The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization
Center has announced its third call for proposals from
companies throughout Pennsylvania to apply for grants available for the
development of nano-related products.
The Center targets partnerships of researchers from
universities, small companies, large companies and entrepreneurs in the
growing field of nanomaterials, and it funds projects that have
commercial or defense applications. The Center requests pre-proposal
idea submissions prior to formal proposals. Each proposer received
feedback from the Center on the suitability of their idea submission
and adherence to the Center's guidelines, along with advice on
submitting a full proposal. The deadline for proposals in this round is
January 31, 2008.
All proposals are judged by the Center's technical advisory
committee that recommended the most promising ideas to the Center's
governing board for funding. The advisory committee is made up of 19
leading researchers in the field of nanotechnology from Pennsylvania
universities, small and large technology companies and federal
laboratories.
Companies that previously won awards include Plextronics Inc.,
Illuminex Corporation, NanoRDC LLC, Crystalplex Corp., Integran
Technologies USA and HydroGen Corporation. Awards to date have totaled
in excess of $1 million.
The grants were made possible as a result of funding from the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Air Force. A grant totaling
$1 million from the state's Ben Franklin Technology Development
Authority to the Center was announced by Governor Rendell in August,
2006. This state support is part of the Pennsylvania Initiative in
Nanotechnology (PIN) which is intended to capitalize on the exciting
new field of nanotechnology to create new companies and high technology
jobs throughout the commonwealth. To date, the Center also has received
total funding in the amount of $1,743,424 from the Air Force Research
Labs through the Wright Brothers Institute in Dayton, Ohio, in addition
to Heinz Foundation grants.
The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center was
established through the efforts of its founding members: Alcoa, US
Steel, PPG Industries, Bayer MaterialScience, Carnegie Mellon
University and the Pittsburgh Technology Council. In addition, The
Center is closely aligned with the state's PIN program and has partner
relationships with The Pennsylvania State University and The University
of Pittsburgh.