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UK Speakers:
| Monday,
June 30, 2008 |
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UK Keynote
Prof. Richard Jones FRS, EPSRC
Professorial Fellow and Senior Strategic Advisor for Nanotechnology, University
of Sheffield
Keynote: Nanotechnology in
the UK
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US
Keynote
Ahmed
A. Busnaina, PhD, William Lincoln Smith Professor and Director,
Northeastern University
Keynote:
Nanotechnology in the US
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Foundations
Dr. Zheng Cui, Principal
Scientist, Group Leader, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC
Title: Nanofabrication: Principles,
Capabilities and Limits
Summary: Nanofabrication
is the basis for majority of nanotechnology applications. What are the
available technologies for making nanostructures? How small a structure
can be made? These are the questions constantly asked by nanotechnology
researchers. The talk will give an overview of current nanofabrication
technologies and the challenges for nanotechnology applications. The main
techniques available today are briefly introduced. Their capability and
limitation are reviewed, which provides a rough guide for researchers
to choose appropriate nanofabrication routes for their own applications.
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Professor Nick Quirke, Principal,
University College Dublin College of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical
Sciences. Professor of Physical Chemistry, Head of the Computational,
Theoretical and Structural Chemistry group and Director of Masters Programme
in Nanomaterials at Imperial College London
Title: Molecular
Simulation, Theory and Experiment for Nanomaterials
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Dr.
Pamela Norris, Professor, Department of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia
Title: Thermal
Properties of Materials
Summary:
Numerous thermal issues, which have been largely overlooked, currently limit
the performance of modern devices; therefore, the thermal properties of
nanoscale materials and devices are of critical importance for the continued
development of high tech systems. This increased need for an understanding
of the fundamental energy transport mechanisms has given rise to a field
of study called microscale heat transfer. Microscale heat transfer is simply
the study of thermal energy transfer when the individual carriers must be
considered, or when the continuum model breaks down.
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Venkat Chandrasekhar, Northwestern University
Title: Mesoscopic & Nanometer Scale Physics
Summary:Although
the general perception is that quantum mechanics is a difficult subject
to understand, the principles of quantum mechanics are becoming increasingly
relevant in many high technology industries. Indeed, the foundation of the
modern semiconductor industry is based on exploiting quantum mechanical
phenomena in solid-state devices. This is especially true of the new field
of nanotechnology, for it is well known that quantum phenomena cannot be
ignored when the dimensions of devices approach the atomic scale.
In this lecture, I will begin by briefly reviewing some of the principles
of quantum mechanics, and show some examples of common devices that exploit
quantum phenomena. I will then describe some of the early experiments in
mesoscopic physics, the precursor to nanoscale science, which demonstrate
the unusual quantum phenomena that can be observed in small scale systems.
Finally, I will conclude by discussing some of the new devices that have
been proposed based on the exploitation of quantum mechanics in nanoscale
systems.
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Professor Richard Leach,
Principal Research Scientist, Engineering Measurement Industry &
Innovation Division National Physical Laboratory
Title: Traceable tools for engineering
nanometrology
Summary: It is now fully appreciated
that metrology will play an integral role in the successful development
and commercialisation of micro- and nanotechnology. To this end the UK Government,
through the National Measurement System, funded several groundbreaking projects
in its 2005 - 2008 Programme for Engineering Measurement. This presentation
will briefly describe the background of the research, concentrating on the
technical details of the projects. Projects include the development of traceable
instrumentation to measure thin films, areal surface texture (including
AFM), very low forces and micro-scale geometry.
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| Tuesday,
July 1, 2008 |
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Energy (morning)
Prof. Asim K. Ray, Queen Mary University of London
Title: Nanoscale
Organic Films for Device Applications
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Dr. Andrew Watt, Oxford University
Title: Photovoltaics
Summary: Plastic solar cells are seen
as low cost alternates to conventional inorganic solar cells. However they
have not fulfilled this vision as their power conversion efficiency is less
than that required for economic viability. This talk will examine what limits
device efficiency and lifetimes and look at how we are currently combining
a number of technologies to develop photofunctional materials and device
that are cheap, lightweight, and flexible with a wider range of applications
compared to traditional PV devices. |
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Dr. Craig Murphy, Principal Research Scientist - Materials
Team, National Physical Laboratory
Title:
Organic Electronics
Summary:
The field of organic electronics has grown rapidly over the past two decades,
to the point where products, including electronic displays, are in the marketplace.
Conducting and semiconducting organic materials, including polymers and
small molecules, have been developed to allow for a wide range of electronic,
optical and physical properties. Electronic devices, including light-emitting
diodes, solar cells and field-effect transistors, have been produced which
include semiconducting and conducting organic materials which are structured
on nanometre length scales. Devices and products can be fabricated using
printing techniques, which, along with the intrinsic nature of the organic
materials, will enable low cost, low energy manufacturing via roll-to-roll
processing on flexible substrates. Organic electronic devices are set to
play a major role in visual displays, low carbon energy production and next
generation integrated circuits.
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Dr. Anthony Kucernak, Imperial College London
Title: Nanotechnology for Fuel Cell Catalysts
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Uwe Kortshagen, Distinguished
McKnight University Professor and Director of Graduate Studies of the Department
of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota
Title: Hybrid opto-electronic devices for lighting
and photovoltaics.
Summary:
Quantum-confined semiconductor nanocrystals offer size-tunable optical properties
that have been found useful for both light-emitting devices and light-absorbing
photovoltaic cells. This talk will discuss devices that are fabricated from
combinations of organic semiconductors and inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals.
In hybrid organic/inorganic light emitting devices, nanocrystals enhance
the light emitting properties of the device. These devices hold the potential
for efficient white-light sources. In photovoltaic devices, nanocrystals
enhance the absorption and charge carrier transport, bea ring the potential
for more efficient low-cost solar cells.
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Uwe Kortshagen, Distinguished
McKnight University Professor and Director of Graduate Studies of the Department
of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota
Title: Nanocrystal solar cells
Summary: Semiconductor
nanocrystals are intensely studied for applications in photovoltaics for
various reasons: First, the size-tunable optical properties of semiconductor
nanocrystals allow for matching the absorption properties of photovoltaic
cells to the solar spectrum. Second, nanocrystal materials have shown efficient
multi-exciton generation, which holds the potential for more efficient solar
cells. This talk will discuss the basic physical processes in semiconductor
nanocrystals as well as various implementations of nanocrystal based solar
cells from dye-sensitized solar cells, to quantum-dot sensitized solar cells,
to ink-jet printed solar cells based on nanocrystal inks.
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Transport
(afternoon)
Professor Z. Xiao Guo, University
College London
Title: Nanostructures for Clean
Energy and Transport
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Professor Ton Peijis,
Queen Mary University of London
Title:
Nanocomposites & High Performance Materials for Transport
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Professor Steve Tennison,
CChem.FRSC, Managing Director - MAST Carbon Technology Ltd
Title: VOC recovery
systems for vehicles
Summary: The use of nanoporous
carbons in automotive gasoline vapor recovery systems is discussed. The
legislation covering vehicle emissions from the earliest simple stage 1
canisters through to the complex canisters now required to meet PZEV (partial
zero emission) performance in direct injection and hybrid vehicles will
be reviewed along with its impact on the design of the carbon adsorbents
and the canisters.
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Dr.
Ambrose Taylor, Imperial College London
Title: Nanoparticle-Modified Adhesives & Fibre
Composites
Summary:
The epoxy polymers used as adhesives and as the matrices of composite materials
are amorphous and highly-crosslinked (thermosetting) materials. This structure
results in many useful properties, such as a high modulus and low creep.
However, they are relatively brittle materials, with a poor resistance to
crack initiation and growth.
These materials can be toughened by a micro-phase of a rubbery polymer,
but this can significantly impair some of the other desirable properties
such as the hot/wet performance. The addition of rigid particles has also
been shown to increase the toughness of thermosetting polymers. However,
these particles have conventionally been tens of microns in diameter, and
hence are not suitable for use with the production of composites using the
new low-cost resin-infusion processes, as they are larger than the inter-fibre
spacing. Indeed, they are strained out of the resin by the fibres during
infusion. More recently, the commercial availability of nanometre-sized
inorganic particles has allowed rigid nanoparticles to be used in the formulation
of resins for use with infusion processes. However, the most successful
toughening has been by the formation of ‘hybrid-toughened’ epoxy
polymers, i.e. by combining both rubber toughening and silica nanoparticles.
This has been shown to give a synergistic toughening effect in both adhesives
and fibre composites. The toughening mechanisms will be discussed.
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Prof. Gary Stevens, University of Surrey
Title:
Polymeric Nanocomposites for Dielectric Materials
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Professor Jeremy Ramsden,
Chair of Nanotechnology, Cranfield University
Title: Nanosensors
for optimizing vehicle performance
Summary: Sensorization of a
vehicle means embedding sensors within it, much as an animal body is innervated.
Information from the sensors about the current status of the various components
of the vehicle can be used to improve its performance, in other words to
enhance its adaptation to its environment, and to enable it to more effectively
fulfil its goals. The local internal environments are very diverse, but
can be grouped into three categories: the engine, characterized by high
temperatures and pressures; auxiliary systems such as the fuel tank, characterized
by harsh liquids; and the passenger cabin, in which low concentrations of
noxious gases have to be detected. Suitable sensors for these three kinds
of environments will be discussed, as well as appropriate ways of processing
the information emanating from the sensors.
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| Wednesday,
July 2, 2008 |
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Nano Materials and Manufacturing (morning)
Dr.
Bojan Boskovic, Principal Engineer - Carbon Scientist,
Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems
Title: Carbon Nanomaterials: Properties,
Fabrication and Applications
Summary: Among many different
nanomaterials carbon nanotubes and nanofibres attracted interest from
the largest number of research and development (R&D) teams both in
industry and academia around the world. In the last two decades carbon
nanotube and nanofibre related R&D has grown considerably with development
of new production routes, observation of fascinating properties and realisation
of many applications. Carbon nanotubes can behave like metals or semiconductors,
can conduct electricity better than copper, can transmit heat better than
diamond, and rank among the strongest materials known. Well known engineering
materials such as carbon, ceramic or glass fibres could be exploited as
a support for the formation of 3D nano-structures containg carbon nanotubes,
essential for development of many applications. Sport equipment, aerospace
and automotive industries have already seen the first benefits of carbon
nanomaterials and this is just beginning. Many more applications will
come very soon with further optimisation of carbon nanotube production
routes and properties of composite materials containing carbon nanotubes
and nanofibres. An overview of carbon nanotube and nanofibre R&D in
industry and academia with focus on properties, fabrication methods and
the most recent applications will be presented.
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Dr.
Pamela Norris, Professor, Department of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia
Title:
Aerogel: Unique Material, Fascinating Properties, Unlimited Applications
Summary: As the name aerogel implies,
these extraordinary materials are remarkably light and porous, composed
more of air than of solid material. Silica aerogel, one of the most common
forms of aerogel, is composed of small porous silica particles (diameter
~ 5 nm) aggregated into fractal clusters (diameter ~ 5 to 200 nm) which
combine to form a homogeneous gel, typically having a solid volume fraction
between 0.1 and 10 percent. Their unique structure endows them with many
intriguing properties that science has only begun to explore and exploit.
The unique, and often exceptional, physical properties of aerogel are a
result of the ultra-fine microstructure, which forms during the chemical
preparation method. Aerogel has the lowest density, lowest thermal conductivity,
lowest dielectric constant, and lowest sound velocity of any solid material
ever fabricated. The extraordinary properties of aerogel, which are adjustable
by means of the sol-gel production technique, give rise to a wide range
of potential applications including, but certainly not limited to: acoustical,
electrical, and thermal insulators; low-dielectric constant substrates;
micrometeoroid collectors; gas filters; membranes; adsorbents; cellular
support substrates; supercapacitors; biosensors, optical coatings and anti-reflective
films. This talk will review the production technique, properties, and potential
applications of these extraordinary nanoporous materials.
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Venkat Chandrasekhar, Northwestern University
Title: Fabrication and Characterization of Nanometer
Scale Perovskite Structures
Summary:
Epitaxial complex oxides show great promise for a variety of technological
applications. Complex oxides encompass a wide variety of different functionalities,
from ferromagnets and antiferromagnets to ferroelectrics and superconductors.
Understanding their behavior requires probing their properties on the nanoscale.
In this talk, I will discuss our experiments to probe the role of intrinsic
disorder on the properties of manganites. I will also discuss briefly the
possibility of making new artificial materials with exotic properties by
patterning complex oxides on the nanoscale.
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Dr. Edward Lester, Promethean Particles
Title:
Inorganic Nanoparticle Production
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Professor Steve Tennison, CChem.FRSC,
Managing Director - MAST Carbon Technology Ltd
Title: Nanoporous carbon
materials: production, properties and applications
Summary: The production and resultant
properties of commercial nanoporous carbons that impact on their use in
a wide variety of applications will be reviewed along with the problems
that arise from the conventional production routes. This will lead into
the production of more advanced polymer derived systems and their uses in
higher value applications such as fuel cells, catalyst supports and biomedical
adsorbents.
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Professor Ahmed Busnaina,
PhD, William Lincoln Smith Professor and Director, Northeastern
University
Title: Directed Assembly of SWNTs and Nanoparticles
for High-rate Nanomanufacturing of Devices and Sensors
Summary: The transfer
of nano-science accomplishments into technology is severely hindered by
a lack of understanding of barriers to nanoscale manufacturing. Commercial
products cannot be realized without first answering many questions, such
as how one can assemble and wire billions of nano-scale devices together,
or how one can prevent failures and avoid defects. The NSF Nanoscale Science
and Engineering Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN) is developing
tools and processes that will enable high-rate/high-volume bottom-up, precise,
parallel assembly of nanoelements (such as carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles,
etc.) and polymer nanostructures. The center nanotemplates are utilized
to conduct fast massive directed assembly of nanoscale elements by controlling
the forces required to assemble, detach, and transfer nanoelements at high
rates and over large areas. Successful use of these templates requires understanding
the interfacial behavior and forces required to assemble, detach, and transfer
nanoelements, required for guided self-assembly at high rates and over large
areas. The center has developed and fabricated templates with nanostructures
and used them to direct the assembly of nanoparticles (down to 10 nm) into
nanoscale trenches (down to 30 nm) in a short time (30-90 seconds) and over
a large area (> 2.25 cm2). This technique enabled the directed assembly
of SWNTs into nanoscale trenches (down to 80 nm) in a short time (30-90
seconds) and over the same large area. The center has demonstrated that
nanotemplates can be used to pattern conducting polymers and that the patterned
polymer can be transferred onto a second polymer substrate. Modeling has
provided insight and guidance to the nanomanufacturing research.
The CHN team has chosen many proof of concept testbeds to demonstrate the
Center nanotemplates and processes such as nonvolatile nanotube memory device
and a biosensor. These testbeds also demonstrate the breadth of product
types and materials that can be manufactured using the Center’s nanomanufacturing
approaches. For example, for the nonvolatile nanotube memory device switches,
the actuating elements (SWNTs) are assembled down to a size that will enable
a one SWNT per switch on a wafer level. The center has developed the fundamental
science and engineering platform necessary to enable template-directed and
template-free directed assembly of nanoelements and apply these nanomanufacturing
techniques to a wide array of patterned assemblies and substrates for applications
ranging from electronics, energy, and materials to biotechnology.
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Environment (afternoon)
Dr. Marina Cole, Associate Professor,
School of Engineering, University of Warwick
Title:
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Dr. Bruce Jefferson,
Cranfield University
Title: Application of nanotechnology
for water and wastewater treatment
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Dr. Jamie Lead,
Birmingham University
Title:
Behaviour and impact of nanoparticles on the environment
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Dr.
Ted Henry, RC-UK Academic Fellow, University of Plymouth;
Research Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee
Title: Aquatic toxicology of carbon
nanomaterials
Summary: Manufactured carbon nanomaterials
(CNM) have unique properties that hold significant promise to benefit human
society and at the same time present potentially novel toxicological consequences
upon their release into the environment. Most environmental contaminants
eventually enter aquatic environments and CNMs are no exception. In water,
the environmental fate will depend on the physicochemical characteristics
of the CNM and on the presence of other chemical constituents in the water
(e.g., ions, dissolved organic material etc.), and the fate of the CNM will
determine its bioavailability and potential for toxicity in organisms. This
discussion will address some of the physicochemical properties of CNMs and
the challenges these pose towards assessing their toxicity in aquatic organisms.
Results of toxicity tests will be integrated into the presentation to identify
our current level of understanding of the toxicity of these materials and
the areas that remain to be addressed.
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Dr. Sophie Rocks, Cranfield
University
Title: Environmental Risk Assessment
of Manufactured Nanomaterials
Summary: There is considerable
debate in the scientific and regulatory communities as to whether manufactured
nanomaterials pose significant risks to environment and human health (e.g.
Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineers, 2004, Owen and Handy 2007).
It is recognised that poor understanding of the human health and environmental
risks posed by manufactured nanomaterials represents large knowledge gaps
that need to be filled (UK Government Response to the RS/RA Eng report,
2005) to enable the development of proportionate regulatory controls and
the development of nanotechnologies.
Although nanomaterials are not currently considered separately from bulk
materials under the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation
and Restriction of Chemical substances (REACH) technical guidance documents,
this may not be suitable.
This presentation discusses the world-wide risk assessment of chemicals
and nanomaterials (with emphasis on the environmental assessment under
REACH) and the recognised knowledge gaps identified as part of a Defra
sponsored project.
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Prof. Nick Pidgeon,
Cardiff University
Title: Risk and Perception
of Nanotechnology
Summary: The tutorial
reviews what is currently known about public perceptions of risk about
nanotechnologies in both North America and Europe. Such perceptions are
important because societal risk acceptance will be one factor in determining
the ways some applications in nanotechnology will eventually be adopted
by society. Drawing upon both quantitative survey evidence and other more
qualitative studies, the paper demonstrates how awareness of nanotechnologies
amongst public groups is currently very low. However, attitudes are generally
favorable amongst those who have heard of the term, although this may
be due to general beliefs about progress and technology. Some studies
have highlighted concerns over possible unknown risks, distrust in regulation
and the potential lack of social control of nanotechnologies as key factors
underlying perceptions and their future acceptability. The paper concludes
with a discussion of contemporary approaches to risk communication and
‘upstream’ public dialogue, drawing upon data from a deliberative
event with members of the public simultaneously held in Cardiff UK and
Santa Barbara USA in early 2007. This work was supported by the US National
Science Foundation through the Centre for Nanotechnology in Society at
the University of California Santa Barbara.
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| Thursday,
July 3, 2008 |
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Commercialisation
Prof. Peter Dobson, BSc,
MA (Oxon), PhD, C Phys, F Inst P, Member of the ACS.(Academic Director
of the University of Oxford University’s Begbroke Science Park)
Title: NanoCommercialisation
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Dr Steffi Friedrichs, Director,
Nanotechnologies Industries Association
Title: Responsible Nano Code
Summary: Like any other emerging
technology, the development of nanotechnologies gives rise to a variety
of social and ethical issues – both in relation to their governance
and the impact of specific applications. In particular, there is some uncertainty
surrounding the potential environmental, health and safety risks of some
nanoscale materials. In the absence of concrete scientific evidence about
the true risks of nanotechnologies, businesses with an interest in this
area will need strategies for dealing with these uncertainties.
In June 2007, a multi-stakeholder group, involving representatives from
companies, industries associations, private technology funding organizations,
consumer groups, independent scientific and policy advisors, NGOs and Trade
Unions, commenced the development of a voluntary Code of Conduct for organisations
involved in the research, development, manufacture, commercialisation, trade,
use and disposal of nanotechnology-enabled products, now known as the "Responsible
NanoCode". The draft version of the Code was subjected to a global
public consultation process; consultation feedback was implemented at the
beginning of 2008, and it is anticipated that the Code will be launched
in the summer of 2008.
This presentation highlights the drivers that led to the development of
the Responsible NanoCode, describes the Code development process, as well
as its main format and content.
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Amer Vohora, First Capital
Title:
Venture Capital activity & investing into nanotechnology startups
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Ben Buchanan & Marian Challis, Patents Directorate, UK
Intellectual Property Office
Title: From Concept to Commercialisation
through the Patent Landscape
Summary:
Individual patents protect single inventions. Collectively, patents
provide a source of technical data which can be analysed and mapped to:
- Identify technology hotspots and areas of low activity
- Spot technology trends
- Identify key applicants, inventors and patents
- Analyse patent strategy
- Identify collaboration and licensing opportunities
- Identify competitors, M&A targets, potential threats and R&D
partners
- Assess geographical trends
- Indicate patent / portfolio quality
The UK-IPO will describe how macro-analysis of patent data can assist
technical development from concept, through investment to commercialisation.
Accurately sourced patent data can be analysed to inform R&D strategy,
facilitate developing new technology and assess market potential and technological
maturity. Patent Informatics helps lay the foundations for successful
commercialisation to be built upon the technology landscape. A Case Study
of Nanobiotechnology will be discussed. The UK-IPO team will also be pleased
to field enquiries relating to the patent application and grant process.
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David Baxter, Lead Researcher,
Emerging Risks - Lloyd's Franchise Performance
Title:
Insuring Nanotechnology’s Future
Summary: The exciting field of nanotechnology
is proving to be a popular research topic. However only a small proportion
of research is on the health effects, and the level of knowledge in nanotechnology
health and safety is still in its infancy.
Much of the available research on health issues has raised worrying questions
about certain forms of nanotechnology. As insurers take on many types of
risks from business it is vital that the level of risk is managed well at
source. Such risk management benefits all stakeholders as lower risk typically
leads to: lower premiums for business; greater security for our investors
and better protection for consumers.
This presentation will discuss those risks, their potential impact and how
they might be minimised.
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Omar Cheema, Imperial Innovations
Title: Room at the Bottom: Successfully Spinning
Out
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