Nanotechnology Asset Map - Leg€¦ · More than 90 senior researchers and 400 students are now...

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NanotechnologyAsset MapActivities, Strengths, and Opportunities

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Executive Overview

Introduction

Key Elements of B.C.’s Nanotechnology Community

Opportunities In B.C.—A Summary

Introduction

Nanotechnology Definitions

Research Topics

Funding

Nanotechnology Research And B.C.’s High Tech Sectors

Infrastructure and Facilities

Key Researchers

Technology Transfer and IP Activities

Industrial Base

Opportunities

Contacts

Acknowledgements

Appendix 1 Nanotechnology Resources in B.C.

R e s e a R c h c e n t e R s I n B R I t I s h c o l u m B I a W I t h n a n o t e c h n o l o g y I n t e R e s t s

I n d u s t R y o R g a n I z a t I o n s a n d Fu n d I n g B o d I e s I n B R I t I s h c o l u m B I a W I t h n a n o t e c h n o l o g y I n t e R e s t s

Appendix 2 Directory of Nanotechnology Researchers in B.C.

nanotechnology asset Map

� British Columbia

Executive Overview

Introduction

British Columbia (B.C.) has established significant scientific capabilities and resources in its research community that arguably amount to over 20 per cent of Canada’s total nanotechnology capability. To date, growth has been driven by scientific interest rather than by strategic economic development. However, in the last few years increasing numbers of companies have begun to utilize nanotechnology materials or processes in their existing businesses. British Columbian companies are developing world-class capabilities in a variety of fields from quantum computing to drug delivery. Many have been born or incubated in B.C.’s universities.

Several important centers are home to B.C.’s nanotechnology scientists. at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory (aMPEL) provides facilities and equipment for dozens of researchers. Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) 4D Labs provides extensive equipment and laboratory space for specialists in molecular electronics, photonics and magnonics. The University of Victoria (UVic) is a third academic center of excellence, being home to the Centre for advanced Materials and Related Technology (CaMTEC). In addition to numerous departmental and cross-institutional initiatives involving these universities, other notable pockets of expertise exist at TRIUMF (Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics), the national Research Council’s Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, the British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, and the industrial research centers associated with paper and pulp, and wood products (FP Innovations).

In 2006, interested parties from government bodies, the academic sector, and private industry formed The British Columbia nanotechnology alliance (nanotech BC), with start-up funding from the national Research Council’s Industrial Research assistance Program, and the provincial government’s Ministry of advanced Education. nanotech BC vigorously engages the academic and industrial communities to identify areas of common interest, and to develop a unified community of expertise that will underpin advances for B.C.’s manufacturing and processing industries well into the future.

Key Elements of B.C.’s Nanotechnology Community

Vancouver is the research and business hub of B.C. and the three principle research universities (UBC, SFU, and UVic) have been systematically building nanotechnology expertise by adding facilities, equipment and new staff in the last five years.

More than 90 senior researchers and 400 students are now engaged in nanotechnology research in the province across a broad spectrum of activities. although the overall picture indicates an even spread of talent and expertise across all research fields, especially prominent are: nanoelectronics, nanochemistry and bionanotechnology.

Research spending in the province exceeded $154 million from 2002 to 2006, amounting to around 20 per cent of national spending. nanotech BC estimates that upwards of a 100

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�nanotechnology asset Map

nanotechnology-related patents and claims can be attributed to B.C. organizations (e.g. universities, government agencies and companies).

B.C. researchers have collaborated with more than 120 university and research institutions throughout the world, many of which are internationally respected leaders in nanotechnology research.

B.C. researchers have also formed industrial liaisons with more than 70 companies – with the focus equally split between local enterprises and larger international organizations.

The burgeoning industrial nanotechnology base in B.C. is predominantly composed of start-up companies, or university spin-offs, that are still in the process of developing products or markets with an export focus. Many of these companies are also principally venture-backed or privately funded, and have been in existence for a number of years.

Opportunities in B.C.—A Summary

Having established substantial facilities, universities are now encouraging increased interaction with industrial users. Clusters of experts have already established functional working groups within and between institutions. a ready-made infrastructure exists for incoming collaborators.

Researchers have reported over 250 inventions, but only a few have been licensed to date. The diversity of IP ownership models amongst the universities offers opportunities for a wide variety of collaboration, partnership and contract research.

B.C. nanotechnology researchers gained recognition and have formed many industry connections, but a significant number are seeking to broaden their industrial and research networks even further. Overseas researchers and companies are welcomed in the province.

B.C.’s nanotechnology receptor/developer community is also seeking collaborators with whom to explore applications of interest from the research level, through to full commercialization. Companies offer innovative approaches in a variety of areas including drug delivery, renewable energy technologies, advanced spectrometry-based solutions for analysis at the nano-level, thin film profiling expertise, nanoparticle manufacturing expertise, gas separation and purification systems, low-signal sensor applications, and photonics and microwave design and test equipment.

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Introduction

Most scientists track the beginning of nanotechnology to a 1959 presentation by visionary Cal Tech physicist Richard Feynman titled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”. In his lecture, Feynman talked about a future in which superior mechanical, electronic, and biological systems might be created by manipulating materials at the atomic and molecular scale. Though the tools to achieve such manipulations were not available in 1959, Feynman had identified a powerful trend that during the next 40 years would help launch the field of electronics, the PC, the Internet, genetics research and biotechnology. That trend has enabled many of the everyday

objects we now take for granted—all through our improving ability to understand and control materials at the micro scale.

During the 1970s and 1980s scientists began to build powerful new tools that could not only see—but also manipulate directly—individual atoms and molecules, and thereby alter the properties of the materials made from them. For example, as the particle size of a material falls below 100 nanometres, scientists have observed that the behavior of the materials becomes dominated by surface effects (rather than bulk effects), leading to surprising new properties and capabilities. Many other unexploited nanoscale capabilities still await discovery, which helps to explain the global enthusiasm that surrounds the field.

nanotechnology has become an umbrella term for a wide range of technologies and processes that aim to manipulate or exploit materials with an organized structure at the nanometer scale (1 nanometer is 10-9 meter, or one billionth of a metre). a typical atom is 1/5 nanometer (nm) in diameter. Viruses vary from 25 nm to 300 nm in length, and the smallest features on a leading-edge microprocessor chip are now approaching 90 nm. nanotechnology is not only expected to generate entirely new industries and applications, but will also transform many existing industries that rely on processing and manufacturing. Like many other regions, B.C.’s universities are engaged in extending basic understanding of nanotechnology concepts and applying their discoveries to industries and sectors of importance to the Canadian economy.

nanotechnology Definitions

Formal definitions of nanotechnology are still under development by international standards organizations and require resolution before businesses can reliably supply materials and products into the marketplace. But, in many ways nanotechnology can be considered an extension of existing advanced materials technology, where performance enhancement effects or control factors take place at the molecular or atomic level. Simple applications are already in the marketplace and can have short development cycles, whilst more complex applications are still at the research phase and may take many years to emerge. Size dependent properties of nanomaterials, usually in the 1 to 100-nm range, include:


chemical, biological, electronic, photonic, magnetic, rheological, structural and mechanical effects. nano-enabled products are those that gain value-added attributes from manipulation of their nanostructures, utilize nanomaterials in their composition, include nanodevices within the product, or have nanocoatings or treatments that confer performance benefits. nano-enabled processes utilize nanotechnology to produce products more efficiently, or with sustainable development benefits1.

Closely associated with definitions are health and safety issues surrounding the use and control of materials that may have novel or previously undocumented characteristics. nanotech BC and other organizations in the province are considering the challenges posed by nanotechnology environmental, ethical, economic, legal and safety issues (known by the acronym nE3LS).

Research Topics

a broad spectrum of activities related to nanotechnology exist in B.C.’s academic institutions - both applied and theoretical.

Table 1 shows where research activities are focused. although the overall picture indicates an even spread of talent and expertise across all research fields, especially prominent are nanoelectronics, nanochemistry and bionanotechnology.

Table 1: Nanotechnology Research Focus in B.C.

Topics (example applications are shown) Number of responses*

Molecular Devices. Molecular switches/sensors, molecular electronics, carbon nanotubes (CNTs). (Organic and inorganic materials are included).

24

Nanochemistry. Electrochemistry, micro fuel cells, catalysis, ceramics, surface science, nanoparticles, membranes.

33

Nanoelectronics. Silicon, exotic semiconductors, quantum dots, single-electron devices, nanomagnetics, spintronics, quantum computing, high temperature superconductors. (Mainly inorganic electronic materials).

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Nanophotonics. Optoelectronics, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, nanooptical effects in materials, imaging arrays, liquid crystals.

25

Diagnostics. The development or provision of imaging, microscopy, spectroscopy, analysis, and manipulation capabilities for nanoscience.

23

Bionanotechnology. Biolabelling, biosensors, DNA/RNA studies, proteins and proteomics, genomics, pharmaceuticals, drug-delivery, medical imaging.

28

Micromachining/MEMS. MEMS, microfluidics, microtransducers, microarrays. 13

Other Areas. Microcooling, nanomechanics, flexible electronics, displays and imagers. 3

*Based on the multiple choice responses of 84 nanotechnology scientists in B.C. a total of 183 choices were recorded. See appendix 3 for a directory of researchers. Source: nanotech B.C. 2007 Research Survey.

1From nanotechnology in automotive and Industrial Materials Manufacturing in Canada, for Industry Canada, By David J. Roughley et al, March 2006.


Funding

Since nanotechnology comprises a wide range of new research topics (such as micro-electro-mechanical systems - MEMS) together with more established fields (such as theoretical quantum physics) the analysis of data on funding requires careful selection of researchers, topics and projects. not all nanotechnology-related academic studies are defined as nanotechnology by the granting and institutional bodies. To help solve the challenge, this study engaged the researcher community directly to help assess projects and activities. Some 84 researchers (estimated at around 80 per cent of the region’s nanoscientists) responded to a direct survey invitation to describe their work and interests. The large majority of these respondents noted that nanotechnology was highly relevant to their activities.

Table 2 summarizes funding data on nanotechnology from a variety of sources including the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the natural Science and Engineering Research Council, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the national Research Council and databases held by the various academic institutions. The data excludes information about students, who represent a non-permanent resource in the province (see Key Researchers later for more information on students).

Table 2: Nanotechnology Funding in B.C. by Granting Agency by Year (Cdn$1000)

Source 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Total

Infrastructure Grants* 8,468.6 3,229.7 33,745.3 5,682.6 48,202.4 99,328.60

NSERC Grants 1,322.1 5,104.3 7,350.4 8,260.6 9,092.4 31,129.80

CIHR 750.0 792.7 901.2 2,443.90

Provincial 75.9 106.2 44.0 179.0 405.10

Institutional 709.0 727.0 665.0 481.0 2,582.00

Industrial/Private 551.3 902.6 938.0 1,163.0 3,554.90

Federal Agency Grants 15.0 56.0 115.5 1,160.7 1,347.20

Other Sources 2,295.30 3,902.84 3,651.22 3,494.06 13,343.42

Totals 9,790.70 11,980.50 47,540.34 20,149.62 64,673.76 154,134.92* Both provincial and federal infrastructure funding is included. nSERC grants based on reports from 84 survey participants. Source: nanotech B.C. 2007 Research Survey.

Vancouver is the research and business hub of B.C. and the three principle universities have been systematically building nanotechnology expertise by adding facilities, equipment and new staff in the last few years. The expansion of the nanoscience community is reflected in nSERC research grant figures which have been generally rising year on year. For comparison, data collected by the Canadian Office of the national Science advisor2 indicates that 2Towards a nanotechnology Statistical Framework, OnSa, OECD Blue Skye Indicators Conference II, Ottawa, September 2006.


Canada as a whole spent $ 558.1 million in public and private funding for nanotechnology from 2001 to 2005, whilst British Columbia spent $96.7 million in the same period. Therefore, British Columbia accounted for around 17.3 per cent of the total national funding aggregated over that period.

Interestingly, B.C.’s spending expansion continues. The peak spending year of 2006 (the most recent for which comprehensive data exists) was largely due to constructing and tooling of 4D labs (a major new facility at SFU), whilst a secondary peak in 2004 was partially due to funding for a joint-university laboratory for advanced spectroscopy and imaging research (between UBC and SFU), funding awards for beam line experiments at the Canadian Light Source in Saskatchewan, and

the acquisition of new scanning tunneling microscopy instruments at UBC.

Table 3 breaks total funding down by institution and also indicates spending in British Columbia as a percentage of national spending from 2002-2005.

Table 3: Nanotechnology Funding in B.C. by Institution by Year

Institute 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

UBC $1,902,398.40 $5,325,352.28 $34,226,688.88 $6,816,866.20 $23,088,058.44

UVIC $3,137,540.64 $3,261,476.00 $3,024,895.20 $5,128,099.40 $13,633,584.60

SFU $1,414,750.40 $1,972,915.00 $3,932,018.00 $5,164,160.00 $23,688,625.60

Other* $3,336,000.05 $1,420,740.00 $6,356,734.96 $3,040,500.00 $4,263,515.00

Total by Year $9,790,689.49 $11,980,483.28 $47,540,337.04 $20,149,625.60 $64,673,783.64

Percentage of National Spending3 8.5% 18.21% 23.747% 22.31%

Comparison Data Unavailable

*Other includes industry research spending and business/market intelligence. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Research Survey

Figure 1: Total Funding by Institution (2002-2006)

Institute Totals Per Cent

UBC $71,359,364.20 46.3

UVIC $28,185,595.84 18.3

SFU $36,172,469.00 23.5

Other* $18,417,490.01 11.9

Total all Years $154,134,919.05 100.00*Other includes industry research spending and business/market intelligence. Source: nanotech B.C. 2007 Research Survey

3Total Government Spending on nanotechnology (Operating and Infrastructure 1998-2005), OnSa Data, 2006.

Nanotechnolog y Research and B.C.’s High Tech Sectors

The application of nanotechnology in B.C.’s industry sectors is still at a very early stage. However, researchers anticipate that a wide range of technical advances and commercial opportunities will arise from breakthroughs in their areas of investigation, and a strong level of interest in realizing practical applications exists in the region. Table 4 illustrates the range of anticipated application areas for ongoing research in the province. These examples also illustrate the cross-disciplinary nature of many investigations that are currently under way, which utilize expertise in physics, chemistry, biology or other disciplines to solve challenges in sometimes tangential fields of activity.

Table 4: Potential Applications of Nanotechnology Research in B.C.

Field Potential application ExamplesLife Sciences • Novel biosensors for low-cost genotyping and gene expression.

• Single-molecule biophysics for biosensor development.• Nanodots, biolabels, and bioimaging for improved drug delivery.• Improved drug delivery through nanoencapsulation• New drug formulations, and improved drug performance. • Micromachining for transdermal drug delivery and diagnostics.• Drug delivery via orthopaedic implants.• Novel bioactive coatings for cardiovascular stents.• Nano-sized drug carriers for intravenous, oral, and implantable drug delivery systems.• Inertial sensor cluster for navigated surgery.• Quantum-dots and gold nanoparticles for tissue imaging and for laser therapy.• Lab-on-chip devices.

Photonics • Biomaterials sensors and photoreactive polymers.• Optoelectronics devices for astronomy, security/luggage screening and for medical imaging.• Vastly improved lasers (smaller, better coherence, and brighter).• New data transportation methods based on the photon.

Energy • Studies to improve fuel cell performance and cost.• Nanoelectronics and micro fluidics for improved energy storage devices.• Improved power storage (advanced batteries).• Improved solar cells.• Portable power generation devices and micro fuel cells.

Diagnostics • Rugged/flexible displays for medical imaging.• Low-cost displays.• New optical devices for medical diagnostics and therapy applications.

Information and Communications Technology

• Single-electron transistors and quantum wires for nano circuitry or quantum computers.• High-temperature superconductors for wireless communications and quantum computing.• Novel qubit structures for quantum computing. • New materials with spintronic properties for novel transistors. • Magnetic recording using colossal ferromagnetic materials. • Improved dielectrics for supercapacitors and field-effect transistors.

Miscellaneous • Understanding spider-silk to help develop new synthetic materials.• Vaporchromic sensors (for solvents and gases).• Coating chemistry for corrosion protection.• Improved cutting tools using nanocoatings.• Improved adhesives and environmental protection coatings for wood products.• Nanoscale Hall effect magnetic sensors.• Water purification based on photocatalysis.

Source: nanotech BC 2007 Research Survey



another view of the future significance of nanotechnology research is through its linkages to six technology clusters identified as critical to the B.C. economy in 2004 through the Integrated Technology Initiative4, spearheaded by the British Columbia Technology Industries association (BCTIa). These six clusters (life sciences, environmental technologies, new media, information and communication technologies, energy technology, and wireless and telecommunications illustrated in Figure 2) draw on many of the research themes that are also central to the nanotechnology community. Stakeholders within the existing clusters should therefore recognize nanotechnology research as a crucible for the basic and applied science that will drive innovation in their industries. Overall, excellent potential exists for the academic community to support the economic development goals of the province through nanotechnology-related research.

Figure 2: Linking Nanotechnology to British Columbia’s Technology Clusters

Source: nanotechnology in British Columbia; a Survey of Resources and Capabilities, David J. Roughley, July 2004.

Infrastructure and Facilities

Scholars suggest that the nanotechnology age began in the 1970s and 1980s when scientists and engineers first achieved the means to view—then manipulate—individual atoms and molecules. Today, nanotechnology research is still strongly dependent upon leading-edge equipment and instruments that can provide scientists with tools to test their theories and further their scientific studies. Some fields such as organic chemistry and ceramics research are, by nature, less demanding of extensive and expensive suites of instrumentation and equipment. Other fields, such as high energy

4British Columbia Integrated Technology Initiative, Executive Summary, april 2006

10 British Columbia

and particle physics, are so demanding that researchers need to establish national and international collaborations to gain access to equipment. Of special interest to many nanoscientists are the availability of microfabrication facilities (know as “fabs”), which contain all the equipment necessary to manufacture silicon integrated circuits (or their equivalent in other materials). These facilities are well established in B.C.

at UVic, fab facilities exist through the Centre for advanced Materials and Related Technology—CaMTEC (see Table 5) to support the basic interests of approximately 30 nanotechnology researchers dedicated to fundamental and applied aspects of advanced materials research. CaMTEC members work in close association with one another, and with scientists and engineers from the private and public sector to ensure technological transfer to industry. The University will also be home to a new transmission electron holography suite by 2010. Many UVic scientists arrange access to more extensive facilities at UBC and SFU through collaborative projects. For example, two important types of central-facility clusters in B.C. include laser-based capabilities (for various spectroscopic techniques) and electron microscopy/atomic-force/scanning tunneling instruments.

Table 5: CAMTEC: The University of Victoria’s Nanotechnology Centre

Clean Room Class 1000 clean rooms within CAMTEC.

Fabrication Equipment Plasma cleaners, lithography equipment, microfabrication facilities, liquid phase electroepitaxyLangmuir-Blodgett trough.

Magnetic and Electronic Diagnostics Femtosecond magneto-optics and lasers, SQUID magnetometer, magneto-optical cryostat, electrochemical workstations, electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometers, resistivity/Hall effect measurement systems.

Optical and Imaging Facilities Transmission electron holography microscope (operational by 2010), optical transmission and spectroscopy equipment, atomic force microscope, TEM, SEM with EDX, room-temperature STM with high-vacuum and low-temp capabilities, magnetic force microscopy, and fluorescence microscopes.

Source: CaMTEC, Dr. Robin Hicks, Director

at UBC, the advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory (aMPEL) building houses a wide range of equipment that includes fab capabilities (see Table 6). Graduate students who are registered in one of four member departments carry out much of the research. The facility is also available to non-faculty users. Central facilities in aMPEL are managed by a small group of research engineers and research associates, with technical support from the participating departments.

11nanotechnology asset Map

Table 6: University of British Columbia Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory (AMPEL)

Clean Room The Nanofabrication Facility of AMPEL includes a class 1000 lithography room and a class 10,000 thin film room, both temperature and humidity controlled. The clean rooms are fully equipped for most micro- and nano-fabrication needs. Equipment includes wet benches, spin coaters, mask aligners, and optical diagnostics (Nomarski imaging). The facility also includes a scanning electron microscope programmed for electron beam lithography. The thin film facility includes ECR etchers, sputter coating tools, electron-beam and thermal evaporation sources, plasma-enhanced CVD tools, and rapid thermal annealing equipment. Reactive ion etching, wire bonding and a suite of thin film metrology tools are also available.

Molecular Beam Epitaxy Laboratory

Researchers use the techniques of ultrahigh vacuum surface science and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to grow epitaxial films and monitor surface phenomena at the atomic scale during thin film deposition. They have pioneered the use of diffuse light scattering for monitoring surface morphology and substrate temperature in real time, and have licensed an optical temperature measurement technology. In addition to MBE systems, the facility includes high resolution X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and high and low -energy electron diffraction.

Photonics and Nanostructures Laboratory

Fabrication is largely completed in the clean room processing facility (noted above) The PNL also has a wide range of optical instrumentation for linear and nonlinear, continuous wave and time-resolved spectroscopic analysis.

Interface Analysis and Reactivity Laboratory

The IARL has a range of equipment to analyze and study the surface properties of a very wide range of materials. Surface analysis instrumentation includes scanning auger microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, reflected electron energy loss spectroscopy, backscattered electron detection, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, auger electron spectroscopy, ion scattering spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy.

Molecular Mechatronics Laboratory

This laboratory is engaged in the synthesis, fabrication, characterization and modeling of novel materials designed from the molecular scale to optimize electrical, mechanical, chemical, and optical responses.

Spectroelectrochemical Laboratory

This laboratory is dedicated to studying surface chemistry that occurs on an electrochemical interface. These studies require the use of electrochemistry (voltammetry, impedance, chronocoulometry) and in-situ spectroscopies such as FTIR, reflectance, Raman, and fluorescence in addition to atomic force microscopy.

Quantum Materials Laboratory Uses both high-energy (resonant and magnetic X-ray scattering) and high-resolution (photoemission and electron energy loss spectroscopy, in combination with many-body theoretical modeling, to develop a microscopic description of physical properties. New synchrotron based experimental techniques (such as resonant soft X-ray scattering) are being developed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Canadian Light Source. Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy is also in use on in-house systems and at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, the Canadian Light Source, and Elettra.

Source: www.ampel.ubc.ca/facilities.htm

1� British Columbia

Simon Fraser University has recently centralized several suites of existing equipment, together with new equipment purchases, in a purpose-built facility for materials research—4D Labs—opened in 2006.

Table 7 provides an overview of the facilities at 4D Labs. as the level of nanotechnology activity increases in B.C., universities and companies will likely call for additional and shared capital equipment to meet the growing needs of both research and industry.

Table 7: Simon Fraser University, 4D Labs

Clean Room Primary site for constructing new molecular electronic, photonic and magnonic devices. It is a Class 100 facility with local Class 1 environments to allow handling of sensitive samples. It houses essential equipment including the electron beam writing facility, mask aligners, the dry etch facility, process furnaces and physical vapor deposition systems. It also contains wet processing equipment, including a unique cluster tool for multilayer construction.

Nano-Imaging Laboratory The nano-imaging laboratory provides the tools needed to look at the structures and materials created and used by 4D LABS researchers. The imaging laboratory will also be used to create and modify nano-featured devices. Equipment consists of scanning electron microscopes, scanning transmission electron microscopes and a dual beam scanning electron microscope/focused ion beam system. In addition, the facility offers a full array of scanning probe microscopies.

Solid State Crystal Growth Laboratory

This laboratory contains facilities aimed at the growth of magnetic materials and their characterization. It also includes high vacuum spectrometers for the characterization of a broad range of materials prepared by 4D LABS researchers. Specifically, it includes furnaces, a Czochralski crystal growth facility, molecular beam epitaxy systems designed for the growth of magnetic materials and photoelectron emission and low-energy electron microscopies. Additional characterization equipment includes photoelectron and Auger electron spectrometers useful in the characterization of a wide range of materials.

Laboratory for Advanced Spectroscopy andImaging Research (LASIR)

LASIR provides materials characterization facilities allowing researchers to investigate the properties of electrons in superconductors and a variety of properties related to magneto optic and nonlinear optical behaviour. Equipment includes UV and X-ray lithography sources including a femtosecond laser system. LASIR also houses a tunable nanosecond laser system, which will form the heart of the nonlinear optical characterization beam line and also be utilized in conjunction with superconducting quantum interference devices for magneto optic experiments. LASIR integrates with the 4D LABS clean room, allowing use of the lithography facilities in a continuous, clean environment.

Visiting Scientists’ Laboratory The visiting scientists’ laboratory facilitates international research collaboration by providing space for collaborators to move their research teams into the facility to work side-by-side with 4D LABS researchers on a daily basis. International collaboration is key to ensuring that Canadian researchers play an integral role in the early stages of highly competitive, fast-paced areas of research and development.

Source: Simon Fraser University 4DLabs literature.

1�nanotechnology asset Map

nanotech BC’s survey asked nanoscientists about the relative importance of key equipment classes to their research (see Table 8). as in other regions, the use of electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to evaluate samples and materials, features strongly in nanotechnology research. Other key techniques in wide use include X-ray diffraction (to study crystalline structure), optical microscopy (used during fabrication or assembly), and infrared spectroscopy (used to study molecular bonding). Mathematical modeling and simulation tools also featured prominently. Lithography techniques are an important class of fabrication methods used predominantly in “top-down” assembly processes such as microelectronics (and nanoelectronics). Individually, the techniques fell just below an arbitrary population benchmark (20 responses) but collectively electron beam lithography, ion beam lithography, nanoimprint lithography, and step-and-repeat/step-and-scan equipment collected over 60 responses, confirming their fundamental importance.

Table 8: Most Widely Used Techniques and Tools

Technique Responses*

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (SEM/STEM) 40

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) 33

X-ray diffraction (XRD) 31

Optical microscopy (NSOM) 28

Mathematical modeling/simulation tools 28

Infrared spectroscopy 27

Contact printers/mask aligners 26

Fluorescence spectroscopy/microscopy 24

UV spectrometry 23

Electrical test equipment/inspection 23

Photoresist coat/bake/developers 22

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) sputtering, evaporation, ion beam, plasma 22

X-ray spectroscopy (XPS/EDX) 21

Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) 21

Class100-1000 clean room facilities 20

*Based on the multiple-choice responses of 84 nanoscientists in B.C. to over 80 equipment categories. Source: nanotech B.C. 2007 Research Survey


Key Researchers

nanotech BC estimates that over 100 principle researchers are engaged in nanotechnology-related activities within the province. Many are assigned to the three principle universities, but other pockets of expertise also exist in application-focused centers of excellence.

Table 9 notes some selected senior researchers in the province based partially on the peer-reviewed Canada Research Chair5 program. Heads of some key scientific centers have also been included.

Table 9: Selected Key Researchers*

name/Institution Designation Research FocusJohannes Barth UBC Professor, Canada Research

Chair in Molecular Nanoscience and Engineering

The study of functional molecules and supramolecular architectures at the nanoscale. Temperature-controlled scanning tunneling microscopy. Molecular engineering of low-dimensional materials exploiting controlled self-assembly and positioning of individual molecules or nano-objects at surfaces. Novel bottom-up fabrication techniques.

Christoph Borchers

UVic Assistant Professor. Director, Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria.

Mass spectrometry, proteomics, metabolomics, iMALDI diagnostic platform. Structural proteomics. Biomarkers. Protein-ligand interactions. Systems biology. Fourier Transform mass spectrometry. Protein cross linking.

Pieter Cullis UBC Professor, Director, Centre for Drug Research and Development

Generation, loading, and targeting of lipisomal systems for intravenous delivery of conventional and generic drugs, principally in cancer treatment. Lipid nanoparticle production and drug encapsulation.

Neil Branda SFU Professor, Canada Research Chair in Materials Science, Director 4D LABS

Organic materials, molecular switches, photochromism and electrochromism, photodynamic therapy, optoelectronic devices

Andrea Damascelli

UBC Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair, Electronic Structure of Solids

Spectroscopy, linear and nonlinear optics, solid-state materials, magnetism, superconductivity. Many-body interactions, photoelectron spectroscopy (angle-resolved PES).

Sadik Dost UVic Professor, Canada Research Chair in Semiconductor Crystal Growth.

Growth of high-quality, bulk-crystal semiconductors from the liquid phase. Interest in the scientific/technical challenges of improving yield and reproducibility.

5In 2000, the Government of Canada created a new permanent program to establish 2000 research professorships—Canada Research Chairs—in universities across the country by 2008. The Canada Research Chairs Program invests $300 million a year to attract and retain some of the worlds most accomplished and promising minds. Tier 1 Chairs, tenable for seven years and renewable, are for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields. For each Tier 1 Chair, the university receives $200,000 annually for seven years. Tier 2 Chairs, tenable for five years and renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the university receives $100,000 annually for five years.


Joshua Folk UBC Assistant Professor. Canada Research Chair in the Physics of Nanostructures.

Semiconductor and molecular nanoelectronics, quantum information processing, spintronics, cryogenic techniques.

Byron Gates SFU Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Surface Chemistry

Chemical routes to creating nanostructured materials and manipulating surface chemistries. Simple approaches for the fabrication of nanostructured materials. Electronic and optoelectronic properties of nanostructures and nanostructured materials. Nanostructures as probes for imaging complex biological systems.

Robin Hicks UVic Director, University of Victoria Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology

Molecule-based magnetic materials and conjugated polymers as molecular wires.

Ross Hill SFU Executive Director, 4D Labs, Simon Fraser University

Development of new methods for thin film deposition and patterning, preparation of new materials with modulated composition and new methods for lithography. Magnetic materials, dielectric materials and amorphous materials.

John Kadla UBC Associate Professor. Canada Research Chair in Advanced Biomaterials.

Structure-property relationships of polymer blends and biomaterials. Synthesis and design of novel biomaterials. Biobased composites and nanocomposites. Lignin and cellulosic chemistry. Separation and characterization of plant biopolymers. Analytical method development for structural elucidation of wood components.

Frank Ko UBC Professor, Canada Research Chair in Advanced Fibrous Materials. Director, AMPEL, UBC.

Textile structural composites. Biomaterials and surgical implants. Nanofiber technology. Tissue engineering. Mechanics of fibrous structures. Textile structure-processing-property interaction.

Ben Koop UVic Professor, Canada Research Chair in Genomics and Molecular Biology. Director University of Victoria Centre for Biomedical Research.

Molecular evolution, genetic variation, the immune system, genetic hotspots; and the impact of these on disease, cancer, immunity and natural selection.

Hongbin Li UBC Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair in Molecular Nanoscience and Protein Engineering.

AFM related technology, protein engineering, polymer science.

Patricia Mooney SFU Professor, Canada Research Chair in Semiconductor Physics.

Defect studies in semiconductors. Origin and effects on the properties of materials and their atomic structure.

Chris Papadopoulos

UVic Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology, nanoelectronics, carbon nanotubes, molecular devices, nanofabrication. Synthesis and properties.

Steven Plotkin UBC Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Biomolecular Physics.

Theoretical biomolecular physics, applying analytical and computational tools to problems in biophysics, Protein folding. Nanopore translocation. Left-right symmetry breaking in morphogenesis.


George Sawatzky UBC Professor, Canada Research Chair in Physics and Chemistry of Nano-structured Materials. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Netherlands. Knight of the Royal Order of the Netherlands.

Condensed matter physics and chemistry. Properties of strongly interacting systems, conducting and superconducting systems. New classes of materials based on nanostructuring of common materials in thin-films or ultra-thin-films and quantum dots. Spintronics. Quantum computing.

Philip Stamp UBC Professor Condensed Matter Theory, Director Pacific Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Condensed matter theory. General field theory, statistical physics. Quantum magnetism, magnetic qubits, topological excitations, spin glasses, decoherence in magnetic system. General theory of decoherence in solid-state systems, connections to string theory. Theory of quantum Information processing and quantum glasses. Molecular magnets, quantum nanomagnetism, spintronics. Legal issues related to nanoscience.

Frank van Veggel

UVic Professor, Canada Research Chair, Supramolecular Photonic Materials

Luminescent nanoparticles for telecommunications, optical amplifiers, displays, and LEDs, Biomedical applications, optical biolabels and MRI applications. Nanoparticles based on Ln3+ ions, gallium nitride, or quantum dots.

Rizhi Wang UBC Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials.

Biomaterials, processing of polymer and ceramic composites for biomedical applications, surface modifications of biomedical implants including orthopaedic implants, nanomechanical characterization of materials.

Jeff Young UBC Associate Director, Nanoelectronics Program of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.Head Fellow of Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

Quantum electronics. Developing nano-optical devices and integrating them into semiconductor nanostructures.

* Selection based on Canada Research Chair status, and/or leadership of key departments and organizations. Source: nanotech BC, 2007

In addition to its three principal centers of academic research, B.C. is home to other world-class and national research facilities having nanotechnology interests. These include the national Research Council of Canada’s Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, the British Columbia Cancer agency’s Cancer Research Centre, TRIUMF (a world-class subatomic physics research facility), and the industry research bodies associated with forestry, wood products and paper/pulp (FPInnovations). In a number of cases, researchers hold cross-appointments between the universities and these other institutions; which results in a large number of participants

attributed to UBC in Table 10. In more detail, appendix 3 catalogues many of the province’s key researchers in nanotechnology and their fields of interest.


Table 10: Nanotechnology Researcher Clusters in B.C.

Institution number of ResearchersSimon Fraser University—Dept. of Chemistry (10)—Dept. of Physics (8)—Dept. of Engineering (3)

21

University of British Columbia—Dept. of Physics and Astronomy (12)—Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering (9)—Dept. of Chemistry (6)—Dept. of Pharmaceutical Science (2)—Dept. of Mechanical Engineering (2)—Dept. of Materials Engineering (1)—Dept. of Metals Materials Engineering (1)—Dept. of Forestry (1)—UBC Okanagan (1)

35

University of Victoria—Dept. of Chemistry (6)—Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering (2)—Dept. of Mechanical Engineering (2)—Dept. of Physics and Astronomy (2)—Dept. of Engineering (2)—Dept. of Biology and Biochemistry (1)—Dept. of Biochemistry and Microbiology (1)—Proteomics Centre (1)

17

Other Institutions—B.C. Cancer Research Centre (5)—Forintek (4)—DND (1)—UNBC (1)

11

*Based on 84 senior researchers who responded to our survey. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Research Survey.

British Columbia’s nanotechnology researchers have reported formal and informal research collaborations with more than 120 university and research institutions throughout the world, many of which are internationally-respected leaders in nanotechnology research. These collaborations are illustrated in Figure 3.

28 Carbon monoxide molecules individually positioned to form the smallest “UBC” ever using scanning tunnelling microscopy.


Figure 3: B.C. Collaborations with the World

Source; nanotechnology in British Columbia; Innovation in Platform Technologies, June 2004.

Food and Agriculture Canada, ON ICPET, ONNRC Institute for Microstructural Sciences, ONRyerson University, ONSunnybrook Hospital, ONUniversity of Guelph, ONUniversity of Toronto, ONUniversity of Waterloo, ONUniversity of Western Ontario, ONUniversity of Windsor, ONYork University, ON

Alberta Research Council, ABNINT, ABUniversity of Alberta, AB

Canadian Light Source, SKUniversity of Saskatchewan, SK

University of Manitoba, MB

Dalhousie University, NS University of New Brunswick, NB

Canadian Space Agency, QC Forintek, QCMcGill University, QCUniversity of Montreal, QCUniversity of Quebec, QCUniversity of Sherbrooke, QC

Harvard University, MABoston University, MAUniversity of Massachusetts, MAMassachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

University of Cincinnati, OHUrbana University, OH

University of California Santa Cruz, CAUniversity of California San Diego, CAStanford University, CAUniversity of California Davis, CA Livermore NL, CASSRL, CACalifornia Institute of Technology, CAUniversity of California Berkeley, CA

University of Texas, TXMD Anderson Cancer Center, TXRice University, TX

University of Colorado, CONational Renewable Energy Lab, CO

Georgia Institute of Technology, GA

Brown University, RI

Oak Ridge NL, TNVanderbilt University, TN

University of North Carolina, NCNorth Carolina State University, NC Argonne NL, WI

University of Missouri, MO

University of Tulsa, OK

Sandia NL, NM

Purdue University, IN

University Arizona, AZUniversity of Alabama, AB

Northwestern University, ILUniversity of Illinois, IL

University of Florida, FL

Cornell University, NYState University of New York, NYColumbia University, NY

University of Maine, ME

University of Brasilia, Brazil

University of Washington, WA


FZ Jülich, GermanyIFW, GermanyMax Planck Institute, Germany Technical University of Ilmenau, Germany

Technical University of Munich, GermanyUniversity of Erlangen, GermanyUniversity of Regensburg, GermanyWürzburg University, Germany

University of Namur, BelgiumUniversity of Antwerp, Belgium

Swiss Light Source, Switzerland

Elettra, Italy University of Florence, Italy

University of Genoa, Italy

University of St. Andrews, UKWorcester Polytechnic Institute, UKUniversity of Wales, UKImperial College London, UKUniversity College London, UKRutherford Appleton Laboratory, UKLondon Centre for Nanotechnology, UKUniversity of Cambridge, UK

Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

RISO NL, Denmark

Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

University of Bucharest, Romania

NTNU, Norway Technical University of Vienna, Austria

Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal

Hokkaido University, Japan Kyoto University, JapanKyushu University, JapanShizuoka University, JapanTohoku University, JapanTokyo Institute of Technology, Japan Tokyo University, Japan

Chi Nan University, Taiwan National Taiwan Normal University, TaiwanNational Taiwan University, Taiwan

Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Jiao Tung University, China

National University of Singapore, Singapore

University of Queensland, AustraliaUniversity of Sydney, Australia

University of Western Australia, AustraliaUniversity of Wollongong, Australia

Sharif University of Technology, Iran

Ben Gurion University, Israel Tel Aviv University, IsraelWeizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Boreskov Institute, Russia

University of Madrid, Spain University of Zaragoza, Spain

CEMES, FranceCNRS, France

Curie Institute, FranceNotre Dame University, France

Pasteur Institute, FranceUniversity of Bourgogne, France

University of Grenoble, FranceUniversity of Paris, France

�0 British Columbia

nanotech B.C.’s survey respondents were all university appointees holding assistant or full professorship status. non-tenured participants in nanotechnology were not included in grants and other data. But typically, professors and assistants lead teams of junior researchers and students. Table 11 reveals that in addition to the principle researchers noted in Table 10, over 400 students are currently engaged in nanotechnology research and projects creating a confirmed research population of 491. Direct grants supporting these students reached an estimated $4 million in 2006. In human resource terms, a strong student base is critical to the province as its appetite for nanotechnology exploration and exploitation grows. Several of the universities are currently discussing course options that will provide a structured foundation for students hoping to engage in nanoscience and nanotechnology-related pursuits in the future.

Table 11: Students Engaged in Nanotechnology Research* (2006)

Institution Category UBC SFU UVic Other Total

Undergraduates 50 29 8 8 95

Masters 48 29 23 5 105

Doctorates 70 34 23 13 140

Post doctoral 29 19 11 8 67

Total 197 111 65 34 407

*Based on reports of 84 senior researchers in early 2007. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Research Survey

Technolog y Transfer and IP Activities

The province’s first systematic review of nanotechnology resources and capabilities6 in 2004, indicated that the receptor capacity amongst established larger B.C. companies was relatively limited. Even so, researchers had already established a surprisingly large number of formal and informal relationships with companies that might be considered “traditional high tech”—many outside the province—revealing that latent opportunity existed for the potential of nanotechnology-related advances in established industry sectors and enterprises.

Scattering of surface state electrons on self assembled porphyrin structures on a Cu(11) surface.

6nanotechnology in British Columbia; a Survey of Resources and Capabilities, David J. Roughley, July 2004

�1nanotechnology asset Map

Table 12 lists companies that B.C.’s researchers have already identified as partners or potential partners in applying their work7. It is clear that the research community is well connected to high-tech companies in the province with 37 reported collaborations, 15 further collaborations with other Canadian enterprises, 14 collaborations with other (non-Canadian) north american companies and 7 further collaborations in Europe and asia. at this stage, the focus of B.C. researchers appears to be predominantly on local start-ups with some connections to larger international organizations. However, many researchers have reported interest in exploring wider scientific and contract research/application relationships with commercial partners at home and abroad.

Table 12: B.C. Nanotechnology Researchers’ Industrial Collaborators

British Columbia Canada north america Intercontinental

• Amistar Research Inc.• Angiotech* • Angstrom Power* • Ballard* • Carmanah Technologies • Celator* • CTF Systems • DL Crystals• D-Wave* • Epod Inc.• Firebird Technologies • Forbes Medi-Tech• Global Hydrofuel

Technologies • Honeywell Electronics

Materials• Inex Pharmaceuticals* • Innovative Bioceramix* • Kelsan Technologies• Kennametal• Kodak• LED Medical Inc. • LED Dental • Lumerical Solutions Inc• Mingtech• MIV Therapeutics* • Napier Environmental

Technologies • Northern Lipids, Inc.* • Perceptronix Medical Inc. • PMC Sierra• Protiva*• QLT *• Redlan Crystals• SST Wireless• Sweet Power, Inc.* • Tekion*• Tekmira Pharmaceuticals • Tidal Photonics • Zecotek Medical Systems

• Alberta Research Council• Atomic Energy of Canada• Biomedical Photometrics • Deloro • Epichem Inc. • Hewlett-Packard

Research • Ignis Innovation Inc• Imperial Oil• Merck-Frosst Canada• Nortel • Ontario Hydro • Perkin-Elmer

Optoelectronics• Canadian Gold Industry • Xerox Research Centre• 5 N Plus Inc.

• Agilent Technologies• Alpha Innotech • Brain Insights • DuPont • Eastman Kodak, • GE Global Research• Hoechst Celanese• IBM Research• Intel• Lockheed Martin• Merk Remicalm LLC• National Renewable

Energy Lab• PPG• Ocean NanoTech

• Advance Nanotech Inc. • CNRS • Hitachi Advanced

Research Laboratory• Mauna Kea • Qimonda• Toyota R&D

* These companies are nanotechnology receptor/developer companies. See Table 15. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Research Survey7It is important to note that whilst many of these interactions are expected to have nanotechnology aspects, researchers do not usually constrain their activities to nanotechnology alone.

�� British Columbia

8T-net; Technology Futures. a Better Model for Commercializing IP and How You Too Can Cash In! Michael Volker, June 13 2005

a number of interesting companies have emerged from activities at B.C. universities (Table 16 reports 7 university spin-offs from 19 responding companies in nanotech BC’s 2007 industry survey). Celator Pharmaceuticals, D-Wave, northwest Mettech, and Tekion are examples. Two newly formed start-ups from SFU are activPixel and Switch Technologies—both initiated by nanotechnology researchers as incubators for their inventions. another example incubator formed by UBC nanotechnology researchers is Boreal Bioengineering. Since researchers work in a variety of fields, not all of their patent activities can be automatically attributed to nanotechnology. and at this stage these incubators do not specifically apply nanotechnology research, though the potential is high that they may do so in the future. In terms of the emerging industrial nanotechnology community in B.C., Table 12 includes 13 companies identified in nanotech BC’s target group of 26 nanotechnology receptor/developer companies (see Table 15 for a more complete listing), indicating that 50 per cent of known nanotechnology adopters are already linked to academic resources in the province. at least five receptor/adopter companies (19 per cent) also have academic collaborations with institutions outside of British Columbia, indicating that an appetite exists to develop key research relationships regardless of the location of the expertise.

Intellectual property (IP) activities in the province have not been systematically investigated at this stage. From the academic side, some nanotechnology researchers have generated patents in their respective fields of endeavor. Table 13 summarizes this information based on the IP databases of the principal universities. nanotech BC estimates that around 50 per cent of these patents will have nanotechnology implications. So far, few have been licensed so the significance of these discoveries cannot yet be fully assessed. One exception is QLT Inc.— a life sciences company. The bulk of the UBC’s $13 million annual royalty income reportedly8 stems from a licensing agreement with QLT—a spin-off enterprise created in 1981, and classified in this report as a nanotechnology receptor/developer (see Table 15).

Table 13: Academic IP Assessment on Nanoscientists in B.C.*

Institution Invention Disclosures

PCT applications

US Patents IP Licenses

UBC 157 30 18 8

SFU 79 27 12 3

UVIC 22 2 8 0

Total 258 59 38 11

*Invention disclosures; items noted by researchers to university patents agencies. not all universities require disclosure. not all disclosures currently active. PCT applications; the Patent Cooperation Treaty or PCT is an international agreement for filing patent applications having effect in up to 117 countries. US Patents; includes issued and provisional U.S. patents. IP Licenses; licenses granted by university intellectual property agencies. not all universities have sole rights to researchers IP. Researchers’ former institutions hold some rights. Source: University intellectual property offices, 2007.

��nanotechnology asset Map

9Canadian Industrial Capacity to absorb nanotechnology—Final Report: 31 October 2005, Roughley, Jones, Cruickshank10according to Lux Research; The nanotech Intellectual Property Landscape, March 2005 (including data up to 2004).11Source: nanotechnology Patenting in the USa: Marinova and Mcaleer, July 2002. This patents review considered foreign-owned US patents in nanotechnology.

Potential collaborators with B.C.’s universities should note that IP treatment is not uniform throughout the province. Whilst UBC follows the United States’ model of the university owning all IP generated by its researchers, SFU has adopted a researcher-ownership model.

The University of Victoria operates an intermediate model whereby researchers retain IP ownership, but are encouraged to work with the university to commercialize their inventions through a 20 per cent royalty clause if patents are independently developed. These alternative models significantly change the dynamics of commercial adoption from the point-of-view of potential partners, collaborators and licensees.

From the industrial application point-of-view, while most industrial participants in the nanotech BC 2007 survey have patents pending or awarded to defend their business interests, the nanotechnology components frequently remain unclear without dedicated exploration. Preliminary database searches9 from other studies confirmed four B.C. companies with patents on the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)

database. But, more recent anecdotal and direct-survey data suggests that this source grossly underestimates current patent and IP activity in the province, which is increasing. For example, D-Wave has built a substantial patent portfolio around its quantum computing business. another company—Pavac Industries—has patented unique e-beam technology that undoubtedly has nanotechnology applications, yet it is not registered as such on any known database. Over 20 of B.C.’s nanotechnology receptor/developer companies are estimated to hold, or have applied for patents.

The most significant patent database (the U.S. patent databases) reportedly contained 19,485 nanotechnology claims and 1,084 patents10 in 2004. Other studies undertaken in australia11 identified at least 1249 Canadian-owned U.S. patent registrations in nanotechnology (Table 14). Definitions again present a hurdle to analysts, but by comparing these reports with nanotech BC’s estimates, one might reasonably estimate that upwards of 100 nanotechnology-related patents and claims can be attributed to B.C. organizations (universities, government agencies and private companies combined) at this time. The TSI index in Table 14 refers to the technology specialization index, which indicates an existing specialization and local importance of nanotechnology. Interestingly, this index is especially high for France, Canada, Britain and australia.


12Small Technology in B.C. and Western Canada—an Emerging Industrial Sector. M. alldritt and D. Frew. March 2003.

Table 14: US Nano Patents by Country 1975-2000 (at March 2002)

Country P TSI PS RaP

Japan 3,856 0.51 9.05 0.97

France 1,187 1.42 4.26 0.85

Germany 1,524 0.50 3.57 0.74

Canada 1,249 1.33 2.93 0.48

Great Britain 603 1.37 1.41 0.55

Switzerland 502 0.83 1.18 0.55

The Netherlands 384 0.89 0.90 0.59

Italy 334 0.62 0.78 0.66

Australia 313 1.38 0.73 0.75

Taiwan (China) 253 0.40 0.59 0.88

Sweden 179 0.44 0.42 0.70

Korea 175 0.44 0.41 0.81

Mean 880 0.84 2.19 0.71

Source: Nanotechnology Patenting in the USA: Marinova and McAleer, July 2002

Industrial Base

Early studies12 of industrial nanotechnology enterprises in B.C. showed that only a few companies identified themselves as working in the field of nanotechnology. Examples of B.C.’s “foundation” nano companies include D-Wave Systems (quantum computing), JGKB Photonics (a miniature optical components company now developing components in its Versawave division) and northwest Mettech (developing microcoatings and nanocoatings). In just a few years the profile of all of these companies has evolved and they have been joined by a number of other promising enterprises in the region (Table 15). In general terms, identifying nanotechnology companies is challenging because nanotechnology as a business or technology enabler is not uniformly articulated throughout industry. The application of nanotechnology may be strategic in nature (therefore companies are unwilling to publicly discuss it), may comprise a small element of a large system or process, or may be integrated into products or services without full recognition of its role as a value- or performance-enhancer. Some companies are keen to identify nanotechnology aspects for marketing purposes (sometimes using the term loosely) whilst others avoid any association with nanotechnology (even though it may be present), fearing consumer or regulatory consequences that may potentially arise. These general issues also apply to B.C.’s nanotechnology companies. nanotech BC’s 2007 industry survey found that while 50 per cent of respondent companies saw nanotechnology being relevant to only a few areas of interest, the remaining 50 per cent viewed nanotechnology as being far more significant. In terms of nanotechnology adoption 39 per cent of respondents indicated that nanotechnology was a new field of development, 22 per cent had been introducing nanotechnology for several years, and 33 per cent considered themselves as always having been users or developers of nanotechnology.


Table 15: Nanotechnology Receptor/Developer Companies in B.C.*

Company name activities Website

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Drug coated implants www.angiotech.com

Angstrom Power Micro fuel cells www.angstrompower.com

Aurora Nanodevices Calibration systems for atomic force microscopy imaging

www.aurorand.com

Ballard Power Systems PEM fuel cells www.ballard.com

CANTEST Analytical testing services www.cantest.com

Celator Pharmaceuticals Nanomedicine delivery systems www.celator.ca

D-Wave Systems Quantum computing www.dwavesys.com

iCell Therapeutics Nanoparticles that mimic LDL for drug delivery www.icelltherapeutics.com

Inex Pharmaceuticals Lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery www.inexpharm.com

Innovative Bioceramix Dental and orthopaedic applications www.ibioceramix.com

IQ Materials Smart ink product tagging www.iqmaterials.com

MIVI Technologies Biocompatible coatings for medical devices www.mivtherapeutics.com

Neuromed Pharmaceuticals Small–molecule drug development www.neuromed.com

Northern Lipids, Inc. Lipid-based drug delivery systems www.northernlipids.com

Northwest Mettech Nanopowders and coatings using plasma spray technology

www.mettech.com

Padtech Industries Ltd. Electromechanical components using MEMS www.padtech.com

Palcan Fuel Cells Ltd. PEM fuel cells and hydrogen storage technologies www.palcan.com

Pavac Industries High-power electron beam technology, with laser-driven beam control

www.pavac.com

Protox Therapeutics Protein engineering for cancer treatment www.protoxtherapeutics.com

Protiva Hollow lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery www.protivabio.com

QuestAir Technologies Gas purification technologies www.questairinc.com

QLT Photon-activated nano drug delivery systems www.qltinc.com

Sweet Power In vivo glucose fuel cell to power medical devices www.sweetpower.com

Tekion Inc. Advanced battery and micro fuel cell technologies

www.tekion.com

Versawave Optical telecom components design www.versawave.com

Zymeworks Enzyme design for pharmaceutical industrial applications

www.zymeworks.com

* not all the companies in this list have confirmed nanotechnology products or processes. Selection is based on public sources, interviews, and targeted research. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Industry Survey


Figure 4 includes brief profiles of several receptors and developers in the province, which illustrate the range of commercially focused activities to date. Many other potential nanotechnology user and developer companies remain to be identified. The burgeoning industrial nanotechnology base in B.C. is predominantly composed of start-up companies or university spin-offs that are still in the process of developing products or markets with an export focus. Many of these companies are also principally venture-backed or privately funded, and have been in existence for at least two years (see Table 16, Table 17, and Table 18).

Table 16: Age and Origins

# of responses

5-15 years old 7

2-5 years old 5

Less than 2 years old 3

# of responses

University spin-off 7

Corporate spin-off/subsidiary 2

Other 2

Cumulative responses to single-choice questions. Total 19 respondents. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Industry Survey.

Table 17: Financial Status

# of responses

Principally venture-funded 5

Public company 3

Other 2

Cumulative responses to multiple-choice questions. Total 19 respondents. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Industry Survey.

Table 18: Market Focus

# of responses

Still developing products/markets 11

Principally exporters 9

Principally supplying domestic markets 2

Other 3

Cumulative responses to multiple-choice question. Total 19 respondents. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Industry Survey.


Figure 4: Some British Columbia Success Storiesaurora nanodevices — Aurora is a small startup organization started in 2001 and originally based in Edmonton. Aurora supplies high quality calibration systems (Tipcheck and Nioprobe AFM products) for atomic force microscopy imaging. Aurora’s systems are supplied to global equipment vendors and are now found in hundreds of scanning probe microscopes through North American, Europe and Japan.

Celator—Celator is developing new treatments for cancer using proprietary technology that recognizes and controls the critical role of drug ratios in combination chemotherapies. The company has a wide range of product development opportunities based on a portfolio of delivery technologies including liposomes, polymers and nanotechnologies.

D-Wave—D-Wave was spun out of the University of British Columbia in 1999 to commercialize superconductor-based, quantum computer processors. Quantum computers use quantum mechanics to accelerate computation. D-Wave exploits superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID) microtechnology—widely used to sense tiny magnetic fields in other applications—to achieve quantum computation. In February 2007, D-Wave unveiled and demonstrated this technology publicly for the first time and plans to deliver field-deployable systems in 2008.

northwest Mettech—This Vancouver-based company was founded in 1990 as a University of British Columbia spinout. It has developed a patented axial plasma spray technology. Until recently it was principally an equipment producer and has sold over 40 systems. In 2003 the company started development of its nanomaterials business, applying equipment and process know-how to the supply of production quantities of nanopowders. The company is now negotiating nanopowder license agreements with ITRI—the Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan. Other areas of development include photocatalytic nanoparticles, slurry injection systems and solid oxide fuel cell coatings and materials.

Palcan Fuel Cells Ltd.—Palcan is a small Vancouver start-up focused on PEM fuel cell solutions for remote and portable applications. Micro distribution and micro generation technologies are under development. Nanotechnology potentially impacts the company’s activities through the development of improved membranes, sensor technologies for control and monitoring functions and hydrogen sequestration technologies.

PaVaC Industries—Pavac has developed a patented electron beam technology that uses laser-initiated emission to achieve unprecedented control over beam power and delivery. Many applications exist for the technology, from precision joining of “impossible-to-weld” materials to the formation of nanocompositional coatings and environmental treatments for flue gases. Programmable precision rapid manufacturing technologies using very fine powders are also under development. The company manufacturers systems and is undertaking custom manufacturing activities with the Canadian subatomic physics research laboratory TRIUMF.

Sweet Power—Sweet Power Is a Vancouver Island-based enterprise which has developed a reliable glucose fuel cell to power implantable medical devices using glucose in human blood. The proof-of-concept has been tested by NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, and is self-sustaining. The medical devices may be used for various applications such as blood glucose monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, delivery of insulin and other drugs. Products and fuel sources are biocompatible and silicon-based architecture enables easy integration with MEMS devices. Patents are pending.

Tekion—Tekion, Inc. is a North American company with operations in Champaign, Illinois and Burnaby, British Columbia. By integrating advanced battery technology with a unique micro fuel cell technology, Tekion is creating a new “personal power source” based on formic acid. Devices are capable of fitting inside a wide range of mobile devices. Tekion originally acquired its technology from the University of Illinois. Patents are pending.

Zymeworks—Zymeworks started business in 2004. It combines high performance computing with proprietary molecular simulation software to research and develop industrial enzymes. Zymeworks’ core business focus is to develop a pipeline of enabling industrial enzymes for bioprocessing and bio-product manufacturing. This is accomplished through internal research and development, and strategic partnerships with established companies in the field. The company modifies enzymes at the molecular and nano level.Source: nanotech BC 2007


Table 19 identifies principle areas of nanotechnology activity by B.C. companies. By comparison with Table 1 it is possible to compare industry and research focus. So far, few receptor companies have been identified for molecular devices research (although several host enterprises are in the early stages of formation). nanoelectronics and nanophotonics expertise in the universities also appears to lack a local receptor community. Other areas such as nanochemistry and bionanotechnology appear to be fairly well matched. It is also hoped that a recent increase in MEMS research capacity in the province will support expansion of industrial development in this area in the next few years. Returning to the theme of B.C.’s high-tech clusters (see nanotechnology applications and B.C.’s High Tech Sectors, Figure 2) currently two-thirds of respondent companies’ activities focus on the Life Sciences and Energy Technologies areas.

Table 19: Nanotechnology Industry Focus in B.C.

Topics (example applications are shown) number of responses*

Molecular Devices. Molecular switches/sensors, molecular electronics, CNTs. (Organic and inorganic materials are included).

1

Nanochemistry. Electrochemistry, microfuel cells, catalysis, ceramics, surface science, nanoparticles, membranes.

9

Nanoelectronics. Silicon, exotic semiconductors, quantum dots, single-electron devices, nanomagnetics, spintronics, quantum computing, high temperature superconductors. (Mainly inorganic electronic materials).

4

Nanophotonics. Optoelectronics, LEDs, solar cells, nanooptical effects in materials, imaging arrays, liquid crystals.

2

Diagnostics. The development or provision of imaging, microscopy, spectroscopy, analysis and manipulation capabilities for nanoscience.

5

Bionanotechnology. Biolabelling, biosensors, DNA/RNA studies, proteins and proteomics, genomics, pharmaceuticals, drug-delivery and medical imaging.

6

Micromachining/MEMS. MEMS, microfluidics, microtransducers, microarrays 5

Other Areas. Simulation/modeling, additive manufacturing and coatings. 2

*Based on the multiple-choice responses of 19 receptor/developer companies in B.C. a total of 34 choices were recorded. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Industry Survey.

One unique attribute of nanotechnology as a platform technology is that it can enter the technology development and adoption cycle at many different points and in many different forms; from the incremental improvement of existing processes to a disruptive technology or system. In other words, nanotechnology innovations are accessible to enterprises at all stages of their development. Table 20 shows that industrial capability in B.C. is building mainly on

the basis of product enhancement and demonstration products. Some nanomaterials suppliers and equipment developers are also becoming established in the province.


Table 20: How British Columbia Companies Use Nanotechnology

Product EnhancementNanotechnology-based materials, tools, expertise, processes, or products, are used to enhance companies products or business.

12

Nanomaterials SupplierNanomaterial developers/manufacturers/suppliers (for example, supplying nanoparticles, nanotubes and so on).

3

Tools and Equipment DeveloperNanotechnology tool developers/manufacturers/suppliers (for example, microscopy, lithography, and imaging systems).

3

Expertise and ServicesNanotechnology-based expertise to enhance other companies’ products or business (contract research, consulting, or industry/technology specialists).

1

Based on the single-choice responses of 19 receptor/developer companies. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Industry Survey.

Opportunities

Many opportunities exist for researchers to expand their networks. as noted in Table 21, 43 per cent of respondents seek research collaborations, and 15 per cent seek partnerships aimed at application development. This represents a substantial opportunity for those wishing to initiate a nanotechnology relationship in B.C. Overseas and out-of-province organizations particularly can also take advantage of this latent capacity. Table 22 notes some topics where researchers believe they have unique capabilities to offer potential collaborators, partners, investors or developers. British Columbia’s nanotechnology receptor/developer community is also seeking collaborators with whom to explore applications of interest from the research level, through to full commercialization (Table 23).

Table 21: What B.C. Researchers Are Seeking

areas of Interest ResponsesResearch collaborations/partnerships 36

Industrial collaborations to explore potential applications 34

Partnerships or joint ventures to commercialize a defined application 13

Investment partners 12

Funds to attract more staff/students 9

Other 9

*Based on multiple-choice responses of 84 senior researchers in early 2007. Total 114 responses. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Research Survey


Some key capabilities that companies in the province offer include innovative approaches to renewable energy initiatives, advanced spectrometry-based solutions for analysis at the nano level, thin-film profiling expertise, nanoparticle manufacturing expertise, gas separation and purification systems, low-signal sensor applications, and photonics and microwave design and test equipment.

Overall, the B.C. nanotechnology community is poised to launch its academic and industrial muscle into development efforts, yet remains flexible and open to explore new relationships that can benefit all parties. Further expansions of industrial activity would be viewed as beneficial to the academic community and the provincial economy.

Table 22: What B.C. Researchers Offer

a Selection of Expertise and Specialization• Expertise in enhanced spectroscopy and plasmonics • Novel technologies for rapid DNA identification• MEMS, microfluidics, nanofluidics, and biomedical microdevices and systems.• MBE facilities and nano-magnetic testing facilities• Speciality in designer nanomaterials• Carbon nanotube growth and characterization facilities.• Highly birefringent materials • Expertise in synchrotron radiation techniques• Designing, fabricating and modeling polymer devices for energy storage actuation • Nanotransistor modeling• Bio-based polymers and materials• New oral lipid-based drug delivery systems • Forest industry related research• World-class capabilities in theory and modeling • Nanoindentation testing• State-of-the-art crystal growth knowledge • Broad base and diverse repertoire of computational tools and facilities. • FDA approved nano-dispersed phosphosilicate cement • Nanofabrication and nanodevices• Sensor and actuator design, microinstrumentation systems design• High-speed pulsed laser system• Single-molecule manipulation and protein engineering• UV protection and decay resistance of wood • Biomedical devices and device packaging• Optical tissue imaging, and imaging nanoparticles in cells and tissues• New optical nanomaterials, for integrated optics.

Source: nanotech BC 2007 Research Survey


Table 23: What B.C. Companies* Are Seeking

areas of InterestResearch collaborations/partnerships 8

Industrial collaborations to explore potential applications 10

Partnerships or joint ventures to commercialize a defined application 6

Investment partners 6

Other 3

*Based on multiple-choice responses of 19 nanotechnology receptor/developer companies in early 2007. Total 33 responses. Source: nanotech BC 2007 Research Survey.

Contacts

Organization Phone URL4D Labs, Simon Fraser University 604-291-3594 www.4dlabs.ca

Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory (AMPEL), UBC 604-822-4543 www.ampel.ubc.ca

B.C. Cancer Agency Cancer Research Centre 604-675-8040 www.bccrc.ca

B.C. Ministry of Economic Development 250-952-0612 www.investbc.com

Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology at the University of Victoria (CAMTEC)

250-721-8821 www.camtec.uvic.ca

Centre for Drug Research and Development 604-222-3604 www.cdrd.ca

Nanotech B.C. 604-602-5260 www.nanotechbc.ca

Simon Fraser University Office of the Vice-President Research 604-291-4152 www.sfu.ca/vpresearch/

National Research Council Industrial Assistance Program 604 222 5728 irap-pari.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

University of British Columbia University-Industry Liaison Office 604-822-8580 www.uilo.ubc.ca

University of Victoria Office of the Vice-President Research 250-721-7973 www.research.uvic.ca

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Todd Tessier, Director of International Capital Markets, B.C. Ministry of Economic Development, and Matthew Brown, Senior Project Manager, Investor Services, B.C. Ministry of Economic Development for their financial support of this study. Special thanks also goes to the project team; alan Guest, Executive Director, nanotech BC; aaron Cruikshank, Principal, Friuch Consulting; Philip Carr, Canada Connects; Stephanie Frolek, administration nanotech BC. Many other individual contributors also provided input and assistance in the preparation of this report including: Sam abraham, Director Technology Development, BC Cancer agency; Gary albach, Chairman, northwest Mettech Corp.; Mike alldritt, Industrial Technology advisor, nRC-IRaP; Ken armour, Director, Research and Innovation Branch, British


Columbia Ministry of advanced Education; Max Blouw, Vice President Research, University of northern British Columbia; neil Branda, Director, 4D Labs, Simon Fraser University; Caroline Bruce, associate Director, International Business Development, University of British Columbia; Lukas Chrostowski, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia; andrea Damascelli, Department of Physics and astronomy, University of British Columbia; alan Potter, Executive Director, Forest Research Opportunity B.C., Forintek Canada Corp.; Chris Erickson, Partner, Pangaea Ventures Ltd.; Kevin Fitzgibbons, Executive Director, Office of the national Science advisor; Philip Gardener, Technology Transfer Division, Tri-University Meson Facility (TRIUMF); Ian Hartley, College of Science and Management, University of northern British Columbia; John Hepburn, Vice-President, Research, University of British Columbia; Robin Hicks, Director, CaMTEC, University of Victoria; Harold Hume, Research Project Officer, Office of Research, University of northern British Columbia; Sue Kingsley, President, International BioPharma Solutions Ltd.; Frank Ko, Director, aMPEL, University of British Columbia; Victor Ling, Vice President of Research, BC Cancer agency; angus Livingstone, Managing Director, University of British Columbia University-Industry Liaison Office; Francis Loaisiga-Ramirez, Technology Centre, British Columbia Institute of Technology; John Lorenz, Industry Canada, Pacific Region; Ellen Loosley, Director, Office of Research Services, Simon Fraser University; andre Marziali, Director of Engineering Physics, University of British Columbia; Christine Massey, Director, Policy and Research, University Presidents Council; Melanie Monk, Executive Secretary to the Vice-President, Research, Simon Fraser University; alireza nojeh, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia; Pauline O’neill, Research awards and Communications Manager, UILO, Simon Fraser University; Susan O’Reilly, Vice President Cancer Care, BC Cancer agency; Marcello Pavan, Outreach Coordinator, Tri-University Meson Facility (TRIUMF); Tom Pfeifer, Centre for Drug Research and Development; Mario Pinto, Vice-President, Research, Simon Fraser University; Connie Marczyk, Education Officer, British Columbia Ministry of advanced Education; Patrick Rebstein, British Columbia Cancer agency; Brymor Rees, Life Sciences, UILO, University of British Columbia; Lindsay Roach, Technology Transfer Manager, Innovation and Development Corp., University of Victoria; George Sawatzky, Former Director of aMPEL, University of British Columbia; Bruce Schmidt, Corporate Secretary, Genome BC; Simon Sutcliffe, President and CEO, BC Cancer agency; Martin Taylor, Vice-President of Research, University of Victoria; Melanie Toner, Health Research Project Officer, University of northern British Columbia; Frank van Veggel, Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria; Mike Volker, Director, University Industry Liaison Office, Simon Fraser University; Tim Walzak, President and CEO, Innovation and Development Corporation, University of Victoria; Rick Warner, Manager, nSERC-Pacific; Kishor M. Wasan, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia; Yoga Yogendran, Director, Technology Deployment and Commercialization, nRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation.

Finally, special thanks go to British Columbia’s nanotechnology research community and to the commercial enterprises that contributed their valuable time and thought to our surveys. They provided much of the data presented in this report.

Photo Credits: accelrys’ Materials Studio®, aMPEL, UBC, Barth Images

David J. Roughley

Principal, Technology and Industry

nanotech BC March 2007


Notes

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Appendix 1

Nanotechnology Resources in B.C.

Research Centers in British Columbia with Nanotechnology Interests

Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory (AMPEL)

aMPEL is an interdisciplinary material science building at the University of British Columbia containing fabrication equipment, diagnostics and analysis, clean rooms, and a nanolab. It has been in existence for over 12 years. The laboratory has 36 principal researchers but many more use the facilities in aMPEL from the Departments of Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Metals and Materials Engineering, and Physics and astronomy, with smaller activities belonging to Chemical Engineering and Dentistry.

BC Cancer Agency

The BC Cancer agency provides a province-wide, population-based cancer control program for the residents of British Columbia and the Yukon. The BC Cancer Foundation provides funding for the research centre. Leading cancer researchers work with clinicians, scientists, research technicians, post-graduate students and dedicated support staff to discover what causes cancer, ways to improve treatment and how to develop more effective means of controlling and curing the disease. The BC Cancer agency is recognized internationally for excellence in research resulting in new treatment protocols and the development of leading-edge technology. The BC Cancer agency’s Research Centre is building upon this history of outstanding research effort with many new research activities directed to unlocking the mystery of cancer. Several key researchers are exploring the application of nanoscience and nanotechnology to cancer detection and treatment.

Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC)

CaMTEC coordinates related research among the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics and astronomy, and Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria and has 29 principal research members. CaMTEC’s objectives are to carry out fundamental and applied research in advanced materials, to train technical and academic personnel in these areas and to disseminate the knowledge gained from the research through scientific publications, conferences, workshops and seminars.


Centre for Research in Electronic Materials (�D Labs)

Simon Fraser University’s Department of Chemistry is home to the new Centre for Research in Electronic Materials now called 4D Labs. 4D Labs is a research centre focused on the design, synthesis and characterization of new materials for information and communications technology applications, with a specific emphasis on the development and demonstration of molecular electronic devices, photonics and magnonics.

Institute for Micromachine and Microfabrication Research (IMMR)

IMMR was established at Simon Fraser University in 1993. Its goal is to enhance micromachining research and development and to encourage the application of research results in the design and fabrication of miniature sensors and actuators. IMMR’s resources have now been integrated into the new 4D Labs building.

Laboratory for Advanced Spectroscopy and Imaging Research (LASIR)

Together with the University of British Columbia, the state-of-the-art LaSIR suite will be established at Simon Fraser University’s Department of Chemistry. LaSIR is a centre where groundbreaking research in the development of new advanced materials, environmental science, laser spectroscopy and imaging, and chemical and biological catalysis will take place. The laser suite accesses the new clean room facilities of 4D Labs permitting unique experimental facilities for work on delicate or sensitive nanostructures and materials.

NRC

national Research Council of Canada has several important programs and centers in the province, which contribute to the region’s nanotechnology base. These include the Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (ICFI), which is located on the University of British Columbia campus. The IRaP program is also a first responder program for start-ups and SMEs, and has already provided substantial support to some of the region’s nanotechnology seed companies. Several individuals within nRC’s IRaP program have been strong supporters of nanotechnology initiatives and continue to promote industry-academic liaison.


Optical Systems and Technology Laboratory (OSTL)

OSTL is a University of Victoria laboratory that focuses on building innovative optical systems, advancing optical device technologies, and bridging novel approaches to real applications. The research laboratory is under the direction of faculty members Dr. T. E. Darcie (Canada Research Chair) and Dr. R. Gordon.

Pacific Centre for Advanced Materials and Microstructures (PCAMM)

PCaMM is a collaborative initiative principally between the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. It provides surface analysis, materials characterization, and custom thin film growth for a wide variety of clients, both from within the two universities and from other universities as well as from industry and government. State of the art capabilities are available for thin film growth and for a number of different surface analysis and other materials characterization techniques. The centre has 10 principle research members and links to over a dozen commercial partners and collaborators.

Pacific Institute of Theoretical Physics (PITP)

PITP fosters activity in all branches of theoretical physics, and in related areas of theoretical science. The institute’s activities are organized by collaborative research teams (CRTs). In addition to their research activities, these teams also organize conferences, workshops, schools, and seminar series. The institute has 30 research members in residence with over 80 collaborators worldwide. There are currently four operating CRTs in quantum condensed matter, strings and particles, gravity and cosmology and biophysics.

TRIUMF

TRIUMF is a world-class subatomic physics research laboratory located on the campus of the University of British Columbia, a twenty-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. TRIUMF is one of three subatomic research facilities in the world that specialize in producing extremely intense beams of particles. The heart of the facility is the world’s biggest cyclotron, which is used to accelerate 1000 trillion particles each second. This center engages researchers who are exploring basic materials science with relevance to nanotechnology and nanoscience.


Industry Organizations and Funding Bodies in British Columbia with Nanotechnology Interests

The British Columbia Nanotechnology Alliance

The British Columbia nanotechnology alliance (nanotech BC) was incorporated in april 2006 following several years of exploratory work by a multi-organizational steering committee comprising academic, government and industry participants. It has been formed to promote the development of nanotechnology in the province and to represent B.C.’s interests globally and in the evolving national strategy for Canada. Its vision is that British Columbia’s excellence in nanotechnology research, development and industrial applications earns international recognition and contributes significantly to the wealth of the province. Various studies on nanotechnology research capacity in Canada and the industrial take-up of nanotechnology are contributing to development of a national strategy. Currently, nanotech BC is engaged in a major outreach program bringing together scientific and industry groups with common areas of interest.

FPInnovations

The forestry, wood products and paper and pulp industries are extremely important in B.C. and the relevant industry organizations have already begun to explore the opportunities for the exploitation of nanotechnology in a renewed industry vision. Significant expertise is building in the applications laboratories of these agencies, which will be more potent as the three sectors are now preparing to gather their research resources under a single organization and mission.

Nanomed Canada

nanomed Canada is a virtual network for researchers to facilitate collaborative projects and funding applications by researchers and institutions across the country, operated from Vancouver. It intends to provide a highly interactive networking website, rich in features which benefit the research community. The core of the service is the interactive website now at the design phase and its initial focus is to bring novel molecular and nano materials from the chemistry lab to clinical and commercial applications. It already has individual and institutional members from across the country and intends to serve as a backbone for creation of networks for subsets of the broad researcher communities. It is intended that nanotech BC would provide the administration services for the network, and that governance would include a scientific advisory board. Once operating in the health and clinical services environment, the essential technology for the network would be available for other research communities.


CIHR

The CIHR, or Canadian Institutes of Health Research, is an affiliation of 13 institutes, which serve as the major federal funding agency for health research. The objective of the CIHR is to support the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians. The CIHR has recently launched a strategic initiative in regenerative medicine and nanomedicine, which aims to stimulate the renewal of bodily tissues or the restoration of function through the use of natural or bioengineered materials. This includes a focus on nanomedicine, for which nanotechnology is applied in order to obtain a basic understanding, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

CIAR

The Canadian Institute for advanced Research (CIaR) was founded in 1982. Its administrative office is in Toronto, but essentially it is a research institution that is not contained within walls. The Institute brings Canada’s best researchers together with an international network of their peers, by funding people as opposed to equipment or facilities. It provides researchers with the means to meet, interact, and collaborate on a regular basis with peers from across the country and around the world. In some cases, CIaR buys teaching-release time for them from their universities so that they may devote more time to research. CIaR has a nanoelectronics and photonics program funded at approximately $1 million p.a.

Genome BC

Genome BC is one of six regional organizations formed by the Board of Genome Canada, which was created in 2000 by the federal government as part of an integrated strategy to enable Canada to become a world leader in carefully selected areas of genomics research. It has brought a focus to B.C. set out in its objectives to establish an internationally competitive genomics cluster and to enable B.C. to become a world leader in strategic areas of genomics research. It brings professional project management to large-scale genomics projects, provides funding for strategic genomics initiatives across areas of agriculture, aquaculture, environment, forestry and human health.


LifeSciences BC

LifeSciences BC supports and represents the biotechnology community of B.C. through leadership, advocacy, promotion of the province’s world-class science and biotechnology industry, and via facilitation of partnering and investment into British Columbia’s biotechnology sector. LifeSciences BC is a not-for-profit, non-government, industry-funded association. It now has over eighty members who include: academic and research institutions; associations; government; and companies from the biopharmaceutical industry, agricultural biotechnology sector, bioinformatics, bioproducts, medical devices, international pharmaceutical multinationals, contract research and scientific services, communications, professional and legal services, human resources, systems and software; and consultants.

Appendix 2

Directory of Nanotechnology Researchers in B.C.

University of British Columbia (UBC)

Simon Fraser University (SFU)

University of Victoria (UVic)

Other Agencies in British Columbia

Surname, First Name, Institution

Field of Expertise

Affleck, Ian UBC

Electrical conduction properties of semiconductor quantum dots. Single-electron transistors in the Coulomb blockade regime. Many-body interactions between quantum dot and conduction electrons. Properties of junctions in quantum wires and in Josephson junctions made from quantum wires.://www.physics.ubc.ca/~iaffleck/

l

Bally, MarcelBC Cancer Agency

Drug delivery systems for use in the treatment of cancer: preclinical cancer models, pharmacodynamics, liposomes, lipids, drug screening and drug combination development. http://www.bccrc.ca/at/people_mbally.html

l

Barth, JohannesUBC

The study of functional molecules and supramolecular architectures at the nanoscale. Temperature-controlled scanning tunneling microscopy. Molecular engineering of low-dimensional materials exploiting controlled self-assembly and positioning of individual molecules or nano-objects at surfaces. Novel bottom-up fabrication techniques. http://www.chem.ubc.ca/personnel/faculty/barth/index.shtml

l l l

Bechhoefer, John SFU

Scanning probe microscopy, light-emission processes accompanying electron tunneling, conductivity changes in DNA aptamers. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/Bechhoefer.html

l

Berciu, Mona UBC

Hybrid diluted magnetic semiconductors, nanomagnets, and/or superconductors heterostructures, tailoring spin-polarized electronic states at room temperature. Mesoscopic fluctuations in the longitudinal and Hall conductivity of two-dimensional electron systems. Electron transport in mesoscopic structures. http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~berciu/

l

Borchers, ChristophUVic

Mass spectrometry proteomics metabolomics iMALDI diagnostic platform. Structural proteomics. Biomarkers. Protein-ligand interactions. Systems biology. Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Protein cross-linking. http://genomebc.ca/research_tech/researcher_profiles/c_borchers.htm

l l

Branda, Neil SFU

Organic materials, molecular switches, photochromism and electrochromism, photodynamic therapy, optoelectronic devices.http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/branda/index.html

l l l l l

Brolo, Alexandre UVic

Development of new surface spectroscopic methods, study of optical and spectroscopic properties of metallic nanostructures, development of new substrates for nano optics and plasmonics, study of nanostructured electrochemical interfaces, development of sensors based on surface plasmon resonance, and characterization of modified electrodes. http://www.chemistry.uvic.ca/agb.html

l l l l

Broun, David SFU

Scanning Hall-probe microscopy. Fabrication of low-noise Hall probes. Microwave spectroscopy of unconventional superconductors. Low temperature experiments down to 0.02 K. Nanostructuring high Tc and other complex materials. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/broun.html

l l

Burt, Helen UBC

Drug delivery systems using nanostructures, synthesis of new biomaterials, and characterization of solids.http://www.pharmacy.ubc.ca/faculty_staff/faculty/pharm_bio/pharm_bio_helen_burt.html

l

Chiao, Mu UBC

MEMS and nanotechnology for biomedical applications. Engineering device-based drug delivery systems, microoptical systems for biology, small portable power sources. http://www.mech.ubc.ca/facstaff/chiao.shtml

l l l


Appendix 2

Directory of Nanotechnology Researchers in B.C.

University of British Columbia (UBC)

Simon Fraser University (SFU)

University of Victoria (UVic)

Other Agencies in British Columbia


Field of Expertise

Affleck, Ian UBC

Electrical conduction properties of semiconductor quantum dots. Single-electron transistors in the Coulomb blockade regime. Many-body interactions between quantum dot and conduction electrons. Properties of junctions in quantum wires and in Josephson junctions made from quantum wires.://www.physics.ubc.ca/~iaffleck/

l

Bally, MarcelBC Cancer Agency

Drug delivery systems for use in the treatment of cancer: preclinical cancer models, pharmacodynamics, liposomes, lipids, drug screening and drug combination development. http://www.bccrc.ca/at/people_mbally.html

l

Barth, JohannesUBC

The study of functional molecules and supramolecular architectures at the nanoscale. Temperature-controlled scanning tunneling microscopy. Molecular engineering of low-dimensional materials exploiting controlled self-assembly and positioning of individual molecules or nano-objects at surfaces. Novel bottom-up fabrication techniques. http://www.chem.ubc.ca/personnel/faculty/barth/index.shtml

l l l

Bechhoefer, John SFU

Scanning probe microscopy, light-emission processes accompanying electron tunneling, conductivity changes in DNA aptamers. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/Bechhoefer.html

l

Berciu, Mona UBC

Hybrid diluted magnetic semiconductors, nanomagnets, and/or superconductors heterostructures, tailoring spin-polarized electronic states at room temperature. Mesoscopic fluctuations in the longitudinal and Hall conductivity of two-dimensional electron systems. Electron transport in mesoscopic structures. http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~berciu/

l

Borchers, ChristophUVic

Mass spectrometry proteomics metabolomics iMALDI diagnostic platform. Structural proteomics. Biomarkers. Protein-ligand interactions. Systems biology. Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Protein cross-linking. http://genomebc.ca/research_tech/researcher_profiles/c_borchers.htm

l l

Branda, Neil SFU

Organic materials, molecular switches, photochromism and electrochromism, photodynamic therapy, optoelectronic devices.http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/branda/index.html

l l l l l

Brolo, Alexandre UVic

Development of new surface spectroscopic methods, study of optical and spectroscopic properties of metallic nanostructures, development of new substrates for nano optics and plasmonics, study of nanostructured electrochemical interfaces, development of sensors based on surface plasmon resonance, and characterization of modified electrodes. http://www.chemistry.uvic.ca/agb.html

l l l l

Broun, David SFU

Scanning Hall-probe microscopy. Fabrication of low-noise Hall probes. Microwave spectroscopy of unconventional superconductors. Low temperature experiments down to 0.02 K. Nanostructuring high Tc and other complex materials. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/broun.html

l l

Burt, Helen UBC

Drug delivery systems using nanostructures, synthesis of new biomaterials, and characterization of solids.http://www.pharmacy.ubc.ca/faculty_staff/faculty/pharm_bio/pharm_bio_helen_burt.html

l

Chiao, Mu UBC

MEMS and nanotechnology for biomedical applications. Engineering device-based drug delivery systems, microoptical systems for biology, small portable power sources. http://www.mech.ubc.ca/facstaff/chiao.shtml

l l l

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Field of Expertise Molecular Devices Nanochemistry Nanoelectronics Nanophotonics Diagnostics Bionanotechnology Micromachining/

MEMS Other Areas

Choi, Byoung-Chul UVic

Magnetic spin dynamics in materials and structures at the nanoscale. Extremely fast (picosecond) lasers to study nanometer-sized magnets. http://web.uvic.ca/~bchoi/ l

Chrostowski, Lukas UBC

Nanofabricated lasers including vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). High-speed modulation. Optical properties and device applications of photonic crystals, sub-wavelength gratings, perfect lensing in plasmons, quantum dots, optoelectronics, optical MEMS, bioMEMS. http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~lukasc

l l l

Cretu, Edmond UBC

MEMS, NEMS, adaptive microsystems, unified modeling and simulation of multi-domain systems. Micro-instrumentation systems, sensors and actuators. Bio-medical applications of microstructures, nonlinear signal processing and analysis of complex systems, fractal/constructal theory and chaotic systems. http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~edmondc

l

Crozier, Daryl SFU

Molecular beam epitaxy. Magnetic nanostructures on semiconductor substrates. Synchrotron radiation techniques of XAFS, X-ray standing wave and surface X-ray diffraction. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism to probe the sub-nanosecond time response of magnetic moments in ferrimagnets. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/crozier.html

l

Dost, Sadik UVic

Growth of high-quality, bulk-crystal semiconductors from the liquid phase. Interest in the scientific/technical challenges of improving yield and reproducibility. http://www.me.uvic.ca/Faculty/SDres.html

l

Eikerling, Michael SFU

Computational modeling of proton conducting membranes and composite electrodes. Electrochemical energy conversion in fuel cells. Molecular mechanisms of proton and water transport. Electrocatalytic processes and percolation in composite electrodes. Impact of nano- and mesostructures on fuel cell performance. www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/eikerling

l l

Feng, Martin Forintek Canada Corp.

Research on wood adhesives and their applications in wood composite products, including the development of new generation of wood adhesives using nanotechnology. www.forintek.ca l

Folk, Joshua UBC

Semiconductor and molecular nanoelectronics, quantum information processing, spintronics, cryogenic techniques.www.physics.ubc.ca/~jfolk

l l

Frisken, Barbara SFU

Structure and dynamics of soft condensed matter. Novel fuel cell membrane materials from nanoparticles. Relation between microstructure and rheology of yield-stress fluids. Properties of lipid vesicles made by extrusion.www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/frisken.html

l

Gates, Byron SFU

Chemical routes to creating nanostructured materials and manipulating surface chemistries. Simple approaches for the fabrication of nanostructured materials. Electronic and optoelectronic properties of nanostructures and nanostructured materials. Nanostructures as probes for imaging complex biological systems. http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/gates/index.html

l l l l

Gordon, Reuven UVic

Nanoplasmonics and nanophotonics. Devices based on these properties. www.ece.uvic.ca/~rgordon l

Gray, Bonnie SFU

Microfluidics, biomedical microdevices, microinstrumentation, high aspect ratio microfabrication (DRIE of silicon, polymer), polymer microfabrication, microsensors, cell platforms for cell research, and diagnostics. http://www.ensc.sfu.ca/ensc/people/faculty/bonnie-gray

l

Harrington, David UVic

Single-crystal electrochemistry, adsorption, monolayers, and thin films formed by electro deposition in solution. Micro-scale fuel cells. Micro fluidic electrochemistry. Oxidation of small organic molecules. http://web.uvic.ca/~dharr/

l l

Heinrich, Bret SFU

Magnetic nanostructures, molecular beam epitaxy, interfacial effects, RF magnetic spectroscopy, spin dynamics, magneto-optics, spintronics. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/heinrich.html l

Herring, Rodney UVic

Characterization of nanostructures using electron microscopy. Invented electron holography to characterize nanostructures used in electronic and magnetic devices. Electron holography to measure the properties of materials for the development of nanostructures. Bulk and surface plasmon characterization. www.me.uvic.ca/Faculty/RHres.html

l l l l l l




MEMS Other Areas

Choi, Byoung-Chul UVic

Magnetic spin dynamics in materials and structures at the nanoscale. Extremely fast (picosecond) lasers to study nanometer-sized magnets. http://web.uvic.ca/~bchoi/ l

Chrostowski, Lukas UBC

Nanofabricated lasers including vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). High-speed modulation. Optical properties and device applications of photonic crystals, sub-wavelength gratings, perfect lensing in plasmons, quantum dots, optoelectronics, optical MEMS, bioMEMS. http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~lukasc

l l l

Cretu, Edmond UBC

MEMS, NEMS, adaptive microsystems, unified modeling and simulation of multi-domain systems. Micro-instrumentation systems, sensors and actuators. Bio-medical applications of microstructures, nonlinear signal processing and analysis of complex systems, fractal/constructal theory and chaotic systems. http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~edmondc

l

Crozier, Daryl SFU

Molecular beam epitaxy. Magnetic nanostructures on semiconductor substrates. Synchrotron radiation techniques of XAFS, X-ray standing wave and surface X-ray diffraction. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism to probe the sub-nanosecond time response of magnetic moments in ferrimagnets. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/crozier.html

l

Dost, Sadik UVic

Growth of high-quality, bulk-crystal semiconductors from the liquid phase. Interest in the scientific/technical challenges of improving yield and reproducibility. http://www.me.uvic.ca/Faculty/SDres.html

l

Eikerling, Michael SFU

Computational modeling of proton conducting membranes and composite electrodes. Electrochemical energy conversion in fuel cells. Molecular mechanisms of proton and water transport. Electrocatalytic processes and percolation in composite electrodes. Impact of nano- and mesostructures on fuel cell performance. www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/eikerling

l l

Feng, Martin Forintek Canada Corp.

Research on wood adhesives and their applications in wood composite products, including the development of new generation of wood adhesives using nanotechnology. www.forintek.ca l

Folk, Joshua UBC

Semiconductor and molecular nanoelectronics, quantum information processing, spintronics, cryogenic techniques.www.physics.ubc.ca/~jfolk

l l

Frisken, Barbara SFU

Structure and dynamics of soft condensed matter. Novel fuel cell membrane materials from nanoparticles. Relation between microstructure and rheology of yield-stress fluids. Properties of lipid vesicles made by extrusion.www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/frisken.html

l

Gates, Byron SFU

Chemical routes to creating nanostructured materials and manipulating surface chemistries. Simple approaches for the fabrication of nanostructured materials. Electronic and optoelectronic properties of nanostructures and nanostructured materials. Nanostructures as probes for imaging complex biological systems. http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/gates/index.html

l l l l

Gordon, Reuven UVic

Nanoplasmonics and nanophotonics. Devices based on these properties. www.ece.uvic.ca/~rgordon l

Gray, Bonnie SFU

Microfluidics, biomedical microdevices, microinstrumentation, high aspect ratio microfabrication (DRIE of silicon, polymer), polymer microfabrication, microsensors, cell platforms for cell research, and diagnostics. http://www.ensc.sfu.ca/ensc/people/faculty/bonnie-gray

l

Harrington, David UVic

Single-crystal electrochemistry, adsorption, monolayers, and thin films formed by electro deposition in solution. Micro-scale fuel cells. Micro fluidic electrochemistry. Oxidation of small organic molecules. http://web.uvic.ca/~dharr/

l l

Heinrich, Bret SFU

Magnetic nanostructures, molecular beam epitaxy, interfacial effects, RF magnetic spectroscopy, spin dynamics, magneto-optics, spintronics. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/heinrich.html l

Herring, Rodney UVic

Characterization of nanostructures using electron microscopy. Invented electron holography to characterize nanostructures used in electronic and magnetic devices. Electron holography to measure the properties of materials for the development of nanostructures. Bulk and surface plasmon characterization. www.me.uvic.ca/Faculty/RHres.html

l l l l l l




MEMS Other Areas

Hicks, Robin UVic

Molecule-based magnetic materials and conjugated polymers as molecular wires.http://www.chemistry.uvic.ca/rgh.html l

Hill, Ross SFU

Development of new methods for thin film deposition and patterning, preparation of new materials with modulated composition and new methods for lithography. Magnetic materials, dielectric materials and amorphous materials.http://www2.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/hill/

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Huber, Trisha Defence R&D Canada

Synthesis and characterization of conducting polymer-carbon nanotube composites. lJensen, Erik UNBC

Dynamics of chemical reactions at surfaces, electron and photon stimulated desorption, photochemistry of molecules at surfaces. www.unbc.ca/physics l l

Karim, Karim SFU

Large-area thin-film electronics, applications, medical X-ray imaging, flexible display technology, and high-efficiency solar cells. Large area crystalline silicon technology for imaging, CMOS active-pixel sensors. Photon-counting circuits.http://www.ensc.sfu.ca/people/faculty/karim.html

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Kavanagh, Karen SFU

Development of new semiconductor nanomaterials. Property optimization for circuits and sensors. Controlling and understanding how defects occur in the growth of these materials. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/kavanagh.html

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Knudson, Robert Forintek Canada Corp.

Composite wood products and processes. Implementing technology transfer to industrial operations. Recommending and implementing process and product improvements based on technical data and business needs. www.forintek.ca

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Kwok, Harry UVic

Semiconductor devices and applications. Organic material replacements for silicon. Development of tools for the study of decay in materials. The study and detection of malignant lymph nodes, and the development of various sensors. Polymer device modeling. www.ece.uvic.ca/~hlkwok/

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Lane, Pierre B.C. Cancer Research Center

Biophotonics for early detection of disease using biomedical optics, confocal microscopy, spectroscopy, fluorescence, optical signal and image processing. Optical fiber communications, spatial light modulation. Digital signal and image processing.http://www.bccrc.ca/ci/people_plane.html

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Leach, Gary SFU

Surface and interface chemistry, nonlinear optical spectroscopy, scanning probe microscopy. New techniques of imaging using nanocrystals, and layered structures that involve nanocrystals. http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/leach/index.html

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Leznoff, Danny SFU

Supramolecular coordination chemistry incorporating paramagnetic and diamagnetic metal centres and non-octahedral cyanometallates for materials applications, including vapochromic, birefringent, high dielectric, NLO properties. Gold-gold bonding and metal-metal bonds. Design and characterization of molecular magnetic materials and spin-transition compounds. Solution inorganic chemistry using ligand bonding. Actinide chemistry. Synthesis, structure and reactivity of paramagnetic organometallic compounds and catalysts. http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/leznoff/index.html

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Li, Paul SFU

Bioanalytical chemistry, single-cell assay, micro fluidic bioarrays (DNA, RNA, cell), therapeutic phytochemicals.www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/li/index.html

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Li, Hongbin UBC

AFM related technology, protein engineering, polymer science. http://www.chem.ubc.ca/personnel/faculty/hongbin/index.shtml l l

MacAulay, Calum B.C. Cancer Agency

Cancer detection and treatment. Biomedical imaging, biomedical optics, tissue spectroscopy, quantitative cytology, quantitative histology, confocal microscopy, genomic analysis and its linkage to nanophotonics. Genetic links to cancer. Nanophotonic engineered contrast agents used to molecularly label target cells. http://www.bccrc.ca/ci/people_cmacaula.html

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MacFarlane, Andrew UBC

Electronic and magnetic properties of solids, in the bulk, near a surface and in heterostructures. http://bnmr.triumf.ca/ l l l




MEMS Other Areas

MacLachlan, Mark UBC

Synthetic approaches to nanostructures. Combining organic and inorganic chemistry to develop macrocycles, nanotubes, 3-D frameworks and extended structures that contain metals. http://www.chem.ubc.ca/personnel/faculty/maclachlan/index.shtml

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Madden, JohnUBC

CNTs, saturatable absorbers, CNT electronics, optical properties. Conducting polymers as artificial muscle. Designing molecules that undergo large shape changes. Organic electronics, polymer electronics. http://mm.ece.ubc.ca/

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Marziali, Andre UBC

Nanosensor development for single-molecule DNA and protein sensing. Organic and synthetic nanopores for single-molecule detection, synthetic nanopore membranes for instrument applications. Synthetic nanopore and nanopore array fabrication. http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~andre/

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Michal, Carl UBC

Studying materials such as spider silk, nanocomposites, polyproles. Solid state NMR for monolayer studies.www.physics.ubc.ca/~michal

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Mitchell, Keith UBC

Surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning auger microscopy (SAM) with nanometer resolution. http://www.chem.ubc.ca/personnel/faculty/mitchell/index.shtml

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Moffitt, Matthew UVic

Self-assembly of composite building blocks based on block copolymers and quantum dots. Non-lithographic routes to patterning of quantum dots in polymer systems. http://www.chemistry.uvic.ca/mm.html

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Mooney, Patricia SFU

Defect studies in semiconductors. Origin and effects on the properties of materials and their atomic structure. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/faculty/mooney.html

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Morris, Paul Forintek Canada Corp

Short-term protection of wood during harvesting, transport and storage, and long-term durability in service. Treatments to enhance decay, termite and UV resistance. Test methods for evaluating durability. www.forintek.ca

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Murray, Daniel UBC Okanagan

Acoustic phonons in nanostructures, inelastic light scattering from nanostructures. http://www.geocities.com/cofrest/ l

Nojeh, Alireza UBC

Nanostructures (especially carbon nanotubes), controlled nanofabrication, electron emission phenomena, electron microscopy, modeling and simulation of nanoscale systems. http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~anojeh/

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Paci, Irina UVic

New theoretical models and methods for understanding surface self-assembly and the dynamic properties of molecular materials. Coupled multi-scale simulations of materials. Assembly dynamics. http://www.chemistry.uvic.ca/ip.html

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Papadopoulos, Chris UVic

Nanotechnology, nanoelectronics, carbon nanotubes, molecular devices, nanofabrication. Synthesis and properties.http://www.ece.uvic.ca/faculty/cpapadopoulos.shtml

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Plotkin, StevenUBC

Theoretical biomolecular physics, applying analytical and computational tools to problems in biophysics, Protein folding. Nanopore translocation. Left-right symmetry breaking in morphogenesis. www.physics.ubc.ca/~steve

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Pulfrey, David UBC

Development of software tools for the design, analysis, and performance-prediction of nanoscale transistors and sensors.http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~pulfrey

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Rottler, Joerg UBC

Soft condensed matter and computational physics. Far-from-equilibrium dynamics and mechanical properties of noncrystalline (glassy) solids. Electrostatic effects in complex fluids and biomolecular systems, development of fast algorithms for Coulombic interactions. Stochastic growth phenomena, kinetic processes and microstructural evolution. Polymer physics, computational approaches to modeling materials on different length scales. http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~jrottler/

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MEMS Other Areas

Servati, Peyman UBC

One-dimensional semiconductor nanowires, ballistic gate-all-around NW transistors, NW and nanotube optoelectronic devices, morphology engineered NWs. Organic nanocomposite transistors and solar cells, flexible plastic electronics and displays, elastic circuits, electronic transport in NWs and nanostructured materials, inkjet printed electronics, nanostructured materials for bioelectrodes and biosensors, molecule-based magnetic materials, nanomagnetism, conducting polymers, molecular wires, synthetic chemistry. http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~peymans/

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Sinton, David UVic

Microfluidics, nanofluidics, optofluidics, surface effects, electrokinetics, fundamental numerical modeling, microfabrication.www.me.uvic.ca/~dsinton

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Stamp, Philip UBC

Condensed matter theory. General field theory, statistical physics. Quantum magnetism, magnetic qubits, topological excitations, spin glasses, decoherence in magnetic system. General theory of decoherence in solid-state systems, connections to string theory. Theory of quantum Information processing, and quantum glasses. Molecular magnets, quantum nanomagnetism, spintronics. Legal issues related to nanoscience. http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~berciu/PHILIP/index.html

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Steeves, Geoff UVic

Developing new instruments and techniques for investigating nanoscale dynamical phenomena on picosecond time-scales.http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~berciu/PHILIP/index.html

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Stoeber, Boris UBC

Microelectromechanical systems, micro fluidics. Flow control concepts for microfluidic devices (microvalves, micropumps, micromixers), complex microflows (multi-phase microflow phenomena, thermally responsive fluids, microflow instabilities, microflow characterization methods). Micro-optical devices and sensors for biological and environmental applications. Integrated microsystems for biomedical applications. Micro needles. http://batman.mech.ubc.ca/~stoeber/

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Takahata, Kenichi UBC

Micromachined sensors and actuators, Microelectromechanical systems, Implantable microdevices, Wireless sensing and control in the micro/nano domain. Microfabrication techniques, 3-D micro/nanomachining methods, Microelectrodischarge machining and control. http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~takahata/

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Tang, Shuo UBC

Instrumentation development, optical tissue imaging, ultra fast lasers, biomedical applications.http://www.ece.ubc.ca/tiki-index.php?page=Faculty+And+Staff l

Tiedje, Tom UBC

Epitaxial crystal growth using in-situ optical monitoring and kinetic Monte Carlo modeling. Growth of novel semiconductor materials (e.g. dilute nitrides of the form GaAsN and GaAsBi) and their electronic and optical properties. Fabrication of light-emitting devices (superluminescent sources for optical coherence tomography). Epitaxial oxide thin-film growth for laser applications. Coherent soft X-ray scattering as a method for determining structure of random systems. www.physics.ubc.ca/mbelab

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Troczynski, Tom UBC

Engineering ceramics, coatings, biomaterials, sensors, hydrogen technologies and other applications.ceramics.mmat.ubc.ca

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Upton, Chris UVic

Use of bioinformatics to analyze virus genomes. Virus pathogenesis. http://athena.bioc.uvic.ca/ lvan Veggel, Frank UVic

Luminescent nanoparticles for telecommunications, optical amplifiers, displays, and LEDs, Biomedical applications, optical biolabels and MRI applications. Nanoparticles based on Ln3+ ions, gallium nitride, or quantum dots.http://www.chemistry.uvic.ca/fvv.html

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Walus, Konrad UBC

New computing paradigms including quantum-dot cellular automata, modeling and testing of nanoelectronic devices, carbon based electronics including carbon nanotube and graphene devices, inkjet printing of novel electronic and biological materials and devices. http://www.mina.ubc.ca/konradw

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MEMS Other Areas

Wang, Alexander UBC

Theoretical chemistry studies of complex systems, zeolites, enzymes, biosystems, nanotubes, molecular adsorption for chemical sensors. Nanocrystals. http://www.chem.ubc.ca/faculty/wang l l l

Wang, Rizhi UBC

Biomaterials, processing of polymer and ceramic composites for biomedical applications, surface modifications of biomedical implants including orthopaedic implants, nanomechanical characterization of materials. http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca/faculty_bios/wang.html

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Wasan, KishorUBC

Lipid-based drug delivery, lipoprotein-drug interactions, cholesterol and lipid metabolism.www.wasanlab.ubc.ca l l

Waterhouse, Dawn BC Cancer Agency

Lipid-based formulations of anticancer drugs, including cytotoxic drugs encapsulated within liposomes and therapeutic antibodies conjugated to liposomal exteriors. Duel-function therapeutic and targeting agents. Antisense oligonucleotide formulations and siRNA. http://www.bccrc.ca/at/people_dwater.html

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Watkins, Simon SFU

Semiconductor crystal growth, nanostructures, semiconductor devices. http://www.sfu.ca/physics/people/faculty/watkins/profile.html l l

Wolf, Mike UBC

Conducting polymers, metal-metal particles, and chemical sensors. Making materials for molecular electronics. Hybrid devices (solar cells, light emitting devices based on organic materials). http://www.chem.ubc.ca/faculty/wolf/group/index.html

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Wong, Darrell Forintek Canada Corp.

Wood machining, tool material development and testing. Surface analysis, quality control, production analysis. and process simulation and optimization. www.forintek.ca l l

Ye, Zuo SFU

Dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials. Synthesis by various techniques and characterization. Relaxor-based piezoelectric and ferroelectric single crystals for applications in next generation electromechanical transducers. Ferroelectric non-volatile random access memories. Crystalline oxides for microelectronics. Magnetically ordered ferroelectric/ferroelastic materials for sensor and actuators. Materials for solid oxide fuel cells. http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/ye/index.html

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Young, Jeff UBC

Quantum electronics. Developing nano-optical devices and integrating them into semiconductor nanostructures.http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~young/young.html

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Yu, Hogan SFU

DNA chips, ultrahigh density microarrays. Modification of semiconductor materials (hybrid organic/inorganic). Molecular electronics. Superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning surfaces. http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/faculty/yu/index.html

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Zeng, HaishanB.C. Cancer Agency

Nanoparticle-enhanced light-tissue interactions, optical spectroscopy and imaging for medical diagnosis, endoscopy. Application of MEMS in medical devices, nanoparticle applications in medical imaging and therapy. Fluorescence imaging, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy. Early cancer detection. http://www.bccrc.ca/ci/people_hzeng.html

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Based on 84 survey respondents, 5 preferring anonymity, total 79 entries. 14 Feb 2007


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Nanotechnology Asset Map - Leg€¦ · More than 90 senior researchers and 400 students are now...

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Transcript of Nanotechnology Asset Map - Leg€¦ · More than 90 senior researchers and 400 students are now...