PITTSBURGH, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center has announced its first round of funding for three commercialization projects in nanomaterials throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 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 close date for this first round of proposals was January 7, 2007. The following companies were funded:

NanoRDC, LLC was funded in the amount of $51,250 to develop and commercialize a chemical method for functionalizing carbon nanotubes (CNT's). This initiative will enable CNTs to be more effectively dispersed in a wide range of polymers at lower cost. Polymers using these treated CNTs will have enhanced antistatic and electrical conductivity, resulting in the expanded use of new rubber and plastic materials for the automotive, electronics, aerospace and defense industries. Applications include electrostatic painted plastic parts, static dissipation products, thermally conductive components and EMI shielding products.

Illuminex Corporation was funded in the amount of $300,000 to commercialize device technologies that utilize nanowire arrays. These arrays will be incorporated into a new generation of heat pipes, which makes the heat pipes more efficient in removing heat from microprocessor chips used in computer servers and laptops. If successful, the new nanowire technology has the ability to enable the computer industry to solve the challenging problem of removing the higher heat loads generated by the new generation of faster computer microprocessors.

Plextronics Inc. was funded in the amount of $200,500 to further the development of Plexcore(TM) PV active layer technology for organic solar cells. Organic solar cells use extremely thin layers of plastic semiconductors, instead of silicon, to absorb light and create electricity. This initiative will focus on the development of a new generation of polymer- based semi-conductive inks, Plexcore PV, that increase solar conversion efficiency, while extending the lifetime of the device. Success will remove one of the remaining barriers to broad market commercialization and make organic solar cells an economically viable form of renewable energy.

In addition to the Center's funding for the three projects totaling $551,750, the companies have added cash and in-kind matches totaling $460,600.

In September 2006, the Center requested pre-proposal white papers prior to the submission of formal proposals that resulted in 38 submissions statewide, involving a wide range of partnerships between universities and small and large companies. Each proposer received feedback from the Center on the suitability of their white paper and adherence to the Center's guidelines, along with advice on submitting a full proposal.

All proposals in the current round were 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.

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 which is intended to capitalize on the exciting new field of nanotechnology to create new companies and high technology jobs throughout the commonwealth. In addition, the Center recently contracted for funding in the amount of $868,424 from the Air Force Research Labs through the Wright Brothers Institute in Dayton, Ohio. Representative Mike Doyle helped the Center obtain this Air Force funding in the 2006 fiscal year federal defense appropriations budget.

A second round of projects will be funded in the early summer of 2007. The Center will be announcing the invitation for proposals on April 2, and full proposals will be due by June 15.

The mission of the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center is to promote and support the commercialization of nanomaterials research for new and enhanced products critical to the U.S. economy and manufacturing base. The Center builds upon Pennsylvania's excellence in advanced materials research, development and manufacturing, and it acts as a new model for a public-private partnership among government, universities, entrepreneurs, small and large companies to accelerate the transition from nanomaterials invention and innovation to new products and new companies.

Visit: http://www.pananocenter.org/http://www.nanordc.com/http://www.illuminex.... Pennsylvania Initiative in Nanotechnology: http://www.newpa.com/newsDetail.aspx?id=500

CONTACT: Kevin Lane of Pittsburgh Technology Council, +1-412-687-0200,
extension 247, klane@pghtech.org

Web site: http://www.pghtech.org/
http://www.pananocenter.org/
http://www.nanordc.com/
http://www.illuminex.biz/
http://www.plextronics.com/
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