Feb 15 2009
A new vehicle for the commercialisation of nanotechnologies was launched on 1st February 2009. NanoVentures Australia Ltd ("NVA") will focus on commercialising nanotechnologies developed in Australia.
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NanoVic has operated for nearly six years, as an agent for nanotechnology investment, coordination, and commercialization in Victoria. The 2002 Grant awarded by the Victorian Government has been fully depleted and all projects completed.
NVA's primary mandate is to commercialise the technologies developed under NanoVic's agreements over the last 6 years. It will seek to raise funds to commercialise these technologies, and is able to enter commercial arrangements which were not feasible under NanoVic's corporate structure. It will also continue some of the industry development and support work that was successfully conducted in NanoVic since 2003.
NVA has a small grant from the Victorian government to enable the transition, and has recruited the NanoVic team and taken over its offices at Chester St, Oakleigh. NVA will not be investing in research projects, but as an independent commercial entity, NVA can be a partner in applications to State and Commonwealth funding pools, such as ARC, NH&MRC, Climate Ready, VSA, etc.
The new NVA Board is comprised of experienced industry and investment executives, including Tina McMeckan (Circadian), Shirley Lanning (Watermark), and Greg Smith (SciVentures).
All staff members from NanoVic have transitioned into NVA and are working towards securing external investment and funding for nano-based product developments and commercialisation.
The primary portfolios within NVA include Advanced Nanomaterials, Water and Environmental technologies, Therapeutic Delivery Systems and Medical Diagnostics. On February 6th, the Member Universities of NanoVic assigned the jointly-owned intellectual property of NanoVic to NVA, to allow it to pursue its commercial objectives. This important transfer means that NVA commences with over 20 intellectual assets, each of which has commercialization plans and dedicated commercialization resources.