Oct 29 2013
The Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN), one of the UK’s primary knowledge-based networks for Micro and Nanotechnologies, is today hosting over 200 attendees at an event to celebrate the Best of British Nano: ‘Nanotechnology Partnership for Progress – One Year On’ at the BIS conference centre in London.
This event follows the inaugural conference held in July 2012, to promote a new collaborative approach across Government departments and beyond designed to ensure appropriate and timely support was provided to the UK’s nanotechnology businesses. The NanoKTN has again collaborated with BIS, Defra and Safenano to organise this day to celebrate the Best of British Nano and will have keynote talks from Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Defra, and a recorded message from Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science, who jointly chair the UK Nanotechnology Strategy Forum (NSF).
The UK Government continues to support the responsible and innovative use of nanotechnologies in industry to drive SME growth and job creation, and the NanoKTN provides a focus for nanotechnology in the UK. A key highlight of the day will be an opportunity to hear direct from companies representing the ‘Best of British Nano’ about their products and how they have achieved commercial successes.
The event programme is chaired by Dr Barry Park, NanoKTN who comments, “Nanotechnology continues to provide the basis for many new and exciting product developments with many UK companies excelling in this area. At this event, attendees will learn more about the progress on the NSF’s work and the collaborative approach to nanotechnology. There will also be an update on opportunities contained in the Horizon 2020 framework programme for funding UK nanotechnology, and also how Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board are working together to support the development of nanotechnology from the science base to commercialisation.
“There has been recent and encouraging UK commercial activity in the nanotechnology sector with several SMEs raising money through IPOs, private equity fund raising and through acquisition by larger organisations. This is helping to drive UK growth and commercial success and demonstrates the UK’s leading position in the nanotechnology sector.”
There will also be presentations on the value of adopting proactively a responsible care approach and use of standards to the future of the nanotechnology industry, and on the emerging field of graphene as it moves from being an interesting technical challenge to becoming a major commercial opportunity.
For further information about the NanoKTN and this event, please visit www.nanoktn.com or email [email protected].
Established by the Technology Strategy Board, the NanoKTN is managed by Centre for Process Innovation Ltd, a leading technology development and consulting company.