In the midst of the economic crisis in California, there is a promise for the future in the collaboration by the state's university research centers, small companies and venture finance firms in nanotechnology.
The universities have been essential in this development process. In some cases, they make direct equity investments in start-up companies. Other times, universities grant licenses to their research and give small companies access to expensive laboratory equipment in return for user fees. And some have set up incubators where small companies develop technological products and processes.
Numerous researchers mentioned in the article have been active with SPIE, including Butros Khuri-Yakub, who has published more than 30 papers with SPIE. Robert Grubbs, winner of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has also presented several papers at SPIE symposia.
Full story from the New York Times.