NEWS RELEASE 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Community and EconomicDevelopment
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Contacts:
Neil Weaver (voice) (717) 783-1132

March 14, 2005

RENDELL ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES PENNSYLVANIA NANOTECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 2005

HARRISBURG: Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky today announced that The Business of Nano: Pennsylvania Nanotechnology Conference 2005 will be held April 18 – 20 at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh.
“Through Pennsylvania’s world-class corporations, universities and federal laboratories, the Commonwealth is quickly becoming a national leader in the nanotech revolution,” said Secretary Yablonsky. “The 2005 Business of Nanotechnology Conference is just one example of how the Commonwealth is positioning itself to be a key player in this wave of development that promises to create a new generation of research, industry and jobs for Pennsylvanians.”

The conference represents the third major gathering on nanotechnology sponsored by the Commonwealth. Through formal presentations, displays, detailed documentation and informal meetings, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the technology, expand business opportunities, and make new contacts. Conference topics will include nanotechnology manufacturing and processing, electronics, semi-conductors and instrumentation. Panel discussions will cover topics regarding emerging nanotech strategies, capitalization and international nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology involves research and technology development at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels. Researchers work to develop new technologies in industries such as biopharmaceuticals, therapeutics, advanced materials, agriculture, chemicals, electronics, energy, defense and transportation.
To demonstrate its leadership and commitment to the emerging nanotechnology industry, the Commonwealth created the Pennsylvania Initiative for Nanotechnology (PIN). With over $42 million in support to build out facilities and jump-start nanotechnology related programs, this investment has directly leveraged over $70 million in private, university and federal awards for a grand total of $112 million in investments.

These investments will bring the growth of new nanotech businesses, research and hi-tech, high-paying jobs to the Commonwealth. This initiative leverages Pennsylvania’s clusters of research, corporate and economic assets and builds upon substantial groundwork already in place.

For more information, please visit http://www.pananoconference.org/ or call Lynn Banaszak, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse at (412) 770-1353.