NanoKTN and UKTI finalise shortlist for business innovation awards 2009

Winners to be announced at the UK NanoForum & Emerging Technologies Conference 2009 3rd and 4th November 2009, Hilton on Park Lane Hotel, London


Companies involved in the manufacture and design of stem cell technology, green energy solutions and virus detection applications, have been shortlisted for this year's Business Innovation Awards. The winner will be announced at the UK NanoForum & Emerging Technologies Conference 2009, hosted by the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN), one of the UK's primary knowledge-based networks for Micro and Nanotechnologies, and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).


For the second year running, the UK NanoForum & Emerging Technologies conference is host to the Business Innovation Awards, the competition that recognises the best in the UK's emerging technology communities. Shortlisted as finalists in the Business Innovation Awards 2009 are University College London (UCL), inseroTech Ltd, AM Technology, NanoSight, Promethean Particles and SEAaB Energy Ltd.


Innovations from the Awards shortlist include a surgical implant using nanocomposite polymer and stem cells technology to address the critical clinical need for coronary artery bypass grafts, an instrument which detects, visualises, sizes and counts nanoparticles, and a new design vertical axis wind turbine using cost reducing methods to make it more financially viable.


Award winners will be announced at the UK NanoForum & Emerging Technologies Conference and will benefit from industry recognition, media opportunities and take home with them the Business and Innovation 2009 trophy, plus £1000 towards attendance at an emerging technologies trade event.


The technical programme for the conference will see 45 industry and academic professionals working within nanotechnology and emerging technologies, deliver presentations to over 350 delegates, making the conference the most comprehensive and action packed event to date.


With over 250 one-to-one meetings already requested, and international organisations attending from some 19 countries including Taiwan, Sweden, India, Portugal and Japan, UK NanoForum & Emerging Technologies 2009 looks to be one of the single most important events to attend this year. The event includes breakout sessions covering Healthcare & Life Sciences, Materials & Devices and Energy & Environment, as well as providing delegates and exhibitors with a platform for discussion on how nano and emerging technologies can and will create future wealth to the UK and Worldwide.


Guest speaker from the United States, Dr Carlos Peña from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will discuss the United States FDA Nanotechnology task force within the regulatory session of the Healthcare & Life Sciences stream on the second day of the conference. This will be of particular interest for the numerous UK companies that are looking to the US as their first overseas market.


Alan Thompson from the Research & Development department of E.ON Engineering will discuss the annual grant provided by E.ON to support researchers and teams at universities and institutes throughout the world who are working in research areas of relevance to the energy business.


Industry professionals at Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology, P2i, IonBond, Centre for Process Innovation, Scottish Microelectronics Centre and the University of Cambridge will deliver presentations in the Materials & Devices parallel session, looking at developments in nanomaterials and emerging technologies such as plastic electronics, photonics and precision surfaces.


Christos Tokamanis, Head of Unit "Nano & converging Sciences and Technologies", European Commission, Brussels will give the keynote on Day 2 and discuss the funding opportunities within the EU Framework 7 Programme 'Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies'.


To register your place and for further information on the event, please visit www.uknano.biz.


Established by the Technology Strategy Board, the NanoKTN is managed by Centre for Process Innovation Ltd, a leading technology development and consulting company.