardy, Sensing opportunity, Forbes Magazine, 2003
11 ONWorld Press Release, Wireless sensor networks: A mass market opportunity
12 Carbon nanotubes are rolled sheets of graphite that are hollow and a few nm in diameter, but can be several
micrometres (or more) long.
13 Cantilevers are micro-scaled structures that can be modified to bind specific chemicals. Binding causes the
cantilever to bend (much like a diving board), and this movement is detected optically or electronically.
14 Down on the farm, ETC group, 2004: http://www.etcgroup.org/documents/ETC_DOTFarm2004.pdf
6
disease or traffic can strengthen the physical structure of turfgrass, and allow it to withstand
ongoing stresses throughout the growing season.15 Another encapsulated product from
Syngenta delivers a broad control spectrum on primary and secondary insect pests of cotton,
rice, peanuts and soybeans. Marketed under the name Karate® ZEON this is a quick release
microencapsulated product containing the active compound lambda-cyhalothrin (a synthetic
insecticide based on the structure of natural pyrethrins) which breaks open on contact with
leaves.16 In contrast, the encapsulated product “gutbuster” only breaks open to release its
contents when it comes into contact with alkaline environments, such as the stomach of
certain insects.17
In other areas, scientists are working on various technologies to make fertiliser and pesticide
delivery systems which can respond to environmental changes. The ultimate aim is to tailor
these products in such a way that they will release their cargo in a controlled manner (slowly
or quickly) in response to different signals e.g. magnetic fields, heat, ultrasound, moisture,
etc.
New research also aims to make plants use water, pesticides and fertilizers more efficiently,
to reduce pollution and to make agriculture more environmentally friendly. Smaller
companies are forming alliances with major players such as LG, BASF, Honeywell, Bayer,
Mitsubishi, and DuPont to make complete plant health monitoring systems in the next 10
years using nanotechnologies.
2.3 Other Developments in the Agricultural Sector due to
Nanotechnology
Agriculture is the backbone of most developing countries, with more than 60% of the
population reliant on it for their livelihood. As well as developing improved systems for
monitoring environmental conditions and delivering nutrients or pesticides as appropriate,
nanotechnology can improve our understanding of the biology of different crops and thus
potentially enhance yields or nutritional values. In addition, it can offer routes to added
value crops or environmental remediation.
Particle farming is one such example, which yields nanoparticles for industrial use by
growing plants in defined soils. For example, research has shown that alfalfa plants grown
in gold rich soil, absorb gold nanoparticles through their roots and accumulate these in their
tissues. The gold nanoparticles can be mechanically separated from the plant tissue
following harvest.18
Nanotechnology can also be used to clean ground water. The US company Argonide is using
2 nm diameter aluminium oxide nanofibres (NanoCeram) as a water purifier. Filters made
from these fibres can remove viruses, bacteria and protozoan cysts from water.19 Similar
projects are taking place elsewhere, particularly in developing countries such as India and
South Africa. The German chemical group BASF’s future business fund has devoted a
significant proportion of its 105 million USD nanotechnology research fund to water
purification techniques. The French utility company Generale des Eaux has also developed
its own Nanofiltration technology in collaboration with the Dow Chemical subsidiary Filmtec.
Ondeo, the water unit of French conglomerate Suez, has meanwhile installed what it calls an
ultrafiltration system, with holes of 0.1 microns in size, in one of its plants outside Paris.20
While some companies are working on water filtration, others such as Altairnano are
following a purification approach. Altairnano’s Nanocheck contains lanthanum nanoparticles
that absorb phosphates from aqueous environments. Applying these in ponds and
swimming pools effectively removes available phosphates and as a result prevents the
15 http://www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com/to/prod/primo/
16 http://www.syngentacropprotection-us.com/prod/insecticide/Karate/
17 Syngenta’s US Patent No. 6,544,540: Base-Triggered Release Microcapsules
18 Liz Kalaugher, Alfalfa plants harvest gold Nanoparticles, Nanotechweb
19 http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/3/4/7
20 Small times, http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=6959
7
growth of algae. The company expects this product to benefit commercial fish ponds which
spend huge amounts of money to remove algae.21
Research at Lehigh University in the US shows that an ultrafine, nanoscale powder made
from iron can be used as an effective tool for cleaning up contaminated soil and
groundwater- a trillion-dollar problem that encompasses more than 1000 still-untreated
Superfund sites (uncontrolled or abandoned places where hazardous waste is located) in the
United States, some 150,000 underground storage tank releases, and a huge number of
landfills, abandoned mines, and industrial sites.22 The iron nanoparticles catalyse the
oxidation and breakdown of organic contaminants such as trichloroethene, carbon
tetrachloride, dioxins, and PCBs to simpler carbon compounds which are much less toxic.
This could pave the way for a nano-aquaculture, which would be beneficial for a large
number of farmers across the world. Other research at the Centre for Biological and
Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) has shown that nanoscale iron oxide particles are
extremely effective at binding and removing arsenic from groundwater (something which
affects the water supply of millions of people in the developing world, and for which there is
no effective existing solution).23
3. Nanotechnology in the Food Industry
The impact of nanotechnology in the food industry has become more apparent over the last
few years with the organization of various conferences dedicated to the topic, initiation of
consortia for better and safe food, along with increased coverage in the media. Several
companies which were hesitant about revealing their research programmes in nanofood,
have now gone public announcing plans to improve existing products and develop new ones
to maintain market dominance. The types of application include: smart packaging, on
demand preservatives, and interactive foods. Building on the concept of “on-demand” food,
the idea of interactive food is to allow consumers to modify food depending on their own
nutritional needs or tastes. The concept is that thousands of nanocapsules containing
flavour or colour enhancers, or added nutritional elements (such as vitamins), would remain
dormant in the food and only be released when triggered by the consumer.24 Most of the
food giants including Nestle, Kraft, Heinz, and Unilever support specific research
programmes to capture a share of the nanofood market in the next decade.
The definition of nanofood is that nanotechnology techniques or tools are used during
cultivation, production, processing, or packaging of the food. It does not mean atomically
modified food or food produced by nanomachines. Although there are ambitious thoughts of
creating molecular food using nanomachines, this is unrealistic in the foreseeable future.
Instead nanotechnologists are more optimistic about the potential to change the existing
system of food processing and to ensure the safety of food products, creating a healthy food
culture. They are also hopeful of enhancing the nutritional quality of food through selected
additives and improvements to the way the body digests and absorbs food. Although some
of these goals are further away, the food packaging industry already incorporates
nanotechnology in products.
3.1 Packaging and Food Safety
Developing smart packaging to optimise product shelf-life has been the goal of many
companies. Such packaging systems would be able to repair small holes/tears, respond to
environmental conditions (e.g. temperature and moisture changes), and alert the customer
if the food is contaminated. Nanotechnology can provide solutions for these, for example
modifying the permeation behaviour of foils, increasing barrier properties (mechanical,
thermal, chemical, and microbial), improving mechanical and heat-resistance properties,
21 Altairnano, http://www.altairnano.com/applications.html
22 NanoApex, http://news.nanoapex.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3790
23 http://cohesion.rice.edu/centersandinst/cben/research.cfm?doc_id=5100
24 John Dunn, “A Mini Revolution,” Food Manufacture, September 1, 2004.
http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/472/A_mini_revolution.html
8
developing active antimicrobic and antifungal surfaces, and sensing as well as signalling
microbiological and biochemical changes.25
The financial outlook for nanotechnology enabled packaging looks buoyant. The current
packaging market stands at 1.1 billion USD and is predicted to increase to 3.7 billion USD by
2010. Within this, the Smart Packaging industry is growing faster than predicted and is
already showing signs of maturity. Research by the financial firm Frost and Sullivan, found
that today’s consumers demand much more from packaging in terms of protecting the
quality, freshness and safety of foods, as well as convenience. They conclude that this is
one of the main reasons behind the increased interest in innovative methods of packaging.26
There are several organizations developing Smart Packaging systems. For example, Kraft
foods, along with researchers at Rutgers University in the US, is developing an “electronic
tongue” for inclusion in packaging. This consists of an array of nanosensors which are
extremely sensitive to gases released by food as it spoils, causing the sensor strip to change
colour as a result, giving a clear visible signal of whether the food is fresh or not.
Bayer Polymers has developed the Durethan KU2-2601 packaging film, which is lighter,
stronger and more heat resistant than those currently on the market. The primary purpose
of food packaging films is to prevent contents from drying out and to protect them from
moisture and oxygen. The new film is known as a “hybrid system” that is enriched with an
enormous number of silicate nanoparticles. These massively reduce the entrance of oxygen
and other gases, and the exit of moisture, thus preventing food from spoiling.27
Breweries would ideally use plastic bottles to ship beer, as these are lighter than glass and
cheaper than metal cans. However, alcohol in beer reacts with the plastic used for the
bottles, severely shortening shelf-life. Voridan, in association with Nanocor, has developed a
nanocomposite containing clay nanoparticles, called Imperm. The resultant bottle is both
lighter and stronger than glass and is less likely to shatter. The nanocomposite structure
minimises loss of carbon dioxide from the beer and the ingress of oxygen to the bottle,
keeping the beer fresher and giving it up to a six-month shelf life.28 The technology has
been adopted by several companies including the Miller Brewing Co.. Honeywell Specialty
Polymers, has also successfully engineered plastic beer bottles that incorporate
nanocomposites giving an extended shelf life (up to 26 weeks). The “Aegis” nylon 6 is the
barrier layer in this 3-layered construction and has been used since late 2003 in the 1.6-litre
Hite Pitcher beer bottle from Hite Brewery Co. in South Korea.29 In a different strategy,
Kodak is developing antimicrobial films that have the ability to absorb oxygen from the
contents of the package, thus impeding food deterioration.
Other organizations are looking at ways in which nanotechnology can offer improvements in
sensitivity or ease by which contamination of food is detected. For example, AgroMicron has
developed the NanoBioluminescence Detection Spray which contains a luminescent protein
that has been engineered to bind to the surface of microbes such as Salmonella and E. coli.
When bound, it emits a visible glow, thus allowing easy detection of contaminated food or
beverages. The more intense the glow is, the higher the bacterial contamination. The
company aims to market the product under the name BioMark and is currently designing
new spray techniques to apply in ocean freight containerized shipping as well as to fight
bioterrorism.30
In a similar strategy to ensure food safety, EU researchers in the Good Food Project have
developed a portable nanosensor to detect chemicals, pathogens and toxins in food.31 This
circumvents the need to send samples to laboratories (which is both costly and lengthy),
allowing food to be analysed for safety and quality at the farm, abattoir, during transport,
processing or at the packaging plant. The project is also developing a device using DNA
25 Nanotechnology targets new food packaging products, www.foodproductiondaily.com
26 http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=63704
27 Nanoparticles make Durethan® films airtight and glossy, Bayer Polymers
28 Safer And Guilt-Free Nano Foods, Josh Wolfe, Forbes/Wolfe Nanotech Report, www.forbes.com
29 http://www.ptonline.com/articles/kuw/12437.html
30 http://www.agromicron.com/BTP.htm
31 http://www.goodfood-project.org/
9
biochips to detect pathogens- a technique that could also be applied to determine the
presence of different kinds of harmful bacteria in meat or fish, or fungi affecting fruit. The
project also has plans to develop microarray sensors that can be used to identify pesticides
on fruit and vegetables as well as those which will monitor environmental conditions at the
farm. These have been coined “Good Food sensors”.
The EU-funded BioFinger project, which has the aim of developing “versatile, inexpensive,
and easy-to-use diagnostic tools for health, environmental and other applications”, has
found a different application in food analysis. The device uses cantilever technology, in
which the tip of the cantilever is coated with chemicals allowing it to bend and resonate
when it binds specific molecules (such as those on the surface of bacteria). The BioFinger
device incorporates the cantilevers on a disposable microchip making it small and portable.32
The US military is developing super sensors to be used in times of terrorist attacks on food
supplies. Current systems can take several days to confirm the presence of pathogens in
food, however new nanotechnology enabled super sensors will be able to detect pathogens
immediately. Such technology would have widespread applications in the food industry.
Researchers at the University of Bonn are developing dirt repellent coatings for packages
using the lotus effect (water beads and runs off the surface of lotus leaves as a result of
nanoscale wax pyramids which coat the leaves). Abattoirs and meat processing plants in
particular could benefit from such technology. A research group at the University of Leeds in
UK has determined that nanoparticles of magnesium oxide and zinc oxide are highly
effective at destroying microorganisms. As these would be much cheaper to manufacture
than silver nanoparticles, this could have tremendous applications in food packaging.33
Nanotechnology has also found applications in monitoring and tagging of food items. Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) technology was developed by the military more than 50
years ago, but has now found its way to numerous applications from food monitoring in
shops to improving supply chain efficiency. The technology, which consists of
microprocessors and an antenna that can transmit data to a wireless receiver, can be used
to monitor an item from the warehouse to the consumer’s hands.34 Unlike bar codes, which
need to be scanned manually and read individually, RFID tags do not require line-of-sight for
reading and it is possible to automatically read hundreds of tags a second. Retailing chains
like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Metro group, and Tesco, have already tested this technology.
The main drawback is the increased production costs due to silicon manufacturing. With the
fusion of nanotechnology and electronics (nanotronics), these tags should become cheaper,
easier to implement and more efficient.
A group of scientists from Northern European food industries have created a Nanofood
consortium with the aim of fostering the applications of nanotechnology in the food industry
in a responsible manner, to strengthen the effort to develop healthy and safe foods. The
founding companies include Arla Foods, Danisco A/S, Aarhus United A/S, Danish Crown
amba, Systematic Software Engineering A/S, and the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre
(iNANO). With a mission to provide safe food to consumers, the consortium’s priorities are:
to develop sensors which can almost instantly reveal whether a food sample contains toxic
compounds or bacteria; to develop anti-bacterial surfaces for machines involved in food
production; to develop thinner, stronger and cheaper wrappings for food; and the creation of
food with a healthier nutritional composition.35
A study by Denmark’s Centre for Advanced Food Studies (LMC), an alliance of Danish
institutions working in food sciences, has structured their priorities for the 7th Framework
programme. 36 The six priority areas are:
• basic understanding of food and animal feed for intelligent innovation
• systems biology in food research
32 http://www.biofinger.org/
33 http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=59980-nanotech-discovery-promises
34 Radio ID Tags: Beyond Bar Codes, http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,52343,00.html
35 New consortium to secure safe and healthy food, Press release,14-06-2005, http://www.scanbalt.org/sw4126.asp
36 Danish food researchers list priorities for FP7 and underline relevance of nanoscience, Press release, 01-09-2005,
www.lmc.dk
10
• biological renewal in the food sector/biological production
• technology development
• nutrigenomics
• consumer needs-driven innovation and food communication
They believe that a focus on these areas will create a holistic and an interdisciplinary
approach in food research and development in Europe. They are aiming to produce
nanomaterials with functional properties, along with nanosensors and nanofluidic technology
to be applied in food sciences. Other interests include the development of intelligent
packaging materials, making it possible to monitor the condition of products during
transportation or in display counters, and bio based packaging techniques.
3.2 Food Processing
In addition to packaging, nanotechnology is already making an impact on the development
of functional or interactive foods, which respond to the body’s requirements and can deliver
nutrients more efficiently. Various research groups are also working to develop new “on
demand” foods, which will remain dormant in the body and deliver nutrients to cells when
needed. A key element in this sector is the development of nanocapsules that can be
incorporated into food to deliver nutrients. Other developments in food processing include
the addition of nanoparticles to existing foods to enable increased absorption of nutrients.
One of the leading bakeries in Western Australia has been successful in incorporating
nanocapsules containing tuna fish oil (a source of omega 3 fatty acids) in their top selling
product “Tip-Top” Up bread. The microcapsules are designed to break open only when they
have reached the stomach, thus avoiding the unpleasant taste of the fish oil.37
The Israeli Company Nutralease, utilises Nano-sized Self-assembled Liquid Structures
(NSSL) technology to deliver nutrients in nanosized particles to cells. The particles are
expanded micelles (hollow spheres made from fats, with an aqueous interior) with a
diameter of approximately 30 nm.38 The nutrients or “nutraceuticals” are contained within
the aqueous interior. Nutraceuticals that have been incorporated in the carriers include
lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, phytosterols, CoQ10 and DHA/EPA. The Nutralease
particles allow these compounds to enter the bloodstream from the gut more easily, thus
increasing their bioavailability. The technology has already been adopted and marketed by
Shemen Industries to deliver Canola Activa oil, which it claims reduces cholesterol intake
into the body by 14%, by competing for bile solubilisation. This technology also has
potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry.
A number of chemical companies are researching additives which are easily absorbed by the
body and can increase product shelf life. Biodelivery Sciences International have developed
nanocochleates, which are 50 nm coiled nanoparticles and can be used to deliver nutrients
such as vitamins, lycopene, and omega fatty acids more efficiently to cells, without affecting
the colour or taste of food.39 Kraft foods have established a consortium of research groups
from 15 universities to look into the applications of nanotechnology to produce interactive
foods. These will allow the consumer to choose between different flavours and colours. The
consortium also has plans to develop smart foods which will release nutrients in response to
deficiencies detected by nanosensors, and nanocapsules which will be ingested with food,
but remain dormant until activated. All these new developments will make the concept of
super foodstuffs a reality, and these are expected to offer many different potential benefits
including increased energy, improved cognitive functions, better immune function, and antiaging
benefits.
Nanotechnology has already been used in the cosmetics industry to produce transparent
creams. Royal BodyCare, a company utilizing nanotechnology in nutritional sciences, has
marketed a new product called NanoCeuticals which is a colloid (or emulsion) of particles of
less than 5 nm in diameter. The company claims the product will scavenge free radicals,
37 http://www.foodscience.afisc.csiro.au/foodfacts/foodfacts11-fishoil.htm
38 http://www.nutralease.com/technology.asp
39 http://www.biodeliverysciences.com/bioralnutrients.html
11
increase hydration and balance the body’s pH.40 The company has also developed
NanoClustersTM, a nanosize powder combined with nutritional supplements. When
consumed, it enhances the absorption of nutrients.
Food and Cosmetic Companies are working together to develop new mechanisms to deliver
vitamins directly to the skin. For example, Nestlé, which has a 49% stake in L’Oréal, is
developing transparent suncreams to deliver vitamin E directly to skin. The aim is to
manufacture a cream which is absorbed by the skin and releases Vitamin E slowly, in
addition to providing UV protection. Transparent UV-blocking creams are already on the
market and L’Oréal expects the cream with added functionality to be marketed soon. Other
competitors such as Estée Lauder are manufacturing anti-ageing formulations that make use
of nanoparticles.
The US based Oilfresh Corporation has marketed a new nanoceramic product which reduces
oil use in restaurants and fast food shops by half. As a result of its large surface area, the
product prevents the oxidation and agglomeration of fats in deep fat fryers, thus extending
the useful life span of the oil. An additional benefit is that oil heats up more quickly,
reducing the energy required for cooking.41
Wageningen University in Netherlands has recently established a research centre which will
focus its research on the application of nanotechnology in the food industry. The
Wageningen BioNT (Bionanotechnology) Centre will concentrate on various topics including:
sensing and diagnostics of food quality and safety; encapsulation and delivery of nutrients;
micro- and nanodevices for physical and (bio)chemical processing; chemical biology;
nanotoxicology; and consumer science and technology assessment.42
The German company Aquanova has developed a new technology which combines two active
substances for fat reduction and satiety into a single nano-carrier (micelles of average 30
nm diameter), an innovation said to be a new approach to intelligent weight management.
Called NovaSOL Sustain, it uses CoQ1O to address fat reduction and alpha-lipoic acid for
satiety. The NovaSol technology has also been used to create a vitamin E preparation that
does not cloud liquids, called SoluE, and a vitamin C preparation called SoluC. The NovaSOL
product can be used to introduce other dietary supplements as it protects contents from
stomach acids.43
In a different strategy, Unilever is developing low fat ice creams by decreasing the size of
emulsion particles that give ice-cream its texture. By doing so it hopes to use up to 90%
less of the emulsion and decrease fat content from 16% to about 1%.44
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the US has produced a consumer
database of marketed nanotechnology and has so far identified more than 15 items which
have a direct relation to the food industry. The list includes nanoceuticals developed by RBC
Life Sciences and Canola Activa oil developed by Shemen Industries; the use of silver
nanoparticles in refrigerators manufactured by LG Electricals, Samsung and Daewoo to
inhibit bacterial growth and eliminate odours; All Spray For Life® which is manufactured by
Health Plus International and uses a newly-designed pre-metered, non-aerosol
Nanoceautical Delivery System (NDS) for transmucosal administration of dietary
supplements, resulting in increased-bioavailability compared with gastrointestinal
absorption. A detailed list of products is available on the website.45
40 Royal Body Care, http://smartwoman.royalbodycare.com/Nanotechnology_Revolution.aspx
41 Oilfresh Corporation, http://www.oilfresh.com/of1000.html
42 http://www.biont.wur.nl/nl
43 http://www.aquanova.de/product-micelle.htm
44 How super-cows and nanotechnology will make ice cream healthy, Daily Telegraph (21.8.05)
45 http://www.nanotechproject.org/index.php?id=44&id=44&action=view&dbq=food&p=0
12
4. Conclusions
Globally, many countries have identified the potential of nanotechnology in the agrifood
sector and are investing a significant amount in it. The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) has set out ambitious plans to be achieved in the short, medium and
long term, and aims to discover novel phenomena, processes and tools to address
challenges faced by the agricultural sector. Equal importance has been given to the societal
issues associated with nanotechnology and to improve public awareness. The UK’s Food
Standards Agency (FSA) has commissioned studies to assess new and potential applications
of nanotechnology in food, especially on packaging. At the same time more money has been
given by other Government departments towards research and development which includes
the development of functional food, nutrient delivery systems and methods for optimizing
food appearance, such as colour, flavour and consistency.
This R&D is not just restricted to developed countries. Developing countries such as Iran
have adopted their own nanotechnology programmes with a specific focus on agricultural
applications. The Iranian Agricultural ministry is supporting a consortium of 35 laboratories
working on a project to expand the use of nanotechnology in agro sector.46 The ministry is
also planning to hold training programs to develop specialized human resources in the field.
They have already produced their first commercial nanotechnology product Nanocid, a
powerful antibacterial product which has potential applications in the food industry. The
product has also widespread applications in the production of various kinds of detergents,
paints, ceramics, air conditioning systems, vacuum cleaners, home appliances, shoes and
garments. India has allocated 22.6 million USD in its 2006 budget to the Punjab Agricultural
University in Ludhiana, in acknowledgement of its pioneering contribution to the Green
Revolution. Its research on high-yielding crop varieties helped boost food production in the
1960s and new projects include the development of new tools and techniques for the
agriculture industry.
Whatever the impacts of nanotechnology on the food industry and products entering the
market, the safety of food will remain the prime concern. This need will strengthen the
adoption of nanotechnology in sensing applications, which will ensure food safety and
security, as well as technology which alerts customers and shopkeepers when a food is
nearing the end of its shelf-life. New antimicrobial coatings and dirt repellent plastic bags
are a remarkable improvement in ensuring the safety and security of packaged food.
However, there is concern over the use of nanoparticles in food and its manipulation using
nanotechnologies, which has the potential to elicit the same issues raised in the GM debate.
In this context, a recent report from the Institute of Food Science and Technology in the UK,
argues that more safety data is required before nanoparticles can be included in food. The
report points out that current legislation does not force companies to label food items
containing nanoparticles; and so consumers are unlikely to be aware of such applications in
food items. It calls for an appropriate pre-market safety evaluation focusing on the effects
of particle size as well as composition.47 The ETC group has gone further and has called for
a moratorium on nanotechnology for agrifood.14 It has also accused major companies and
high tech universities of seeking patents on new food items which may shut out innovative
companies in less developed countries.48
Finally, it may be possible one day to manufacture food from component atoms and
molecules, so-called “Molecular Food Manufacturing”. Already some research groups are
exploring this, but still from a top-down approach, using cells rather than molecules.
Although the practical application of such technology is far into the future, it is expected that
this could allow a more efficient and sustainable food production process to be developed
where less raw materials are consumed and food of a higher nutritional quality is obtained.
46 Iran agro sector developing nanotech, www.iranmania.com/News
47 http://www.ifst.org/uploadedfiles/cms/store/ATTACHMENTS/Nanotechnology.pdf
48 Nanotechnology and Intellectual Property, ETC Group, http://www.etcgroup.org/article.asp?newsid=508
13
Further Reading
The interested reader is directed to the following sources which offer a more detailed
analysis of nanotechnology applications in the agricultural and food industries than could be
provided in this short report:
• “Down on the Farm” – published by the ETC Group (2004)
www.etcgroup.org/documents/ETC_DOTFarm2004.pdf
• “Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems” – a report from
the USDA workshop (2003) www.nseafs.cornell.edu/web.roadmap.pdf
• The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars “Project on Emerging
Nanotechnologies” www.nanotechproject.org/
• “A review of potential implications of nanotechnologies for regulations and risk
assessment in relation to food” – published by the Food Standards Agency (2006)
www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/nanotech.pdf
• The Institute of Food Science & Technology statement on Nanotechnology
www.ifst.org/uploadedfiles/cms/store/ATTACHMENTS/Nanotechnology.pdf
• The European Technology Platform “Food for Life”
http://etp.ciaa.be/asp/about_etp/welcome.asp
• “NANOFOREST - A nanotechnology roadmap for the forest products industry” – published
by STFI-Packforsk (2005) www.stfi-packforsk.se/upload/3352/Finalroadhem.pdf
• “Science for Agricultural Development - Changing contexts, new opportunities” –
published by the Science Council of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research www.cgiar.org/enews/december2005/scienceforagrdev.pdf
• “Nanotechnology and the Developing World” - Fabio Salamanca-Buentello, Deepa L.
Persad, Erin B. Court, Douglas K. Martin, Abdallah S. Daar, Peter A. Singer (2005). PLoS
Med 2(4): e97. www.utoronto.ca/jcb/home/documents/PLoS_nanotech.pdf
• “Nanotechnology and the Poor: Opportunities and Risks” – published by the Meridian
Institute (2005) www.meridian-nano.org/gdnp/NanoandPoor.pdf
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About Nanoforum
Nanoforum is a pan-European nanotechnology information network funded by the EC under
FP5, to provide information and support to the European nanotechnology community. On
the Nanoforum website (www.nanoforum.org), all users (whether they are members of the
public, industry, R&D, government or business communities) can freely access and search a
comprehensive database of European nanoscience and nanotechnology (N&N) organizations,
and find out the latest on news, events and other relevant information. In addition,
Nanoforum publishes its own specially commissioned reports on nanotechnology and key
market sectors, the economical and societal impacts of nanotechnology, as well as
organizing events throughout the EU to inform, network and support European expertise.
The Nanoforum consortium consists of:
The Institute of Nanotechnology (UK) http://www.nano.org.uk
VDI Technologiezentrum (Germany) http://www.vditz.de/
CEA-Leti (France) http://www-leti.cea.fr/uk/index-uk.htm
Malsch TechnoValuation (Netherlands) http://www.malsch.demon.nl/
METU (Turkey) http://www.physics.metu.edu.tr/
Monte Carlo Group (Bulgaria) http://cluster.phys.uni-sofia.bg:8080/
Unipress (Poland) http://www.unipress.waw.pl/
FFG (Austria) http://www.ffg.at/
NanoNed (Netherlands) http://www.stw.nl/nanoned/
For further information please contact the coordinator:
Mark Morrison (mark.morrison@nano.org.uk)