Nanotechnology, iCORE, Nanotechnology, iCORE, and innovation and innovation integrationintegration

Randy Goebel

President & CEO

November 21, 2008

www.icore.ca

http://www.mahoningjvs.k12.oh.us/bpa/banks/more%20info%204.htm

Overview

• A reminder of the promise of nanotechnology

• iCORE, and iCORE nanotechnology research investments

• iCORE’s innovation integration sketch

• Summary

Physical computing

• “…Rube Goldberg machines, complex devices that perform simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg

Physical computing

“…molecular manufacturing systems will use tiny, fast-cycling parts, but these can be directed to form complex patterns of the elementary building blocks of matter. As with computers, the effects on the world will be far beyond what anyone can now imagine.

Eric Drexler, Engines of Creation 2.0, p. 16

http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=503Engines of Creation 2.0: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology - Updated and ExpandedK. Eric Drexler,646 pages (February 2007); ﾊ 4.1MB downloadWOWIO Books; ISBN: DREX-00001

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Physical computing

• Bob Wolkow, iCORE Chair, U of Alberta Physics, National Institute for Nanotechnology

• “molecular iteration”

– benzene molecule “iterating” across hydrogen atoms

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iCORE Research Clusters

• 31 research chairs established

• Established Areas:

• Networks and Wireless

• Intelligent Software Systems

• New Architectures

– (e.g., Nanotechnology,

Quantum Computing)

• Emerging Areas:

• Cyberinfrastructure

• Systems Biology/Life

Sciences

• Sensor Networks/Integrated

Resource Management (IRM)

iCORE Chair Portfolio

• 5 chairs in area of New

Architectures

• Mike Brett, ECE, UofA

since 2000

• Mark Freeman, Physics,

UofA, since 2000

• Bob Wolkow, Physics,

UofA, since 2002

• Barry Sanders, Physics,

UofC, 2003

• Wolfgang Tittel, Physics,

UofC, 2005

• $20M committed to date

• NINT created in 2001

Platform Role

nanotechnology

biologychemistry

physicsinformatics

health bioindustries energysensors

transplantation

materials Bio-nano

Molecular constructionmetagenomics

Efficient devices

Commercialization Entrepreneurs Capital

Alberta Canada World

Platform Integration

Discipline Integration Infrastructure Service

biologychemistry

physicsinformatics

drugs

diagnostics Ultra efficient energy

Plant design bio-refining

Artificial organs biomaterials

health bioindustries energysensors

transplantation

materials Bio-nano

Molecular constructionmetagenomics

Efficient devices

SummarySummary

• Don’t loose sight of the promise: physical computing, programming at the atomic level

• Of iCORE’s committed investment of $80M, about 25% is in new architectures: nanotechnology, and quantum computing

• Nanotechnology is a platform (like ICT, genomics, cyberinfrastructure) that requires integration within the overall innovation system