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Dear reader,
Apocalyptic images of the damaged Japanese reactor blocks are circulating around the world. The end of the catastrophe does not seem to be foreseeable. Within the context of these shattering events, the debate about nuclear energy has reignited particularly in Germany.
We want to make our contribution and illustrate what many people are still unaware of: namely that nanotechnology is tackling important challenges on the way to achieving a sustainable energy future. To highlight nanotechnological solutions being implemented today and what can be anticipated in the future – we have put together a background report: "Shaping the future of energy with nanotechnology." You can find this and other articles in the latest Nanostart newsletter.
Best regards,
Dr. Hans Joachim Dürr
Head of Corporate Communications
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- Current background report: Shaping the future of energy with nanotechnology >>
- Interview with Dr. Adrian Yeo Piah Song, CEO of Nanostart holding MINT:
"Our sensors are five times more sensitive than those of the competition" >>
- Nanostart at Invest in Stuttgart: Brisk interest in the Nanostart strategy >>
- Nano-incorporator’s contest NEnA: New minds for nanotechnology >>
- Networking: Nanostart at the Wall Street Analyst Forum >>
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Current background report:
Shaping the future of energy with nanotechnology
Events in Japan have rekindled the debate in Germany concerning a possible withdrawal from nuclear power. However, against the backdrop of growing demand for energy worldwide, this raises questions regarding suitable alternative sources of energy. The sustainable production and suitable transformation of energy is one of the greatest technical challenges of the 21st century. Innovations for sustainable energy in the future are required. Nanotechnology will be a key enabling factor for these innovations.
Nanotechnology helps increase the efficiency of existing forms of energy while opening up completely new ways of exploiting renewable energies. Given its role as a key and cross-sectional technology, nanotechnology has the potential to achieve decisive technological breakthroughs in the energy sector, thus making important contributions to sustainable energy supplies.
Read the entire report Shaping the future of energy with nanotechnology here:
PDF Download (442 kB) >>
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Interview with Adrian Yeo Piah Song, CEO of Nanostart holding MINT:
"Our sensors are five times more sensitive than those of the competition"
In February, Nanostart AG acquired a share in the Singaporean cleantech company MINT (Membrane Instruments and Technology Pte Ltd). Launched in 2009, the company focuses on quality monitoring and control of filtered water at water treatment facilities. Core developmental work is on highly sensitive, nanotechnology-based sensor systems.
Operation of water treatment facilities is subject to strict regulatory oversight with the objective of maintaining consistently high water quality. Modern facilities utilize thousands of micro and ultra filtration membranes, in which even a brief malfunction can have a significant impact on water quality. With the fully automated sensor system from MINT, the functionality of membranes can be closely monitored. The technology represents a substantial improvement over conventional monitoring methods that employ manual sampling and laboratory analysis.
Nanostart AG holds an 18 percent share in MINT through the Nanostart Singapore Early-Stage Venture Fund I. The fund was launched in close cooperation with the Singaporean government and is managed by the Nanostart subsidiary Nanostart Asia Pte Ltd. Beside ItN Nanovation, MINT is the second cleantech company in the Nanostart portfolio that focuses on solutions to improve the water supply situation around the world.
We interviewed MINT CEO Dr. Adrian Yeo Piah Song about competitive advantages and his vision for the company:
Nanostart AG: Its proprietary nanotech-based sensor technology puts MINT in a uniquely strong competitive position. Are there competitors that have to be taken seriously at all?
Dr. Song: There are several companies that are working on competing products. Turbidity meters and particle counters are made by a variety of companies. However, our sensor is up to five times more sensitive than their sensors. Also, their sensors are based on light detection, which can be confused by bubbles introduced into the water – a common problem in membrane equipment. Our sensors are not affected by this disadvantage.
Nanostart AG: How important is nanotechnology for your work?
Dr. Song: The membranes used in our sensors have nano-sized pores to separate different contaminants in the water. This allows us to characterize the contaminants precisely and predict disturbances during the water treatment process. This provides major savings in cost and time for operators of water treatment facilities.
Nanostart AG: What is the vision of MINT?
Dr. Song: The MINT vision is to develop a platform for automatically optimizing any membrane treatment plant. MINT’s target product is a system of specialized sensors with matching software and analytical algorithms that can monitor plant performance and automatically adjust operating pressures, air flow rates, backwash frequencies, etc.
You can find more information about the Nanostart holding MINT here >>
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Nanostart at Invest in Stuttgart:
Brisk interest in the Nanostart strategy
With a presentation entitled Investing in nanotechnology Investor Relations manager Vanessa Mieschke introduced the Nanostart AG business model at the Invest event in Stuttgart. Invest is Germany's most important conference for institutional and private investors. Nanostart used the well-attended forum, which took place March 18 to 20, 2011, to increase awareness about the Nanostart strategy. The topic of nanotechnology, its future-orientation and growth potential roused the curiosity and interest of visitors during the presentation and at the Nanostart exhibit booth.
According to organizers, the Invest event attracted 15,700 visitors this year. Among the 212 exhibitors were banks, securities traders, corporations, investment companies, stock exchanges, and financial media. The supporting program for the event – which included more than 350 presentations, workshops, and discussions – was also extremely well attended.
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Nano-incorporator’s contest NEnA:
New minds for nanotechnology
COVERsolutions is the promising new concept that won top honors at this year's Nanotech Startup Workshop NEnA (Nano Entrepreneurship Academy). A total of ten young scientists from across Germany qualified for this year's NEnA, which took place March 20 to 26. Among the qualifiers were Paulina Kaempfe and Dr. Anja Matena, both scientists of the University of Duisburg-Essen, whose idea for a biocompatible filter system, which is able to kill germs in hospitals directly during infusions at the patient, was particularly impressive.
Since 2007, NEnA has provided a forum for women to discuss startup ideas related to nanotechnology as well as acquire basic business knowledge. Together in teams and with the support of professional partners, participants develop and test startup concepts for their nanotech ideas. A winner for best plan is announced at the close of each NEnA event.
The winners of this year's workshop will be returning home with a development grant that includes six months of free office space in an environment of research and entrepreneurial spirit. The nanotech industry can look forward to the work of these ambitious and creative new colleagues.
Marco Beckmann, CEO of Nanostart AG, was also selected this year to be an expert member of the jury. "In addition to expertise in the field of nanotechnology, understanding the requirements of the modern free market economy is also critical to the success of these promising scientists. Which market should my product serve? What is my target group? How do I build my company, and how do I lead it? The NEnA startup initiative for women facilitates basic knowledge in these areas and helps participants establish important contacts with partners in science and business," said Beckmann.
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Networking:
Nanostart at the Wall Street Analyst Forum
Wall Street in New York attracts the leading investment minds in the world to within a few city blocks. Lower Manhattan is an ideal location for Nanostart AG to acquaint experts, investors, and opinion-leaders with its business concept. In his presentation at the Wallstreet Analyst Forum on March 1, 2011, Nanostart CEO Marco Beckmann explained the content and strategy of the Nanostart business as well as the successful history of the company. The great interest of the investors and analysts in attendance was reflected in the subsequent breakout session that included detailed questions and lively discussion.
Since 1989, the Wallstreet Analyst Forum has provided companies of all sizes a widely observed platform for introducing their businesses to the US capital market. On a search for promising investment opportunities, analysts, investors, and fund managers from distinguished addresses, such as UBS, Fidelity, and Wellington Management are annual participants in the event.
"The future-oriented business model of Nanostart AG is meeting with great interest among American investors, thanks to its focus on innovation and international approach," reports Vanessa Mieschke, Investor Relations manager at Nanostart AG. Nanostart uses platforms like the Wallstreet Analyst Forum to cultivate new contacts within the US capital market as well as renew existing relationships. This year's participation resulted in fruitful discussions that will now be explored further.
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"Start-ups capture Nano Realm": VDI-Nachrichten report on German Nanotech start-up sector (only German) >>
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"There are very few exciting deals that do not involve nanotechnology": Marco Beckmann, CEO of Nanostart AG in an interview with VDI-Nachrichten (translation from German)
PDF Download (11 kB) >>
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"Singapore – The Switzerland of Asia?": The online financial portal Boerse.ARD reports on "boomtown Singapore" as a business location as well as Nanostart Asia (only German) >>
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"Singapore encourages nanotechnology boom": the Börsenzeitung reports on the business of Nanostart Asia in Singapore (translation from German)
Download PDF (78 KB)>>
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"Innovation Germany": Nanostart-holdings Magforce Nanotechnologies and ItN Nanovation are introduced in the Newsletter of the German Center for Research and Innovation
PDF Download (82 kB) >>
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"Nanostart: Why Singapore?": In the financial market letter Outperformer, Engelbert Hörmannsdorfer talks about Nanostart's Asian business in Singapore (translation from German) PDF Download (36 kB) >>
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March 10, 2011
Nanostart subsidiary MagForce Nanotechnologies AG announces sales and marketing team >>
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March 16, 2011
Nanostart holding ItN Nanovation successfully concludes large contract in Saudi Arabia >>
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April 11 - 13, 2011
3. SCF_ Small Cap Forum; Frankfurt >>
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May 02 - 04, 2011
Entry & General Standard Conference 2011; Frankfurt >>
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May 06 - 07, 2011
German Investors Fair; Frankfurt >>
(Win free admission tickets!)
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May 18 - 19, 2011
Small & Mid Cap Conference; London >>
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May 30 - June 01, 2011
Nanotech Europe and EuroNanoForum; Budapest >>
Additional dates for Nanostart and its subsidiaries are available here >>
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Contact
Dr. Hans Joachim Dürr
Head of Corporate Communications
T +49 (0) 69-21 93 96-111
F +49 (0) 69-21 93 96-150
e-mail: presse@nanostart.de
website: www.nanostart.de
Nanostart AG
Goethestraße 26-28
D-60313 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
CEO: Marco Beckmann
Supervisory Board: Dr. Alfred Krammer (chairman),
Prof. Wolfgang M. Heckl (vice chairman), Achim Lindner
Commercial register: Frankfurt am Main, HRB 74535
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