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Edmonton... Investing in 'the science of small' will help generate huge returns for Albertans, said Premier Ed Stelmach, unveiling the province's strategy to capture a $20-billion market share of the world's burgeoning nanotechnology market.

"Our $130-million investment today will help Alberta represent part of the competitive nanotech market by 2020," Stelmach said. "That investment can grow to an estimated $20-billion in new economic activity, helping build a stronger Alberta."

Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, said the three-pillar strategy to grow new nanotech businesses, garner nanotech talent and build nanotech infrastructure will propel Canada to be among the top five countries in the world for nano-based economic activity.

"Nanotechnology lets us discover the unique properties of materials and how we can manipulate them at molecular levels to develop products that are stronger, faster or smarter," he said.

The province already enjoys a solid nanotechnology base because industry, government and academic institutions collaborate on research and innovation. A new $5.5-million entity called nanoAlberta will further that collaboration.

"nanoAlberta will guide partnerships with industry, post-secondary institutions and government, and it will look for opportunities to make the biggest economic and social impact for Albertans," he added.

"Alberta has shown a commitment to the future of the province by taking its investments in nanotechnology to the next level," said Dr. Peter Hackett, President and CEO, Alberta Ingenuity. "Alberta Ingenuity is strongly aligned with the province's plans, and we are looking at this as an opportunity to transform the research landscape in Canada by recruiting exceptional people to the province, providing exceptional support and creating exceptional results that benefit all Albertans."

The province expects nanotechnology will accelerate innovation in Alberta's traditional sectors of energy, agriculture and forestry as well as environmental, health and medical technologies.

This strategy is one of the key actions under Premier Ed Stelmach's plan to build a stronger Alberta. Other priorities for the government are to govern with integrity and transparency, manage growth pressures, improve Albertans' quality of life and promote safe and secure communities. 

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Editor's Note: See attached backgrounder for more information.

The science of nanotechnology, applied to materials, can result in new properties - harder, stronger, adaptive or reactive, or self-healing as in antibacterial wound dressings developed in Alberta and being used world-wide. Nano applications can mean new ways of processing information or manufacturing materials, and nano sensors will play a significant role in the health care and environment sectors.

The metric prefix 'nano' refers to 'billionth'; a nanometer (nm) is one-billionth of a metre. Nanotechnology refers to the design, characterization, production and application of structures, devices and systems where dimensions and tolerances in the range of 0.1 nm to 100 nm play a critical role. For example office paper is about 100,000 nm thick.

Nanotechnology can improve Alberta's value-added economic base in the areas of energy and the environment, health and medical technologies, and agriculture and forestry with:

• improved efficiencies for the oil sands industry, improved clean coal technologies, reduced water use, lowered emissions, and contributed to cleaner land, air and water for all Albertans;
• improved health care with a higher quality of life and at a lower cost; - not one or the other; and,
• the creation and support of successful companies with significant economic activity.

Government's commitment of $130 million over five years, $40 million of which is provided by the Alberta Ingenuity Fund, will be put to work immediately. Some examples are:

• $15 million for graduate student scholarships in nanotechnology;
• $30 million to build a highly qualified workforce for emerging nanotechnology companies;
• $8 million to establish a nano-packaging/nano product development center that will design, develop and test new nano-enabled products and applications;
• $15 million to create an Industrial Applied Research Partnership Program which will encourage industry and researchers to work together on solutions to big challenges that face our industries in the key areas of importance to Alberta - energy and environment, health and medical technologies, agriculture and forestry; and,
• $5.5 million to establish nanoAlberta, with responsibility to lead collaborative efforts with:
• engagement of key stakeholders to mobilize primary players and resources in the province;
• a strong industry focus to ensure outputs meet industry needs and benefit the Alberta economy;
• leveraging existing investments, mechanisms and organizations; and,
• building on existing and emerging strengths.

For event photos, visit http://www.premier.alberta.ca. For a listing of the Alberta Nanotechnology Strategy Steering Committee, visit http://www.technology.gov.ab.ca/en/nanotechnology.cfm

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