Nanotechnology network encourages global investment in UK SMEs
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The Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN), one of the UK's primary knowledge-based networks for micro and nanotechnologies, has announced a collaboration with the Institute of Nanotechnology (IoN), a professional membership organisation for the nanotechnology industry. The partnership, with the support of Technology Strategy Board funding, will encourage and support UK nanotechnology SMEs in international business development.
The partnership will see the launch of the International NanoMicroClub (INMC) and the opportunity for UK SMEs to join missions to three major international events.
The first of these missions will see a delegation of five companies attend the BioPharm America 2010 Conference, which takes place on 15th to 17th September in Boston, USA. This mission will provide opportunities for the selected companies to attend to develop business in nano-enabled pharmaceuticals.
The companies selected to join this first Mission are world class fluid engineering research consultancy, BHR; drug discovery business Conformetrix; UK based biopharmaceutical company Lipoxen; nanomedicine pharmaceutical company Nanomerics and Point-2-Point Genomics.
The INMC has been devised to address the need to for future UK nanotechnology to be securely embedded in the global market and ensuring that UK SMEs are including international business development and collaboration in their marketing strategies.
The INMC aims to provide a platform for UK micro and nanotechnology companies to network and engage internationally with global markets, previously inaccessible due to a lack of funding.
Alec Reader, director of the NanoKTN, said: "The INMC aims to help the selected SMEs project themselves into important export markets through research, collaboration and business development. Commercial outcomes from international deals may take time but this only reinforces the need to provide support to SMEs for international business development. This sort of framework of support in the early stages can make the difference between success and failure and is crucially important to the UK nanotechnology market."
The three missions will cover the three major trading areas, USA, Europe and Japan. Each event will have a particular theme specific to the trading strength of each area. Following the BioPharm America Mission, the second mission will attend RusNano Forum in Moscow, Russia in November 2010. The INMC is now inviting expressions of interest to participate in the mission.
For more information about the INMC contact Del Stark at the Institute of Nanotechnology on 0141 303 8444 or via email on del.stark@nano.org.uk.
