Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "Cima NanoTech Selected as a 2008 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum"

Home > Press > Cima NanoTech Selected as a 2008 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum

Abstract:
The World Economic Forum today named 39 visionary companies as Technology Pioneers 2008. Cima NanoTech, Inc., based in St. Paul, Minnesota, has been selected as one of these Technology Pioneers for advancing the field of nanomaterials in electronic applications.

Cima NanoTech Selected as a 2008 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum

ST. PAUL, MN | Posted on November 29th, 2007

Technology Pioneers are companies that have been identified as developing and applying highly transformational and innovative technologies in the areas of energy, biotechnology and health, and information technology. To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of life-changing technology innovation and have the potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition, it must demonstrate visionary leadership, show all the signs of being a long-standing market leader - and its technology must be proven. Previous Technology Pioneers have included Business Objects, Cambridge Silicon Radio, Corel Corporation, Encore Software, Google, Mozilla Corporation and Napster.

Cima NanoTech's advanced nanomaterials enable electronics manufacturing methods that can lower costs and improve the performance of electronic devices. In electronic display, solar and smart RFID packaging markets, the company's technology can enable reduced material usage, improved manufacturing methods and reduced hazardous waste, while increasing electronic performance.

"We're applying nanomaterials technology to solve the environmental and performance limits of today's electronic circuitry," said Jon Brodd, chief executive officer of Cima NanoTech. "This technology will change the way electronics are manufactured. We can enable lower-cost, higher-performance circuitry, while greatly reducing the amount of materials used and environmentally damaging waste streams generated throughout the manufacturing processes."

Citing one application for its nanomaterials, Brodd said, "The work we're doing today will help expand the usefulness and applicability of solar power, for example, by making the devices more flexible and less expensive to use, which ultimately will lead to broader acceptance."

The Technology Pioneers 2008 were nominated by the world's leading technology experts, including venture capitalists, technology companies, academics and media. The final selection from 273 nominees was made by a panel of leading technology experts appointed by the World Economic Forum. Technology Pioneers 2008 are invited to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 that will be held in Davos, Switzerland, January 23-27, and in the Annual Meeting of the New Champions that will be held in Tianjin, People's Republic of China, September 25-27, 2008.

The selected companies' products and services include identity management on the Internet, understanding of individuals' genetic information, robotic radiosurgery, pollution control materials, low-cost remote diagnosis solutions, virtual interface technologies, wiki-based projects and next-generation business intelligence solutions.

Twenty-three of the Technology Pioneers 2008 are US-based companies. Israel and the United Kingdom each boast three; Sweden and Switzerland two each; Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands and Russia, one each. Technology Pioneers are nominated in three main categories: Energy/Environment, Biotechnology/Health and Information Technology.

The entire list of Technology Pioneers and interviews with the CEOs of the selected companies can be found here: http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers/2008.

"This year the World Economic Forum received a record number of applications from companies around the world to become a Technology Pioneer. From a highly competitive field, we are extremely pleased to have a community that is using innovation and technology to dramatically affect the way society and business operate and doing so in a markedly collaborative manner. We are excited to welcome the Technology Pioneers class of 2008 to the larger community of the World Economic Forum and we are looking forward to the fruits that their collaboration will bring," said Peter Torreele, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum.

The selection criteria include:

1) Innovation. The company's technology must be truly innovative. A new version or repackaging of an already well-accepted technological solution does not qualify as an innovation. The innovation should be recent - not more than two years old. The company should invest significantly in R&D.

2) Potential Impact. The company's technology must have the potential to have a substantial long-term impact on business and society in the future.

3) Growth and Sustainability. The company should have all the signs of being a long-term market leader and should have well-formulated plans for future development and growth.

4) Proof of Concept. The company must have a product on the market or have proven practical applications of the technology. Companies in "stealth" mode and companies with untested ideas or models will not qualify.

5) Leadership. The company must have visionary leadership that plays a critical role in driving the company towards reaching its goals.

6) Status. The company must not currently be a Member of the World Economic Forum. This criterion applies to the parent company - thus wholly-owned subsidiaries of large firms are not eligible.

About the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. ( http://www.weforum.org )

####

About World Economic Forum
Cima NanoTech ( http://www.cimananotech.com ) is an advanced materials company that has developed proprietary nanomaterial technology for electronics fabrication. The company uses nanoparticle conductive inks and transparent conductive coatings for flat panel displays, solar cells and other printed electronics applications. These materials enable increased performance in concert with faster, cleaner and cheaper manufacturing processes, resulting in more environmentally friendly, next-generation technology.

Cima NanoTech’s headquarters is in the United States. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Cima NanoTech, Israel, Ltd., located in Caesarea, Israel, is the Company’s R&D center and production facility. Production is also done at contract manufacturing facility in Hiroshima, Japan. Additional product development facilities in Japan and the U.S. supplement the work of the Israel lab and enable close, local partnerships with electronics manufacturers worldwide.

Cima NanoTech Partners

Cima NanoTech has partnered with Toda Kogyo Corp, based in Hiroshima, Japan, to deliver its advanced materials electronics solutions to the Japanese market through their joint venture, TodaCima NanoTechnology. TodaCima, led by its Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Tatsuo Sugiura, serves the Japanese electronics market from its Tokyo offices.

Cima NanoTech has also spearheaded the development of nanotechnology through its role in co-founding the Nano Functional Materials Consortium (NFM), a collaboration of academia and industry designed to develop and commercialize nanotechnology, partially supported by Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist. NFM, which is led by Dr. Fernando de la Vega, the Company’s VP of R&D and Cima NanoTech Israel’s General Manager, drives cutting-edge research designed to meet the needs of industry, both today and in the future. For more information, visit NFM's website at http://www.nfm.org.il .

Notes to Journalists:

* Go to http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers/2008 for the entire list of Technology Pioneers and interviews with the CEOs of the selected companies. For more specific information, please e-mail: .

* Download print-quality high resolution photographs of the CEOs of the selected companies at: http://www.pbase.com/forumweb/techpioneers2008

* Nominate a company to be a Technology Pioneer 2009 at: http://www.weforum.org/pdf/techpioneers/nomination_form_2008.pdf . Deadline for submissions is May 2008.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Media Contact:
Padilla Speer Beardsley
Shawn Brumbaugh, 612-455-1754
or
Company Contacts:
Jon Brodd, CEO, Cima NanoTech, Inc., 651-646-6266
or
Larry Betterley, CFO, Cima NanoTech, Inc., 651-646-6266
or
Dr. Fernando de la Vega, VP of R&D, Cima NanoTech, Inc.
General Manager, Cima NanoTech, Israel, 972-4-637-9520
or
Tatsuo Sugiura, Chief Operating Officer,
TodaCima NanoTechnology, 81-3-34332411