(Nanowerk News) The Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN), and the Institute of Nanotechnology (IoN), have announced the success of the 2010 International NanoMicroClub (INMC) NanoMission to Russia.

The mission, supported by Technology Strategy Board funding, was established to support UK nanotechnology SMEs in international business development.

The INMC NanoMission to Russia visited the annual RusNanotech conference and exhibition in Moscow which supports the commercialisation of developments in the nanotechnology industry. The UK mission team comprised Integrated Nano-Science and Commodity Exchange Ltd, Nanomobile Ltd, Vantix Ltd, Cambridge Nanomaterials Technology Ltd Nokia Research Centre, Cambridge and Magmatech Ltd.

The mission team had a total of 64 meetings, with 32 opportunities being followed-up and discussed further, and two of the companies are in the process of applying for investment funding from the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation (RUSNANO); a Russian government organisation established to support the commercialisation of nanotechnology.

Bojan Boskovic, Director of Cambridge Nanomaterials Technology Ltd, a nanotechnology consultancy, comments: "The mission was an excellent platform for me to make strategic contacts and to better understand the RUSNANO organisation and the funding initiatives, and I anticipate future business opportunities."

Olga Leonardova, Project Co-ordinator of Vantix Ltd also attended the mission and added: "I am grateful to the NanoKTN and Institute of Nanotechnology for organising and supporting the UK NanoMission to Russia. I would not have been able to attend the forum without that support. It was very beneficial for us to be part of the mission. I think it would be more difficult to meet people of such calibre if I had attended the conference on my own."

Charles McGovern, CEO of INSCX exchange, the physical commodity exchange company established to list for formal trade SHE accredited nanomaterials, nano-enabled commodities and traditional commodities such as polymers, base energy, construction and industrial chemicals, stated: "We found the mission most beneficial in strengthening our links with the RUSNANO organisation. We hope the continuation of these initiatives will lead to wider collaboration with Russian nanotechnology companies in general and such efforts in our opinion hold great promise for the future development of the emerging industry."

Alec Reader, Director of the NanoKTN adds: "Creating partnerships to expand businesses is essential to SMEs. It can take months, or in some cases years, to see contacts turn into contracts but already we are starting to see positive feedback from those that attended the mission. At the NanoKTN we are committed to assisting our members in making the right decisions to ensure the nanotechnology market continues to grow and bring benefits to UK industry."

"Often UK companies will head to the USA or the Orient when prospecting for new customers; however we are happy to see that Russia is becoming a promising landscape for business development and collaborative growth projects in nanotechnology," stated Del Stark, Business Development Manager of the Institute of Nanotechnology.

If the future of UK nanotechnology is going to be securely embedded in the global market, the industry needs to ensure that UK SMEs are including international business development and collaboration in the marketing mix. The INMC was launched in 2010 to give UK nanotechnology SMEs an opportunity to join missions to major international events to encourage international business development.