As many of you know, we are in the final countdown for our fall conference, Commercialization of NanoMaterials 2007. This year’s event will be at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel from November 11 - 13, and promises to be an even bigger affair than last year’s conference. This year, the convention has expanded to provide a broader range of interesting topics and perspectives on the course of nanotechnology commercialization.

There is a new plenary panel involving thought leaders in nanotechnology from five countries: Japan, Korea, France, Germany and Canada. In addition, there is a venture capital investment panel, a session on applications of nanomaterials to biology and a panel on nanomaterials for energy applications. These new sessions are in addition to updates in functional and structural nanomaterials, coatings and developments in environmental health and safety issues for nanotechnology. This year we are delighted that Representative Mike Doyle will be welcoming all attendees on the first day of the conference.

Please join us at the Sheraton for what I believe will be an excellent meeting. Register by October 29 to receive a discount!

And the Center continues to grow and expand as well. We have just announced the funding of three new projects. We are proud to partner with three small high-technology companies in our region; Crystalplex Corporation, Integran Technologies USA and HydroGen Corp. These projects add further diversification to the Center’s project portfolio. They involve innovative applications of nanotechnology to more efficient lighting, stronger metals and more efficient fuel cells. View our press release for more detailed information.  View first press release. View second press release.

The Center is accepting proposals from November 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008. For those who wish to submit nanotechnology commercialization ideas to the Center prior to a full proposal, visit the Idea Submission section of our Web site for more information. Also, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me at abrown@pananocenter.org.

I am also very pleased to share the addition of a new employee to the Center. Dr. Alicyn Rhoades has just joined me as Research Commercialization Project Manager on September 4. She will be taking over the proposals and project management process for the Center. You can learn more about her in the article that follows. Please join me in giving Alicyn a warm welcome! You can contact her at arhoades@pananocenter.org.

Finally, we are currently in the process of re-designing our Web site, so please e-mail me with any suggestions for improving our services and support for your ideas and projects.

Alan Brown, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center
Pittsburgh, PA

Integran Technologies USA
In partnership with Integran Technologies USA, the Center is funding the commercialization of a new nanomaterials coaxial wire technology. This novel wire technology will increase the durability of lightweight electrical wiring systems, and will benefit weight reduction and energy efficiency initiatives in the transportation sector. This project will help to establish the new wire technology as a fully proven, mass production-ready process and to create a new technology and market support center in Pittsburgh to serve the wiring industry across the U.S. www.integran.com

Crystalplex Corporation
The Center is supporting the commercialization of an innovative new quantum dot technology with Crystalplex Corp. Quantum dots are nano-sized semiconductor crystals that have unique optical properties, and Crystalplex develops them for optoelectronic, security and life science applications. This project will use these nano-sized devices to improve the efficiency, while reducing the costs of light emitting diodes (LEDs) used in energy saving lighting and electronic displays. www.crystalplex.com

HydroGen Corportion
The Center is funding HydroGen Corporation to develop and manufacture enhanced performance hydrogen fuel cell electrodes. The new electrodes will use novel carbon nanotubes to improve the performance and lifetime of the electrodes, thereby reducing overall costs for fuel cell operations. This project will allow HydroGen to manufacture an improved fuel cell electrode and expand its fuel cell business worldwide. www.hydrogenllc.com

The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center Welcomes Alicyn Rhoades, Ph.D.
The Center is pleased to introduce Alicyn M. Rhoades, Ph.D., who joined our team as Research Commercialization Project Manager on September 4. Dr. Rhoades comes to the Center most recently from The University of Southern Mississippi College of Science and Technology where she promoted collaboration between the university and small start-up companies as commercialization of technology leader. Dr. Rhoades also led programs to increase student awareness of entrepreneurial training opportunities at the University and directed graduate recruitment for the University’s “Commercialization of Technology” program. Under a National Science Foundation endowment, she led four entrepreneurial graduate teams in developing business plans for commercialization of new technology, and she developed, organized and conducted Project Action, a career outreach program for undergraduate women in the sciences. Dr. Rhoades has also worked as an independent consultant within the arena of commercializing technology.

Dr. Rhoades is the author of numerous presentations on polymers research, and has spoken at the 18th EPSCoR National Conference, the 4th Annual INSPIRE Conference and the Oklahoma EPSCoR Women in Science – Mentoring Women in the STEM Majors conference. Her research has appeared in the Journal of Coatings Technology, Progress in Organic Coatings, Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering and a variety of other publications. Dr. Rhoades earned a Bachelor's degree in plastics engineering technology from the Pennsylvania State University, Behrend College. She received her Doctorate in polymer science from The University of Southern Mississippi, where she also minored in commercializing technology.

Though she landed here from Hattiesburg, Miss., Dr. Rhoades is no stranger to the Pittsburgh area. She is originally from Tidioute, Pa., north of Pittsburgh on the Allegheny River. Since her family is near to the city, Dr. Rhoades has kept Pittsburgh on her radar of potential places to live and work throughout the years. Her awareness to this region has also been influenced by the outreach efforts of Bayer MaterialScience AG, a global producer of polymers and high-performance plastics headquartered in Pittsburgh.

Dr. Rhoades goes by “Alicyn” or “Ali” at the Center, and her two-year-old son Eli calls her “Mama” at home. Alicyn and her husband, Dave, are also eagerly anticipating the arrival of another son in early 2008.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Alicyn Rhoades back to Pittsburgh and to the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center! She can be reached by e-mailing arhoades@pananocenter.org.