Swainsboro, GA … October 22, 2007… On October 18th & 19th, the National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center held the Kick-Off meeting for the Nano Valley Consortium in Swansboro. The main purpose of the event was to inform potential member companies about the Nano Valley Consortium which is the first of its kind. The Consortium was organized by the NNMC in conjunction with the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey.  Its purpose is to provide an effective teaming environment for commercializing nano research for both military and commercial markets.  It also will allow members to know in advance about government contracting opportunities and shortens their time in getting contracts and funding completed. Barbara Stafford, Executive Director of the NNMC introduced speakers as did Dr. Diane Lewis, President of Georgia NanoFAB. 

Major companies from all across America, met on Thursday, October 18th at Flat Creek Lodge and Friday October 19th at East Georgia College. Approximately 70 people attended, representing such companies as DuPont, Fujifilm Dimatix, PPG, Lucent,  Imerys, Chevron Mining, Milliken, General Dynamics of Canada and many more. Major universities were also represented such as the University of Florida, Rutgers, GA Tech, Harvard, GA Southern, NJIST, and Penn State.  Several officials representing the U. S. military, and particularly the Army's Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center were present as well to discuss opportunities and needs for the warfighter.

ARDEC's Mark Mezger addresses the attendees at the Kick-Off meeting for the Nano Valley Consortium

Friday’s keynote speaker was Terry Medley, the Director of Global Compliance for DuPont who co-work the recently published Environmental Nano-risk Framework. Dr. Ron McNeill of the Univ. of Illinois reviewed a U.S. Dept. of Commerce year-long study he had recently completed on Commercialization.  Numerous officials from the U. S. Army spoke concerning the opportunities and advantages of nanotechnology applications. Other speakers updated attendees on various subjects relating to nanotechnology commercialization.

This was the second major meeting the Center has held in Swainsboro this year.  Earlier in April, the Center held its Inaugural Symposium highlighting nanotechnology research from universities in the southeast.  Local officials on hand to meet and greet the guests included sponsors Andy Riley president of the SECJDA and Bill Rogers, president of the Chamber of Commerce.  Georgia Representative Butch Parrish and Senator Jack Hill also attended. The Center was originally founded as a result of generous support in the house appropriations and senate armed services committees by members of Georgia’s delegation which led to FY06 funding for the National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center.  The Center was established in Swainsboro, GA to engage rural high-tech manufacturing capability in service of the warfighter.