The OSD is accepting proposals for a new STTR solicitation on Nanomanufactured Catalytic Arrays on Patterned Addressable Substrates for Advanced Electronic Device Applications until September 15, 2010. The objective of this solicitation is "To develop nanomanufacturing approaches and tools to deposit large scale and dense arrays of intermetallic catalytic particles of controlled geometries on addressable pre-patterned substrates (metallic, semiconducting and insulating)....

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The U.S. investment in nanoscience and technology since 2001 through the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) has provided a “catalytic and substantial impact” according to the recent report by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), which offered an assessment of the first ten years of the NNI along with recommendations for future investments and directives. The report further acknowledged the NNI investment has met its intended goals and objectives, including U.S. leadership in fundamental research in nanotechnology and economic impact in the form of job creation and establishment of new industries.

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David J. Arthur is President and CEO of SouthWest NanoTechnologies, Inc. and has more than 30 years experience commercializing products utilizing advanced materials, including work at such companies as Rogers Corporation, A.T. Cross Co., TPI Composites, Helix Technologies, and Eikos. In this interview, Steve Waite talks to Mr. Arthur about SouthWest NanoTechnologies’ carbon nanotube materials and technologies, their commercialization potential and the environmental, health and safety risks associated with nanotubes.

Mr. Arthur holds a BS degree in chemical engineering from Tufts University, MS degree in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and MBA degree from Northeastern University. In 2005, he co-founded Chasm Technologies, a consulting firm in the Boston area that helps its clients commercialize new products through smart application of materials science and process technology. For the past four years, he has been CEO of SouthWest NanoTechnologies in Norman, OK, a leading producer of single-wall and specialty multi-wall carbon nanotube materials for coatings and composites applications.

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Massachusetts’ Office of Technical Assistance and Technology (OTA) recently released its “OTA Technology Guidance Document: Nanotechnology - Considerations for Safe Development” which has been in development for the past couple of years.  The document begins by noting the tremendous positive influence nanotechnology is predicted to have in the fields of biomedical devices, electronics, clean energy, and materials engineering, while at the same time acknowledging that “there are indications of potential harm from certain exposures and release of engineered nanoparticles.”  OTA also believes that there “is little uncertainty” regarding available means to prevent potential workplace exposure to nanoscale materials.  Simply put, despite unknown EHS risks, there is more than adequate knowledge to control potential exposure in OTA’s view.

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Proposals are now being accepted for Nanoinformatics 2010, a collaborative roadmapping project for the nanotechnology community. The event—a collaborative roadmapping and workshop project at which informatics experts, nanotechnology researchers and policy makers, and other stakeholders and potential contributors will jointly develop a roadmap for the area of nanoinformatics—will take place from November 3 - 5, 2010 in Arlington, VA. The deadline for abstract submission is September 15. 

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