John Hardin, Ph'D'

1
Nanotechnology in North Carolina Assets,
Activities, Challenges, and Opportunities
Presented at the RTRP All-Cluster Network
Meeting CED Entrepreneurship Center June 4, 2008

• John Hardin, Ph.D.
• Acting Executive Director
• North Carolina Board of Science and Technology
• jhardin_at_nccommerce.com

2
Pop Quiz!!!

• What does nano mean?
• Is nanotechnology an industry?
• How many companies in NC are currently known to
  be working with nanotechnology?

3
Presentation Overview

• What is nanotech?
• Why is nanotech important?
• What are NCs nanotech assets, activities,
  challenges, and opportunities?
• Throughout this presentation, nanotechnology
  will be abbreviated as nanotech

For additional information about nanotech in NC,
see NCnanotechnology.com
4
NCnanotechnology.com

• Information clearinghouse about nanotechnology,
  particularly in NC
• Since December 26 (five months)
• More than 7,500 page views
• More than 3,700 visits from 83 countries, 49 U.S.
  States, and 91 N.C. cities

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1. What is nanotech?
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Nanotech Defined

• Nano Greek for Dwarf
• Nano 1 billionth
• Research and development at the atomic,
  molecular, or macromolecular levels, in the
  length scale of approximately 1-100 nanometer
  range . . .
• . . . to create and use structures, devices and
  systems that have novel properties and functions
  because of their small and/or intermediate size
• Nanotech involves purposeful imaging, measuring,
  modeling, and manipulating matter at this length
  scale

Source National Nanotechnology Initiative
7
Nanotech Defined

• Virtually all of science and engineering have
  converged to work at the nanoscale
• Giving us unprecedented understanding and control
  of elemental phenomena such as intracellular
  processes, chemical reactions, and quantum
  mechanics
• We now can build materials literally
  molecule-by-molecule, allowing us to harness
  previously inaccessible properties of matter

Source National Nanotechnology Initiative
8
Understanding Size

• How big (small) are we talking about?

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Understanding Size

• 1 meter

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
10
Understanding Size

• 10 centimeters

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
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Understanding Size

• 1 centimeter

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
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Understanding Size

• 1,000
• Micrometers
• (µm)
• 1 mm
• 1,000,000 nm

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
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Understanding Size

• 100
• micrometers
• (µm)
• 0.1mm
• 100,000 nm

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
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Understanding Size

• 10
• micrometers
• (µm)
• 0.01 mm
• 10,000 nm

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
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Understanding Size

• 1,000
• Nanometers
• 1
• micrometer
• (µm)
• 0.001 mm

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
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Understanding Size

• 100
• nanometers

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm
source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
17
Understanding Size

• 10
• nanometers

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm
source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
18
Understanding Size

• 1 nanometer

source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm
source CERN http//microcosm.web.cern.ch/microco
sm/P10/english/P0.html
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Size Matters

• Its not just how big you are its what you can
  do with it
• As things approach the nanoscale, new properties
  emerge due to size confinement and quantum
  phenomena
• Specifically, nanotechnology will permit control
  of the following
• Structural properties (e.g. strength and
  ductility)
• Electrical properties
• Thermal properties
• Magnetic properties
• Optical properties
• Catalytic properties
• Biocompatibility
• Friction

Source National Nanotechnology Initiative
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2. Why is nanotech important?
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New Products, New Companies, New Jobs
Source National Nanotechnology Initiative
NanoBusiness Alliance
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Diverse products already incorporate nanotech
Source Lux Research
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Predicted Impact of Nanotech on the Global Economy

• 340B materials
• 300B electronics
• 180B pharmaceuticals
• 100B chemical manufacture
• 70B aerospace
• 45B sustainability
• 30B improved healthcare
• 20B tools
• Market size predictions 1 trillion over next
  10-12 years

Source National Science Foundation
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Conventional Wisdom and Market Realities of
Nanotech
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The Nanotech Value Chain
Source October 2004 Lux Research Report Sizing
Nanotechnologys Value Chain
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3. What are NCs nanotech assets, activities,
challenges opportunities?
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Roadmap Background and Goal

• In spring 2005, NCs Senior Science Technology
  Advisor and its Board of Science and Technology
  formed the Governors Task Force on
  Nanotechnology and the Economy
• Composed of 28 members broadly representing
  business, academia, and the public sector from
  across NC, its charge was to
• Develop a roadmap for an aggressive and
  coordinated initiative to advance successful
  nanotech-based economic development and high-wage
  employment across NC

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Roadmap Approach
End Goal




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Sample Findings RD Patterns
RDU 8th among U.S regions in university-based
nanotech research not predicable based on
regions size, economy, or strength of science
base
NC ranks in top 10 states in RD funding from
National Nanotech Initiative
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Nanotechnology in the U.S. South

• Study focused on the potential of the U.S. South
  (13 states) to develop a viable nanotech
  clusters
• Ten indicators in four areas
• Knowledge generation
• Human capital
• RD funding
• Patenting

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West
Virginia
Source Youtie Shapira (2008). Forthcoming in
The Journal of Technology Transfer
31
Findings

• Overall findings Much of U.S. South has little
  potential to develop significant nanotech
  strengths, except for a few clusters
• Research Triangle Park, NC
• Atlanta, GA
• Oak Ridge, TN
• Virginia
• North Carolina, driven by RTP region, ranked the
  highest on all 10 indicators

Source Youtie Shapira (2008). Forthcoming in
The Journal of Technology Transfer
32
Sample Findings RD Trends
Nanotech funding to NC universities increased
5-fold (conservative estimate)
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Sample Findings RD Patterns
NC universities are home to more than 30
organized RD units focusing on nanotech
Source A Roadmap for Nanotechnology in North
Carolinas 21st Century Economy
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Sample Findings Commercial
NC has nearly 60 nanotech companies and a
statewide distribution of high-tech clusters that
will be highly impacted by nanotech
Approximately 50 of companies identified as
working with nanotech were originally affiliated
with local universities
Source A Roadmap for Nanotechnology in North
Carolinas 21st Century Economy
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Sample Findings Predictions Commercial
NC has a strong presence in several tech clusters
that will be highly impacted by nanotech
nanotech could help grow weak clusters
Source Hardin and Harder(2003). Tracking
Innovation North Carolina Innovation Index.
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The Nanotech Value Chain
Source October 2004 Lux Research Report Sizing
Nanotechnologys Value Chain
36
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North Carolina Nanotech Value Chain
Optotrack
Alnis
Nextreme
MMFX Steel
Chemsee, Inc
Umicore
Xintek
AccuFLEX
MEMScap
Asklêpios
SolarAMP
Hexatech
ZellComp
Alamac
NanotechLabs
LaamScience
VF Corp
INI
Liquidia
Pharm Agra
Liquid Logic
Trimeris
QuarTek
Nanolume
Dotmetrics
Amphora
Materials Analytical Svc.
Microphase
Hydro-Flo
RTI
HPC
Hydrosize
Appealing Products
Nanomaterials (14)
Nanointermediates (12)
Nano-Enabled Products (7)
Ziptronix
Nanotech Capital
Institutec
Semiconductor Research
Expression Analysis
Nanolytics
ProtoChips
Biomachines
3rd Tech
International Tech. Center
3rdTech
Micell
Centice
Coventer
Sensory Analytics
Tiny Technology
Nanotools (15)
Source Gereffi, Frederick, Ong (2007).
Nanotechnology In North Carolina Presentation
38
Strengths Weaknesses of NC to form Nanotech
Clusters

• Weaknesses
• Lack of strong linkages to critical U.S. centers
  in California and Northeast
• Not fully capitalizing access to strong research
  universities and centers
• Smaller regional capital pools and limited
  private RD

• Strengths
• Established emphasis on enabling technology
  industries biotech info tech
• Existing manufacturing base
• Strong university infrastructure
• Local support (government)

Source Youtie Shapira (2008). Forthcoming in
The Journal of Technology Transfer
39
Challenges Opportunities

• Lack of access to early-stage capital, especially
  for companies in the research phase
• Lack of access to university equipment
  facilities, especially for companies involved in
  nanotech research
• NC university nanotech programs do not have
  significant industry collaborations

Source Bozeman, Hardin, Link (2007).
Presentation at the 2007 Tech Transfer Society
Conference. Research paper forthcoming in
Economics of Innovation and New Technologies,
2008.
40
Sample Findings Public Understanding
Leadership

• 2004 national survey found that Americans hold a
  generally positive view of nanotech and believe
  potential benefits outweigh potential risks
• But more than 80 of those surveyed indicated
  they had heard little or nothing about
  nanotech, and most could not correctly answer
  factual questions about it
• NC companies using nanotechnology feel strongly
  that public understanding of and public
  leadership support is critical for successful
  development of nanotechnology businesses
• To date, nanotech has received limited attention
  by the public, policy makers, and the media in NC

Source Cobb and Macoubrie, 2004
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Conclusion

• Nanotech will have profound and widespread
  impacts on society and the economy
• NC is strong overall in nanotech (particularly
  university RD) but needs to strengthen certain
  weaker linkages and areas (industry RD,
  commercialization, and workforce development)
• To successfully grow nanotech-based clusters, NC
  will increasingly need to incorporate nanotech
  into its economic development strategies
• NCs Nanotech Roadmap outlines critical steps for
  advancing nanotech in NC