Nano-networking

Nanotechnology and microtechnology are now, more than ever, being recognised as important forms of wealth and job creation for the UK and Europe. But, say the NanoKTN, interest in commercialising the technologies has to be continually stoked

ORGANISATIONS are beginning to realise that by investing in these sectors, they will be opening opportunities for the UK to lead in this area and become a key player in the micro and nanotechnology supply chains.

Four major funding programmes have recently created one of the largest annual public investments ever to be made to the micro and nanotechnology sector. A total of over €2 billion in co-funded grants is available to UK and European companies by the UK Technology Strategy Board, the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Commission (EC).

Despite the public investment, in 2007 the total value of nanotechnology venture capital deals fell for the first time since 1999, with investment dropping from $738 million across 73 deals in 2006 to $702 million across 61 deals in 2007. This 16% drop in the number of deals is evidence to the fact that new interest in investment needs to be created if start-up nanotechnology businesses are to continue emerging (source: Lux Research). This will be one of the roles of the NanoKTN.

The NanoKTN is one of the UK’s primary knowledge-based networks for micro and nanotechnologies (MNT). It was set up by the Technology Strategy Board - an executive non-departmental public body, established by the UK Government in 2007 and sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, to promote and facilitate knowledge exchange, support the growth of UK capabilities, raise awareness of nanotechnology and provide thought leadership and input to the UK policy and strategy. The NanoKTN also acts as a single point of access for overseas companies and academics wishing to find UK partners for research and business, and to link collaborators for developing research consortia.

The NanoKTN sustains support for the commercialisation of micro and nanotechnology through informing, linking and facilitating collaborations between suppliers and users with the aim of constructing and maintaining a UK MNT community. The NanoKTN will also assist the 23 UK MNT capital facilities, which were set up by UK government to develop a critical mass of capabilities, and provide access to micro and nanotechnology platforms and associated knowledge for those wishing to commercialise MNT.

The NanoKTN has divided its activities into four themes: materials, metrology, manufacturing and processing, and bionano and nanomedicine. Nano-enhanced materials are rapidly emerging worldwide in every category imaginable. Key areas include paints and coatings, with products such as the clear, scratch resistant topcoat used on Mercedes Benz cars, as well as coatings for alloy wheels. Novel silica-based coatings are being developed with barrier and anti-fouling properties. Hard coatings applied by physical and chemical vapour deposition have been available for some time, and here improvements are being realised through nano-structuring.

The UK has an acknowledged strength in the nanometrology field and the NanoKTN is actively supporting its ongoing activities through for example, the continued brokering and advising of a FP7 European coordination action for the co-ordination of nanometrology in Europe (CO-NANOMET).

A further key role of the NanoKTN is to develop and coordinate focus groups to represent key market sectors, acting as a three way communication channel between industry, academia and funding authorities. Focus groups will be industry led and will analyse the supply chains and identify their gaps.

HiPerNano, Design for Modelling and Simulation (DfMSG) and MNT Gas Sensors are a few examples of focus groups already set up and active. HiPerNano was launched to raise awareness, promote developments and solve extreme engineering challenges in nanomaterials and coatings for the high performance engineering industry. Members of the HiPerNano group have the opportunity to discuss materials, challenges and developments with end-users and industry professionals. Nanomaterials are beginning to have a major commercial impact and the NanoKTN is building a UK community where aerospace, defence, security, power generation and automotive industries can discuss the benefits of nanomaterials for components which are subjected to extreme environments such as high temperature, friction, corrosion, erosion and ballistic impact.

In partnership with the Sensors and Instrumentation KTN, the MNT Gas Sensing Focus Group looks at developing the new breed of sensors based on micro and nanotechnologies to replace existing technologies. Gas Sensing products form a large market with applications in almost every sector including the oil and gas sectors along with emission monitoring. The Group has a good industry input and has produced a roadmap of the current trends and developments.

In partnership with Bio Nano Consulting (BNC), the NanoKTN jointly delivers its bionano and nanomedicine theme. Bionano and nanomedicine is being widely applied with positive affect and the major areas where nanotechnology can address problems in bio and pharma developments, includes drug discovery, drug delivery and formulation, diagnostics and imaging.

Nanotechnology has enhanced the drug discovery process, through miniaturisation, automation, speed and reliability of assays. An additional benefit being seen is the decrease in the amounts of expensive reagents through integration of microfluids with lab-on-a-chip systems.

The field of bionanotechnology is moving forward rapidly. There is no doubt that it will enhance our understanding of biology and how biological systems work. Nanotechnology is helping resolve some of the pharma and biotech industries significant problems. It has already enabled new formulations for drugs that are commercially available and there are a number of drugs in the R&D pipeline or that are in the regulatory approval stage. The NanoKTN believes it is essential for researchers, medical companies and policy makers to be brought together and discuss issues and developments to ensure the UK is at the forefront of healthcare technology.

The UK Government and the NanoKTN are working together to create, promote and push forward the commercialisation of MNT. By promoting selected centres and platforms, the NanoKTN aims to give those working in the MNT field, access to reliable and recommended centres of excellence.