Arkansas Nanotech Alliance Formed

The source of eadership on specific state tech-based economic development activities greatly influences the design and effectiveness of the effort. It remains to be seen then how the recently launched Arkansas Nanotechnology Alliance evolves locally as its direction originates from the nation's capital.

During a recent visit to the Arkansas Research & Technology Park, U.S. Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) announced ANA's formation. Pryor will chair the statewide consortium, bringing together "universities, federal agencies, and private sector partners to develop, launch and nurture nanotechnology initiatives."

He said that, in building an Arkansas nanotechnology community, some of the possibilities include:

• Establishing an information base, serving as a nanotechnology "clearing house" for regular news, funding updates and user services;
• Developing inter-institutional and inter-departmental research proposals to enhance federal funding and establish Arkansas as a major nanotechnology research center;
• Linking industry to nanotechnology research performed in the state, thereby enabling technology transfer, commercialization and economic development;
• Setting up open access research instrumentation centers for universities and industries; and,
• Outreach to the nanotechnology community by co-sponsoring scientific, educational and business meetings and conferences.

No other members of the Alliance were identified in Pryor's announcement and the Mar. 24 issue of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported, "No federal funding is associated with the alliance - yet, Pryor said."