| Posted: November 2, 2006 |
UK completes its network of 22 nanotechnology centers |
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(Nanowerk News) A new era with a complete network of 22 Nanotechnology Centres linking
up across the UK will be officially ushered in at a networking reception
to be held today at the Technology Strategy Board's annual conference,
"Innovate 2006".
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The network of Nanotechnology Centres, formerly Micro and Nanotechnology
Capital Facilities, has been supported with £50 million in Government funding.
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Science and Innovation Minister Lord Sainsbury said:
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"The Government firmly believes that nanotechnology, through the development
of new materials and products, has the potential to deliver huge benefits to
both society and industry. "Innovate 2006" and the Nanotechnology Centres are
a powerful example of our commitment to developing the UK's knowledge-based
economy.
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"Now that the final pieces of the Nanotechnology Centres network are in
place, with the final five centres opening recently, the UK has created
a world-leading network of facilities that will significantly increase
industry's ability to exploit nanotechnology."
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The Nanotechnology Centres have been established through the DTI's £50
million MNT Capital Facilities Programme. The programme has established a
network of dedicated open access facilities by formalising access to spare
capacity in Universities and industry.
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Prof Hugh Clare, Director, Micro and Nanotechnology (MNT) Network, who will
host the nanotechnology networking event, commented;
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"The commercial exploitation of nanotechnologies, supported by the innovation
activities of the Nanotechnology Centres, presents a great opportunity for
UK business. A well funded and supported nanotechnology sector means more
high quality research, more sustainable jobs and increased wealth creation."
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The Nanotechnology Centres will turn cutting edge ideas into business
success. The event celebrates the finalisation of the entire network of 22
Centres, which are now all formally "open for business".
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This achievement has been possible because of the substantial investment from
DTI, Regional Development Agencies, Devolved Administrations and industry;
and positions the UK as a leader in innovation and knowledge transfer in
the new global economy.
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Nanotechnology took centre stage at this year's Innovate event, with a keynote
session devoted to the Nanotechnology Centres, which cover four key areas:
NanoFabrication, NanoMetrology, NanoMedicine and NanoMaterials.
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The network of 22 Nanotechnology Centres are part of the funding from the
DTI's £90 million Micro and Nanotechnology Manufacturing Initiative, which
aims to assist the exploitation of the commercial potential of developments
in nanotechnology.
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More than 1,000 delegates are due to attend Innovate, where the Technology
Strategy Board released its second annual report, highlighting some of its
successes - including more than 500 collaborative R&D projects worth £750
million (£365 from Government, £385 from industry).
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The "Innovate 2006" conference is the focus for the achievements of the
business-led Technology Strategy Board and, in particular, the Knowledge
Transfer Networks in establishing routes to commercialisation for the
research base.
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