Nanotech Trade Associations? Really? (Tech Talk)

Nanotech Trade Associations? Really?

A nanotech expert at a very large, German chemical company once commented to me, “Nanotechnology? There is no technology. It’s a Zoo of technologies and materials summarized under the umbrella ‘nanotechnology’”.

I think of that quote when I see all the nanotechnology “trade associations” that have formed now and in the past. The latest news I see is that one of them has created a "code of conduct" for organizations involved in nanotech.

I am always puzzled as to what these organizations are supposed to be “associating”. Is it individual members, who presumably would call themselves “nanotechnologists”, or is it member companies? I’m not quite sure but I suspect they would accept any Tom, Dick or Harry that would sign a check to be a member.

There is of course the grand daddy of these associations the NanoBusiness Alliance . I can’t reproduce the history of this organization, except that I remember it appearing on the landscape in about 2002.

My memory could find no further support, as it seems that the only information about this organization on the Internet is information about their annual conference. Beyond that: nada. There is nothing about membership, their activities or services to their members, no information other than the conference.

The Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance and the European NanoBusiness Association quickly followed the NanoBusiness Alliance in their formations.

The Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance seems to still have an active website for accepting new members and appears to be conducting lobbying efforts for increasing government funding of nanotechnology in Canada.

The European NanoBusiness Association (ENA), for which I have some first-hand knowledge, after running some industry-focused conferences, securing additional EU funding in nanotech from its focused lobbying efforts, and running carbon nanotube standardization workshops, has closed its doors after completing its initial mission.

With such a diffuse group of industries involved in nanotechnology, there seemed little point to continuing the ENA’s mission when other industry associations, such as for the semiconductor and chemical industries, could specifically target the needs of its members whether they be companies or individuals.

But that understanding apparently is not shared as there has been a re-emergence of nanotech industry associations. One of the more recent crop is the European Nanotechnology Trade Alliance, which was formed in 2005.

But it didn’t stop with the ENTA. Also in 2005 another European nanotech association was formed—Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA).

Apparently, these two new associations afford some value to their members as they both display their list of member companies. Maybe it’s networking, or government lobbying, or a chance to focus specifically on the issues of nanotech for their respective industries and markets. It’s hard to know for sure, short of asking the members.

My first questions on the face of it are: What is the “nanotechnology trade” and what are “nanotechnology industries”?

My second question would be what do these organizations offer that industry-specific associations that have entire groups dedicated to nanotechnology don’t, like SEMI or IEEE?

Comments (2)

Sean Murdock

Dexter:

You are accurate in pointing out that our website currently points to our annual conference, but the implications you draw from that are way off base.

We are in the midst of a major site design, which we expected to roll out in August. However, we have been bandwidth constrained due to our work on the Patent Reform Act of 2007 (which we oppose in its current form) and with the launch of the EPA's Voluntary Nanomaterial Stewardship Program and have not been able to launch the new site.

Not surprisingly, I disagree with your take on nanotech assocations. Many associations represent a wide variety of people, organizations and even industries (BIO represents human, ag, and industrial biotech), and the incentives of organizations within an industry rarely align perfectly. Nonetheless, there are many issues around which those working to commercialize nanotech innovations are aligned. The overwhelming majority of our membership are early stage companies that need to raise capital, find talent, find corporate partners, and navigate the regulatory landscape. While the end markets they will serve in the future are different, many of the challenges they face are life cycle based as opposed to industry or sector specific.

We focus upon creating a positive public policy and innovation ecosystem for nanotech companies. The NanoBusiness Alliance was intimately involved in stewarding the 21st Century Nanotech R&D Act through Congress and has brought over 50 nanotech CEO's to DC every year since to educate Congress and the Administration on issues and challenges associated with commercializing nanotech innvoations. We have helped shape legislation aimed at addressing the Valley of Death and enhancing capital formation for early stage technology investment.

We also act as a trusted bridge between scientists, nanotech start-ups, and established incumbents. Our NanoBusiness Conference is one vehicle for us to accomplish that. It brings together all of the players in the nanotech innovation ecosystem and plays a critical role in bringing the potential of (nano)science based innovation to Wall Street and the financial community. Last year, we closed the NASDAQ exchange and had 3 hours of CNBC coverage.

While at some level it is "only a conference", it is critical to communicate the value of nanoscience innovation to these constituencies if we are going to continue to make progress on physical science funding.

I cannot in one post communicate the many efforts and initiatives we have underway. But, I would be happy to speak with any of your readers should the be interested in helping shape the nanotech innovation ecosytsem.

Best,
Sean Murdock
Executive Director
NanoBusiness Alliance
sean@nanobusiness.org
847.568.8413 (office)
312.593.0293 (cell)

Posted by Sean Murdock | August 29, 2007 10:25 PM

Posted on August 29, 2007 22:25

Dexter

Sean:

I am glad to hear the NanoBusiness Alliance will be relaunching its website and I look forward to seeing it.

I am not sure what inferences I made regarding your website now currently just being your annual conference except to say there was no place to sign up as a member, no history of your organization to be found, and no information on your current activities. Those seem to be more facts than inferences.

I suppose I could have concluded that your organization was moribund, but I didn't as it seems you run your annual conference.

That said, I would like to pass along my gratitude. You have given me a new term to put in my nanotechnology quiver: "the nanotech innovation ecosystem."

Posted by Dexter | August 31, 2007 12:30 PM

Posted on August 31, 2007 12:30

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