Newswise — Nine U.S. and international leaders in business, academia and government are scheduled to speak at Commercialization of NanoMaterials 2007, Nov. 11-13, at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The conference will cover bio-nano, coatings, functional nanomaterials, nanomaterials for energy applications, and structural nanomaterials.

Keynote Speakers:U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania will provide opening remarks regarding congressional perspectives on the commercialization of nanomaterials. E. Clayton Teague, director of the Federal National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, will discuss the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The managing director of Axiom Capital Management Inc., Scott Livingston, will speak about investing for commercialization, with an emphasis on Wall Street, venture capital and nanomaterials. Andy Hannah, president and chief executive officer of Plextronics Inc., will present how nanomaterials will revolutionize the electronics industry.

Plenary Speakers:An international forum will include Jong-Goo Park, director of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea; Peter Hauptmann, director of Saarland Economic Promotion Corp. in Germany; Tatsuro Ichihara, chief executive officer of ASTEM in Japan; Mehdi Moussavi, chief of the Department of Nanomaterials Technologies in France; and Nils Peterson, director general of the National Institute for Nanotechnology in Canada.

The focus of this conference is nanomaterials that drive opportunities for high volume production. In addition to technical sessions on bio-nano, coatings, functional nanomaterials, nanomaterials for energy applications, and structural nanomaterials, the conference includes a workshop on intellectual property; panel discussions on environmental health and safety, and venture capital and investing; and an exhibition.

This conference is sponsored by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS); The American Ceramic Society (ACerS); American Chemistry Council; Atlantic NanoForum; Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center; and Pennsylvania Nanotechnology Initiative.

TMS is the professional organization encompassing the entire range of materials science and engineering, from minerals processing and primary metals production to basic research and the advanced applications of materials. Included among its professional and student members are metallurgical and materials engineers, scientists, researchers, educators and administrators from more than 70 countries on six continents. For more information, contact Nancy Commella, communications manager; telephone (724) 776-9000 or (800) 759-4TMS, ext. 218; e-mail http://[email protected].