New nanotechnology centre helps turn big ideas into real products

Small or large companies and tech-savvy entrepreneurs that want to bring nanotechnology products to world markets can now access technical and business services thanks to a new centre in Edmonton's Research Park.

The Alberta Centre for Advanced Microsystems and nanotechnology Products (ACAMP) is supported by $11.5 million in total funding with contributions of $8 million from the Alberta government and $3.5 million from Canada's Western Economic Diversification. The centre will support the province's growing nanotechnology sector in three critical areas of commercialization - packaging and assembly, business and product development and marketing.

Alberta produced nanotechnology products have applications in vital sectors such as medicine, resources and information and communications technology. Products made by Alberta companies include: lab on a chip microchips that speed medical diagnoses; nano-particle coatings to enhance the service life of earth moving machine blades; motion sensors for use in electronics.

"The launch of ACAMP helps position Western Canada at the forefront of innovation and is an important milestone in Alberta's growing capacity for science and technology commercialization," said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.

ACAMP will identify commercial market opportunities in global markets and promote Alberta's nanotechnology capabilities nationally and internationally. An ACAMP team will work with start-up and established technology companies to coordinate product packaging and assembly in-house or through the University of Alberta's NanoFab, the University of Calgary's Advanced Microsystems Integration Facility or the National Institute for Nanotechnology of the National Research Council (NINT). ACAMP will also align its product development activities with the Microsystems Technology Research Initiative and Alberta Ingenuity's nanoWorks program.