June 24, 2009

PORTLAND - Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and leaders of several technology and venture capital firms will be featured speakers at the 2005 Micro Nano Breakthrough Conference to be held July 25-28 in Portland, an event expected to attract hundreds of researchers, business leaders and entrepreneurs to learn about the latest innovations in this field.

Registration for the event is still available, by calling 541-737-9300 or on the web at http://www.pnl.gov/microproducts/conferences/2005/registration.stm

This year's conference, titled "Gathering to Build a Micro/Nano Tech Economy," will be held at the University Place Conference Center at Portland State University. The event is targeted toward leaders in research, education, technology development, industry, government, business and venture capital.

Keynote speakers on Tuesday, July 26, will be Gov. Kulongoski and Carl Kohrt, chief executive officer of Battelle Memorial Institute. Dozens of experts will participate in the conference from such companies or agencies as Hewlett Packard, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Zyvex Corporation, NASA, the National Science Foundation, U.S. Army, and many universities.

Other speakers and panelists during the conference include:

  • Josh Wolfe, managing partner of Lux Capital, a firm that focuses on investments in nanotechnology;
  • Marlene Bourne, vice president for research, Small Times Media;
  • Skip Rung, executive director, the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI);
  • Gil Miller, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Artielle ImmunoTherapeutics, a drug discovery and development company;
  • Mark Paul, head of Synergy Consulting Group and publisher of the Entrepreneur's Survival Guide;
  • Andy Rowe, an entrepreneur and business builder in the technology, industrial and healthcare sectors;
  • Landis Kannberg, a technical network leader at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and co-director of the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute with OSU;
  • Kevin Drost, associate professor of mechanical engineering at OSU and executive founder of the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute;
  • Jun Jiao, an expert in nanoscale materials science and electron microscopy, Portland State University;
  • Len Peters, director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

    This conference will have a strong business emphasis as the products of micro- and nanotechnology begin to move more rapidly out of the laboratory and into the marketplace, organizers say. It will include several "short courses" on such topics as micro-nano basics for business; small business and innovation research proposals; micro-nano resources available for business and industry; preparing proposals for federal funding; and other topics.

    A session on health care will explore such issues as the role of nanotechnology in neurologic disease therapy, targeted drug delivery, and nanotechnology in medical imaging. The concepts of "green" micro- and nanotechnology will address solutions that protect or help clean up the environment. And working group sessions will be created in such fields as nanoelectronics, defense and homeland security, hydrogen fuel cells, electronics packaging and cooling, and intellectual property management.

    The overall goal of the conference, officials say, is to share scientific findings, build networks, exhibit new technologies and consider product development needs of the future. It may be of interest to scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, government and agency leaders, legislators, investors, and many others.

    The event is sponsored by the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute, an initiative organized by OSU and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. It is associated with ONAMI, a collaboration of Oregon universities, high tech industries and other agencies working to expand Oregon's role in the fast evolving field of microtechnology and nanotechnology.

    • Source: 

    David Brenchley, dr.b@pnl.gov

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