Cooperation With USA Highlights Nanotechnology in Eastern Germany

Berlin/Austin (ots) - The global market for nanotechnology is
estimated to surpass EUR 1 trillion by 2015. Driven in large part by
the development of nanotechnology in Eastern Germany, Germany is one
of the top four locations for nanotechnology worldwide. Within the
framework of the conference series "US-German Conference on the
Commercialization of Nanotechnologies," Germany Trade & Invest is
presenting business opportunities for American companies and research
institutes in the field of nanotechnology in Eastern Germany.
Investor events will be held on February 23 in Austin, Texas, and
February 25 in San José, California.

German research institutes are renowned in nanotechnology R&D,
especially in the field of applied research. The federal government
supports nanotechnology companies specifically with the quick
transition from research developments to marketable products. The
result is that there are more than 1,000 nanotechnology actors in
Germany, of these almost 700 companies and over 30 regional clusters.
Twenty years after the reunification of Germany, some of the most
attractive investment possibilities are in Eastern Germany. The
dynamic growth region offers rapid access to the technology markets
in the European Union as well as excellent structures for technology
transfer.

The event focuses on American companies active in this field,
while also addressing research institutes and other experts that are
driving nanotechnology forward. At the conference, innovative
German-American companies and specialists in the field of technology
transfer will discuss strategies for commercializing nanotechnology
in Eastern Germany from applied research to marketability.

The keynote speaker will be Max Biberger, CEO of SDC Materials.
Based in Arizona and producing in Eastern Germany, the company
manufactures catalysts for the automotive, fine chemicals, and
refinery industries in addition to supercomposites for military and
aerospace applications.

Further speakers will include Andreas Rückemann, CEO of the
organic photovoltaics firm Heliatek, which is based in Dresden.
Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Director of INP, will also speak about
achieving success in Eastern Germany. INP is Europe's largest
non-university research institute active in the field of
low-temperature plasma. Researcher Nikolay Ledentsov, who founded
opto-electronic component manufacturer VI Systems at the Technical
University of Berlin, will further address how the conditions in
Eastern Germany have helped his company become a leading innovator in
this field. And Nanostart AG CEO Marco Beckmann provides insight into
business success from the perspective of a high-tech venture
capitalist. Each of the featured speakers discusses a unique aspect
of achieving success in Eastern Germany.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment
promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization
advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities
to the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to
German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Originaltext: Germany Trade and Invest
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Contact:

Eva Henkel
Germany Trade & Invest
T: +49(0)30-200099-173
F: +49(0)30-200099-111
Email: eva.henkel@gtai.com