rus
At the Open Innovations Expo exhibition showcased new materials, technologies and equipment for nanotechnology. The forum announced significant investment and infrastructure projects.
The forum and exhibition were attended by about 15 thousand specialists from 64 regions of Russia and 70 countries. More than 2 thousand representatives of business, including more than 800 startups and 19 international associations, became participants of the highly topical business program, which included more than 160 events.
The partner country of the forum was the People's Republic of China, whose delegation was headed by the Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang. Eighteen Chinese companies, science and technology parks and universities presented expositions at the exhibition.
State support of innovations
At the plenary session of the first day of the forum in the centre of attention were the issues of state support of development of new technologies. Prime Minister of The Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev noted the following measures of innovation support in Russia:
•increase public investment, improving infrastructure, fine-tune the work of development institutions;
•increasing the state's role as regulator of the industry, creating an effective innovative system to support solutions at all stages;
•improve the innovative capacity of major state corporations (60 of them actively investing in new developments);
•create a more open system of government procurement, development of a roadmap to promote participation of small and medium-sized technology companies in government procurement;
•development of large multi-sectoral projects;
•regional development – the creation of regional industrial parks and clusters, mainly where there are serious educational institutions or science towns;
•investments in the development of a national research universities that has reached 135 billion rubles.
According to D.Medvedev, from 2007 to 2013 state support was provided to 13 thousands of innovative projects and the total investment amounted to about 700 billion rubles.
Premier Li Keqiang noted in his speech that China embarked on the reduction of state intervention in innovation: "China simplifying administrative formalities and is transferring regulatory tools to the lower levels. We are changing the procedure for obtaining ownership to inventions and provide tax incentives to innovators allowing them to buy shares in companies. Social support to entrepreneurs has also been increased in order to protect them even if their projects fail".
The effectiveness of innovation support in Russia allows to estimate second open expert analytical report "Russia: Focus on Innovation" prepared and presented at the forum by RVC with the assistance of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The research included over 90 in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs and investors, representatives of development institutions, and heads of leading technology companies. As in the previous year, one of the most important research tools was a public opinion poll, which was attended by more than 170 participants of the market of innovation and technological entrepreneurship. In general, 40% of the experts polled believe that the environment for the emergence and commercialization of innovations in Russia has become more favourable. However, the effectiveness of tax incentives and benefits for innovators is still low, only 13% of the experts gave a positive assessment of these factors.
Financing of innovations
Very important for the development of Russian-Chinese cooperation was the signing of an agreement between Rusnano, Industrial Technology Investment Corporation (ITIC, the Republic of China) and investment company 360ip (Singapore) on establishment of a technology investment fund, called the Trans Pacific Technology Fund (TPTF). "The Fund is interested in high-tech and nano-tech projects, as well as in the most advanced area – additive technology, which makes it possible to accelerate R&D considerably. All projects will have a "Russian trace", i. e. their office, or R&D department or manufacturing site will be based in our country", – said Anatoly Chubais, chairman of the executive board of Rusnano. The fund will be managed jointly by the three parties: 50% of seats in the management board will be occupied by Rusnano representatives, with the remaining seats to be shared between ITIC and 360ip.
Infrastructure projects
Rusnano and other development institutions are increasingly focused on the development of the regions. It is no coincidence that the first agreement at the forum was signed between Rusnano and the Moscow Government on cooperation in the field of development of innovative infrastructure on the basis of Moscow Technopolis. The agreement further calls for the development of infrastructure at the Technopolis in order to attract investments in high-tech industries, also aiming to disseminate good practice to other industrial facilities in the city.
An important condition for the development of innovative economy in Russia is creation of demand for high-tech products. To solve this problem on the initiative of the Fund for Infrastructure and Educational Programs (FIEP) Rusnano establish regional centers for the introduction of innovative and nanotechnology products.
The CEO Igor Gayduk told about plans of work of the East Siberian centre: "The goal of our center is the promotion and implementation of innovations. Rusnano has invested in many interesting developments, which are promising, including from the point of view of import substitution. Unfortunately, although many projects have already reached the stage of industrial production, their products are largely unknown to potential users.
To remedy the situation, we will work primarily with the system of government procurement and large corporations with state participation. We are counting on the support of regional authorities. In particular, there is an agreement between FIEP and the government of the Krasnoyarsk region, according to which about 5% of the regional budget are allocated for introduction of innovative production.
One of the ways to promote high technology can be the pilot projects. For example, school or kindergarten can be equipped with a set of innovative solutions that will allow us to assess their effectiveness and the prospects for scaling. Another interesting project that is still under negotiation, is the introduction in the Krasnoyarsk region accounting system of medicines and medical equipment using radio frequency identification. Such system will allow to prevent theft and determine the need for medications considering the shelf life of stored in warehouses medicines".
New project of FIEP in the framework of the agreement signed with the Social insurance fund of the Russian Federation, will help in the rehabilitation of people with disabilities. The parties intend to work together to make innovative products more accessible to people with disabilities and to facilitate their social adaptation. The organization will establish a joint working group that will develop proposals for implementation in the social security system of Russian high-tech products, including manufactured using nanotechnology.
Advanced materials
The exhibitors presented a large number of interesting projects in the field of advanced materials.
The North-West Technology Transfer Center (NWTTC) demonstrated nanomaterials produced by Techno-Service company – nano-pigments, functional additives and other components for various applications, for example, paint-and-lacquer materials, varnishes, polymer compositions, fire-retardants. Among the latest developments of the company are pigments on the basis of aluminum polyphosphates and modified iron sludge for anti-corrosive compositions, fire-retardants on the basis of fine-dispersed hydroxides and oxyhydroxides of aluminum, modifying agent for pulp and paper production, inorganic pigment-filler for plastics production. The implementation of these nanomaterials can reduce cost and improve the quality of the final product.
Centre of Nanotechnology of the Republic of Tatarstan presented at the booth of Rusnano nanostructured polycarbonate – translucent building material, which is characterized by extremely high power efficiency. New properties of polycarbonate are caused by a complex of functional nanoadditives, which scatter thermal radiation. Depending on their dosage is blocked from 40 to 90% of heat without deterioration of transmittance of visible light.
Polycarbonate is increasingly used as a replacement for glass in construction, manufacture of optical elements, automotive and in other fields. World production is estimated at 250 million euros per year. According to the General Director of the Centre of Nanotechnology Dmitry Pashin, the cost of nanostructured version of the material on average is only 20% higher, than cost of traditional polycarbonate. Produced in Kazan complex of functional nano-additives already in use with several Russian plants, which produce polycarbonate, including, for customers from Germany and Israel.
"We placed emphasis on this technology, since, firstly, it has good commercial prospects, secondly, it can justly be called a product of nanotechnology, because the principles of operation of additives are based on dimensional effect, – said D.Pashin. – Also in the framework of this project developed an additives, that modifies the thermal conductivity of varnishes and paints, as well as other properties of the polymers and other materials. For example, close to the industrial implementation is the creation of additives to improve the efficiency of silicon and organic solar cells".
Novosibirsk-based company OCSiAl – the world's largest manufacturer of single-walled carbon nanotubes – presented two projects. Strengthening by carbon nanotubes of a carbon fibre reinforced plastic was shown on the example of a cowl of the car made by partners of OCSiAl from the USA. Another exhibit – produced in Nizhnekamsk automobile tire – allow to evaluate the possibility of improving the properties of elastomers. The introduction of nanotubes in the tread improved traction and reduce wear and tear of tire at simultaneous reduction of fuel consumption.
"We have the world's most powerful industrial equipment for the synthesis of single-walled nanotubes, – said Vice-President of OCSiAl Zahar Bolshakov. – Carbon nanotubes are universal additives that improve the properties about 70% of existing materials. Their scope is very wide – from the production of polymers to manufacture of lithium-ion batteries".
Graphene materials company from St. Petersburg presented samples of dispersions of functionalized graphene. The company has developed a method for the production of highly-splitted graphite from natural and artificial graphite material, followed by obtaining of graphene in a special technological environments. According to company CEO Eugene Mazin, this technology is environmentally and biologically safe. Functionalized graphene is hydrophobic and well dispersed in organic media.
Graphene clusters can be used in the production of functional coatings, nano-modified lubricants, which significantly reduce wear of friction pairs, composite materials (the addition of graphene in concentration of hundredths and even thousandths of a percent can significantly improve the characteristics of the polymer matrix). Graphene has antibacterial properties and can be used, for example, for cleaning gases, and also in medicine, because is well compatible with biomolecules.
Togliatti-based Nanomet company, a resident of Zhiguli valley technopark, presented in a start-up zone samples of metal nanoparticles obtained by the chemical recovery in supramolecular systems. The company owns the technology of synthesis of nanoparticles of silver, gold, copper, zinc, cobalt, nickel, iron, bismuth, lead. Nanoparticles of metals are dispersed in different solvents and stabilizers.
"In nanoscale particles properties of metals significantly increase, – says project manager Artem Tuzlukov. – For example, copper nanoparticles can be used to impart antifungal properties to paint-and-lacquer materials, nanoparticles of zinc can be used in anti-corrosive compositions, nanoparticles of nickel – as catalysts of a new generation. Depending on the task and the type of material, the nanoparticles may have a size of from 2 to 40 nm".
At the exhibition the company has demonstrated the samples obtained with the use of silver nanoparticles: soap, providing long-term antibacterial effect, food film, which allow to store food for up to three months at room temperature, the fabric softener with antibacterial effect.
Metal-Composite – the project company of Ulnanotech develops and manufactures products from metal matrix composites on the basis of non-ferrous alloys. Among the exhibited developments of the company – substrates for microwave and semiconductor technology, the structural elements of containers for transportation and storage of nuclear materials and waste. The range of materials is wide – from simple non-ferrous alloys to filled with fibers and particles of Al2O3, B4C, SiC metal matrix composites. Metal matrix composites exceeds the characteristics of the best alloyed steels, titanium alloys and composites based on polymers (including carbon fibre reinforced plastic).
RVC introduced Risilica – the technology of production of amorphous silicon dioxide and organic acids/bioethanol from rice husk, which allows not only to solve the problem of waste in the manufacturing of rice, but also to provide raw materials for the production of rubber products and tires, insulating materials, adhesives, sealants, lubricants and composite materials, as well as for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and paint production.
Institute of chemistry of Chinese Academy of Sciences presented the technology of manufacturing of hybrid silica nanoparticles and technology to create anti-glare nano-coating on the glass.
At the II International conference "Composites without borders" Nanotechnological Centre of Composites and Evopro Group agreed to pursue a joint project to launch manufacture of modular buses with a composite body. The manufacturing site will be based at Moscow Technopolis. The first 50 buses will be manufactured in 2015.
"The role of Nanotechnological Centre of Composites in this project is not limited to manufacture, – said Mikhail Stolyarov, CEO of Nanotechnological Centre of Composites. – Our engineers will be involved in optimizing the body structure and drafting a package of documentation that will make it possible to launch license manufacture of such buses".
Equipment for production and research
Systems for microscopy and analysis company (CMA) has demonstrated the remote access to the equipment of the laboratory, which has the status of an accredited center for collective use "Microanalysis" of technopark Skolkovo. A modern laboratory equipped with optical, scanning and transmission electron, ion and x-ray microscopy, as well as with instruments for x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray microanalysis, the granulometry of the powder materials and suspensions. CMA provides services in the field of scientific and applied research on the basis of the laboratory, provides technical support, conducts trainings and seminars. Range of services of the laboratory is very broad and includes research and development in materials science, microelectronics, biology, medicine, natural resources.
NWTTC presented a system for automatic control of precision of parts manufacturing CleverScan, which was developed by the company Engineering solutions. Model of part obtained on the basis of the scanned image, is compared with the electronic drawing, and the dimensional accuracy is checked against the specified tolerances and deviations. The system can be used in industrial mass production.
"Our center is responsible for about 15 innovative projects, said Nikolai Ilyin, senior investment manager of NWTTC. – On the forum we have tried to present the developments for different segments of the market, which have good prospects for industrial implementation and are important from the point of view of import substitution".
Solutions for biotechnology and medicine
St. Petersburg-based Nanospectr presented a universal portable diagnostic impulse nanosecond apparatus Dina-2, built on the basis of a miniature x-ray emitter. The device is very compact and together with the power supply weighs only 15 kg. Dina-2 can be used in medicine, criminalistics, veterinary medicine, industry (for non-destructive testing), security systems, various fields of science and technology, where the influence of the short x-ray pulses is required.
"Our device has no analogues in the world, – says CEO of the Nanospectr Alexander Tseyko. – Thanks to the built-in battery, low weight and compactness, it is mobile. In the x-ray emitter is used made by special technology cathode with a resettable after exposure of nanosecond pulse working needle. Electronic registration system on amorphous silicon provides almost instant obtaining of high-resolution images that can be processed on site or sent for analysis at any point of the globe".
At the Rusnano booth demonstrated the laser perforator for contactless puncture of the finger that is designed for sampling of capillary blood in medical institutions. The device is economical, provides reliable protection from infection and rapid healing of wounds.
A very interesting developments are femtosecond laser for ophthalmic operations and disposable mobile splint for fixation of the limbs, head and neck at injuries intended for use on ambulances and in hospitals, which was in 2013 the winner of the Reddot Design Award.
Together with private investors Rusnano created the first in Russia Federal network of centres of positron emission tomography, which in 2014 will take patients in Ufa, Tambov, Orel and Lipetsk and in 2015-2016 will be able to join the residents of Bryansk, Novosibirsk, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Kaluga, Kursk, Orenburg, Perm, Izhevsk, Vladivostok and Khabarovsk.
NWTTC demonstrated fitness complex Enzimus with a built-in non-invasive sensor that measures the concentration of lactic acid in sweat. For processing of the received data can be used cloud services. The complex allows to dose physical activity precisely, for example, in the rehabilitation of patients and the training of professional athletes.
Ulnanotech presented diagnostic system for non-invasive prenatal determination of sex and rhesus factor of the fetus through the blood of pregnant women, developed by Testgen company. For analysis, a pregnant woman must take venous blood of 7-10 ml (as for normal analysis). The principal novelty of the diagnostic complex is that for the first time in the world offered available for use in standard medical laboratories sets, allowing a precision of 99% to detect a child's genes in the blood of pregnant women. The sets are used nanoreagent, consisting of short synthetic DNA segments. For detection of a signal light radiated by fluorophores with wavelength in the nanometer range is used.
On the RVC booth were presented atraumatic wound dressings of production of the Napoli company on the base of of nanofibres of chitosan ChitoPran, which dissolve in the wound and allow to quickly and without scarring to repair a variety of lesions of the skin.
Unique bioprinter to print organs developed by the laboratory of biotechnology research 3D Bioprinting Solutions. "Our laboratory is the only one in Russia has commercial bioprinter of original designs and develops bioprinting on its own technologies, – said the head of marketing of laboratory Yulia Smirnova. – According to our estimates, in the world this technology to develop a total of 16 companies. The major objective of our laboratory is the printing of a complex organ such as the human kidney. By 2015 we expect to print a thyroid gland".
Awards
On 15 October at the startup-zone was held an award ceremony of the federal startup contest accelerator GenerationS. The contest has been held since 2013 organised by RVC and the Moscow Innovation Development Centre under the auspices of the Government of Moscow. The GenerationS finalists in four nominations were selected by a jury comprised of 100 Russian and foreign investors. 25 best projects qualified for the finals. They were assessed based on seven criteria: team spirit, value of the problem and its solution, understanding of the target market, project feasibility, competitive advantages, business model scalability, and the possibility to capitalize the project in three to five years of operation. In the Cleantech nomination won Krasnodar-based nanotechnology company NanoServ. NanoServ is focused on cleaning of heating systems, heat exchangers and industrial boilers from salts and scum using biotechnology based on living bacteria and milk whey. NanoServ's team has cleaned about 500 facilities all over Russia and in 2014 launched their own trademark Bonaka.
The Rusnanoprize 2014 was awarded for achievements in the field of Optics and Nanoelectronics to professor Renato Zenobi of the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), the CEO of the NT-MDT, Viktor Bykov (Russia), and the Head of Product and Applications Development at NT-MDT, Pavel Dorozhkin (Russia) for the development and marketing of equipment, probes and for optical, physical and chemical characterization on the nanometer scale.
The range of affordable scientific equipment developed by NT-MDT enables the combination, with a high degree of accuracy, of two research techniques – scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and Raman-scattering spectroscopy (RS) – for the study of one and the same sample. Using this combination Professor Zenobi has created a new technology, Tip-Enhanced RS, which enables the construction of RS signal maps with spatial resolution of 15 nm for a wide range of nanoscale objects.
This year’s Nanotechnology Russian Youth Prize was awarded by the Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Academician, Michael Alfimov. The 2014 winner was a junior researcher at the Technology Institute for Superhard and New Carbon Materials, Konstantin Kravchuk, for the development of a nano-hardness scanning device, the NanoScan-4D. The device is used to study the properties of materials at the nano-level, measurement of geometric dimensions, local values of the elasticity modulus and hardness of homogeneous and nanostructured materials, determining the mechanical characteristics of the elements of microelectromechanical (MEMS) and radio-electronic devices, and the study of thin functional coatings and heterogeneous materials.
The partner country of the forum was the People's Republic of China, whose delegation was headed by the Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang. Eighteen Chinese companies, science and technology parks and universities presented expositions at the exhibition.
State support of innovations
At the plenary session of the first day of the forum in the centre of attention were the issues of state support of development of new technologies. Prime Minister of The Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev noted the following measures of innovation support in Russia:
•increase public investment, improving infrastructure, fine-tune the work of development institutions;
•increasing the state's role as regulator of the industry, creating an effective innovative system to support solutions at all stages;
•improve the innovative capacity of major state corporations (60 of them actively investing in new developments);
•create a more open system of government procurement, development of a roadmap to promote participation of small and medium-sized technology companies in government procurement;
•development of large multi-sectoral projects;
•regional development – the creation of regional industrial parks and clusters, mainly where there are serious educational institutions or science towns;
•investments in the development of a national research universities that has reached 135 billion rubles.
According to D.Medvedev, from 2007 to 2013 state support was provided to 13 thousands of innovative projects and the total investment amounted to about 700 billion rubles.
Premier Li Keqiang noted in his speech that China embarked on the reduction of state intervention in innovation: "China simplifying administrative formalities and is transferring regulatory tools to the lower levels. We are changing the procedure for obtaining ownership to inventions and provide tax incentives to innovators allowing them to buy shares in companies. Social support to entrepreneurs has also been increased in order to protect them even if their projects fail".
The effectiveness of innovation support in Russia allows to estimate second open expert analytical report "Russia: Focus on Innovation" prepared and presented at the forum by RVC with the assistance of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The research included over 90 in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs and investors, representatives of development institutions, and heads of leading technology companies. As in the previous year, one of the most important research tools was a public opinion poll, which was attended by more than 170 participants of the market of innovation and technological entrepreneurship. In general, 40% of the experts polled believe that the environment for the emergence and commercialization of innovations in Russia has become more favourable. However, the effectiveness of tax incentives and benefits for innovators is still low, only 13% of the experts gave a positive assessment of these factors.
Financing of innovations
Very important for the development of Russian-Chinese cooperation was the signing of an agreement between Rusnano, Industrial Technology Investment Corporation (ITIC, the Republic of China) and investment company 360ip (Singapore) on establishment of a technology investment fund, called the Trans Pacific Technology Fund (TPTF). "The Fund is interested in high-tech and nano-tech projects, as well as in the most advanced area – additive technology, which makes it possible to accelerate R&D considerably. All projects will have a "Russian trace", i. e. their office, or R&D department or manufacturing site will be based in our country", – said Anatoly Chubais, chairman of the executive board of Rusnano. The fund will be managed jointly by the three parties: 50% of seats in the management board will be occupied by Rusnano representatives, with the remaining seats to be shared between ITIC and 360ip.
Infrastructure projects
Rusnano and other development institutions are increasingly focused on the development of the regions. It is no coincidence that the first agreement at the forum was signed between Rusnano and the Moscow Government on cooperation in the field of development of innovative infrastructure on the basis of Moscow Technopolis. The agreement further calls for the development of infrastructure at the Technopolis in order to attract investments in high-tech industries, also aiming to disseminate good practice to other industrial facilities in the city.
An important condition for the development of innovative economy in Russia is creation of demand for high-tech products. To solve this problem on the initiative of the Fund for Infrastructure and Educational Programs (FIEP) Rusnano establish regional centers for the introduction of innovative and nanotechnology products.
The CEO Igor Gayduk told about plans of work of the East Siberian centre: "The goal of our center is the promotion and implementation of innovations. Rusnano has invested in many interesting developments, which are promising, including from the point of view of import substitution. Unfortunately, although many projects have already reached the stage of industrial production, their products are largely unknown to potential users.
To remedy the situation, we will work primarily with the system of government procurement and large corporations with state participation. We are counting on the support of regional authorities. In particular, there is an agreement between FIEP and the government of the Krasnoyarsk region, according to which about 5% of the regional budget are allocated for introduction of innovative production.
One of the ways to promote high technology can be the pilot projects. For example, school or kindergarten can be equipped with a set of innovative solutions that will allow us to assess their effectiveness and the prospects for scaling. Another interesting project that is still under negotiation, is the introduction in the Krasnoyarsk region accounting system of medicines and medical equipment using radio frequency identification. Such system will allow to prevent theft and determine the need for medications considering the shelf life of stored in warehouses medicines".
New project of FIEP in the framework of the agreement signed with the Social insurance fund of the Russian Federation, will help in the rehabilitation of people with disabilities. The parties intend to work together to make innovative products more accessible to people with disabilities and to facilitate their social adaptation. The organization will establish a joint working group that will develop proposals for implementation in the social security system of Russian high-tech products, including manufactured using nanotechnology.
Advanced materials
The exhibitors presented a large number of interesting projects in the field of advanced materials.
The North-West Technology Transfer Center (NWTTC) demonstrated nanomaterials produced by Techno-Service company – nano-pigments, functional additives and other components for various applications, for example, paint-and-lacquer materials, varnishes, polymer compositions, fire-retardants. Among the latest developments of the company are pigments on the basis of aluminum polyphosphates and modified iron sludge for anti-corrosive compositions, fire-retardants on the basis of fine-dispersed hydroxides and oxyhydroxides of aluminum, modifying agent for pulp and paper production, inorganic pigment-filler for plastics production. The implementation of these nanomaterials can reduce cost and improve the quality of the final product.
Centre of Nanotechnology of the Republic of Tatarstan presented at the booth of Rusnano nanostructured polycarbonate – translucent building material, which is characterized by extremely high power efficiency. New properties of polycarbonate are caused by a complex of functional nanoadditives, which scatter thermal radiation. Depending on their dosage is blocked from 40 to 90% of heat without deterioration of transmittance of visible light.
Polycarbonate is increasingly used as a replacement for glass in construction, manufacture of optical elements, automotive and in other fields. World production is estimated at 250 million euros per year. According to the General Director of the Centre of Nanotechnology Dmitry Pashin, the cost of nanostructured version of the material on average is only 20% higher, than cost of traditional polycarbonate. Produced in Kazan complex of functional nano-additives already in use with several Russian plants, which produce polycarbonate, including, for customers from Germany and Israel.
"We placed emphasis on this technology, since, firstly, it has good commercial prospects, secondly, it can justly be called a product of nanotechnology, because the principles of operation of additives are based on dimensional effect, – said D.Pashin. – Also in the framework of this project developed an additives, that modifies the thermal conductivity of varnishes and paints, as well as other properties of the polymers and other materials. For example, close to the industrial implementation is the creation of additives to improve the efficiency of silicon and organic solar cells".
Novosibirsk-based company OCSiAl – the world's largest manufacturer of single-walled carbon nanotubes – presented two projects. Strengthening by carbon nanotubes of a carbon fibre reinforced plastic was shown on the example of a cowl of the car made by partners of OCSiAl from the USA. Another exhibit – produced in Nizhnekamsk automobile tire – allow to evaluate the possibility of improving the properties of elastomers. The introduction of nanotubes in the tread improved traction and reduce wear and tear of tire at simultaneous reduction of fuel consumption.
"We have the world's most powerful industrial equipment for the synthesis of single-walled nanotubes, – said Vice-President of OCSiAl Zahar Bolshakov. – Carbon nanotubes are universal additives that improve the properties about 70% of existing materials. Their scope is very wide – from the production of polymers to manufacture of lithium-ion batteries".
Graphene materials company from St. Petersburg presented samples of dispersions of functionalized graphene. The company has developed a method for the production of highly-splitted graphite from natural and artificial graphite material, followed by obtaining of graphene in a special technological environments. According to company CEO Eugene Mazin, this technology is environmentally and biologically safe. Functionalized graphene is hydrophobic and well dispersed in organic media.
Graphene clusters can be used in the production of functional coatings, nano-modified lubricants, which significantly reduce wear of friction pairs, composite materials (the addition of graphene in concentration of hundredths and even thousandths of a percent can significantly improve the characteristics of the polymer matrix). Graphene has antibacterial properties and can be used, for example, for cleaning gases, and also in medicine, because is well compatible with biomolecules.
Togliatti-based Nanomet company, a resident of Zhiguli valley technopark, presented in a start-up zone samples of metal nanoparticles obtained by the chemical recovery in supramolecular systems. The company owns the technology of synthesis of nanoparticles of silver, gold, copper, zinc, cobalt, nickel, iron, bismuth, lead. Nanoparticles of metals are dispersed in different solvents and stabilizers.
"In nanoscale particles properties of metals significantly increase, – says project manager Artem Tuzlukov. – For example, copper nanoparticles can be used to impart antifungal properties to paint-and-lacquer materials, nanoparticles of zinc can be used in anti-corrosive compositions, nanoparticles of nickel – as catalysts of a new generation. Depending on the task and the type of material, the nanoparticles may have a size of from 2 to 40 nm".
At the exhibition the company has demonstrated the samples obtained with the use of silver nanoparticles: soap, providing long-term antibacterial effect, food film, which allow to store food for up to three months at room temperature, the fabric softener with antibacterial effect.
Metal-Composite – the project company of Ulnanotech develops and manufactures products from metal matrix composites on the basis of non-ferrous alloys. Among the exhibited developments of the company – substrates for microwave and semiconductor technology, the structural elements of containers for transportation and storage of nuclear materials and waste. The range of materials is wide – from simple non-ferrous alloys to filled with fibers and particles of Al2O3, B4C, SiC metal matrix composites. Metal matrix composites exceeds the characteristics of the best alloyed steels, titanium alloys and composites based on polymers (including carbon fibre reinforced plastic).
RVC introduced Risilica – the technology of production of amorphous silicon dioxide and organic acids/bioethanol from rice husk, which allows not only to solve the problem of waste in the manufacturing of rice, but also to provide raw materials for the production of rubber products and tires, insulating materials, adhesives, sealants, lubricants and composite materials, as well as for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and paint production.
Institute of chemistry of Chinese Academy of Sciences presented the technology of manufacturing of hybrid silica nanoparticles and technology to create anti-glare nano-coating on the glass.
At the II International conference "Composites without borders" Nanotechnological Centre of Composites and Evopro Group agreed to pursue a joint project to launch manufacture of modular buses with a composite body. The manufacturing site will be based at Moscow Technopolis. The first 50 buses will be manufactured in 2015.
"The role of Nanotechnological Centre of Composites in this project is not limited to manufacture, – said Mikhail Stolyarov, CEO of Nanotechnological Centre of Composites. – Our engineers will be involved in optimizing the body structure and drafting a package of documentation that will make it possible to launch license manufacture of such buses".
Equipment for production and research
Systems for microscopy and analysis company (CMA) has demonstrated the remote access to the equipment of the laboratory, which has the status of an accredited center for collective use "Microanalysis" of technopark Skolkovo. A modern laboratory equipped with optical, scanning and transmission electron, ion and x-ray microscopy, as well as with instruments for x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray microanalysis, the granulometry of the powder materials and suspensions. CMA provides services in the field of scientific and applied research on the basis of the laboratory, provides technical support, conducts trainings and seminars. Range of services of the laboratory is very broad and includes research and development in materials science, microelectronics, biology, medicine, natural resources.
NWTTC presented a system for automatic control of precision of parts manufacturing CleverScan, which was developed by the company Engineering solutions. Model of part obtained on the basis of the scanned image, is compared with the electronic drawing, and the dimensional accuracy is checked against the specified tolerances and deviations. The system can be used in industrial mass production.
"Our center is responsible for about 15 innovative projects, said Nikolai Ilyin, senior investment manager of NWTTC. – On the forum we have tried to present the developments for different segments of the market, which have good prospects for industrial implementation and are important from the point of view of import substitution".
Solutions for biotechnology and medicine
St. Petersburg-based Nanospectr presented a universal portable diagnostic impulse nanosecond apparatus Dina-2, built on the basis of a miniature x-ray emitter. The device is very compact and together with the power supply weighs only 15 kg. Dina-2 can be used in medicine, criminalistics, veterinary medicine, industry (for non-destructive testing), security systems, various fields of science and technology, where the influence of the short x-ray pulses is required.
"Our device has no analogues in the world, – says CEO of the Nanospectr Alexander Tseyko. – Thanks to the built-in battery, low weight and compactness, it is mobile. In the x-ray emitter is used made by special technology cathode with a resettable after exposure of nanosecond pulse working needle. Electronic registration system on amorphous silicon provides almost instant obtaining of high-resolution images that can be processed on site or sent for analysis at any point of the globe".
At the Rusnano booth demonstrated the laser perforator for contactless puncture of the finger that is designed for sampling of capillary blood in medical institutions. The device is economical, provides reliable protection from infection and rapid healing of wounds.
A very interesting developments are femtosecond laser for ophthalmic operations and disposable mobile splint for fixation of the limbs, head and neck at injuries intended for use on ambulances and in hospitals, which was in 2013 the winner of the Reddot Design Award.
Together with private investors Rusnano created the first in Russia Federal network of centres of positron emission tomography, which in 2014 will take patients in Ufa, Tambov, Orel and Lipetsk and in 2015-2016 will be able to join the residents of Bryansk, Novosibirsk, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Kaluga, Kursk, Orenburg, Perm, Izhevsk, Vladivostok and Khabarovsk.
NWTTC demonstrated fitness complex Enzimus with a built-in non-invasive sensor that measures the concentration of lactic acid in sweat. For processing of the received data can be used cloud services. The complex allows to dose physical activity precisely, for example, in the rehabilitation of patients and the training of professional athletes.
Ulnanotech presented diagnostic system for non-invasive prenatal determination of sex and rhesus factor of the fetus through the blood of pregnant women, developed by Testgen company. For analysis, a pregnant woman must take venous blood of 7-10 ml (as for normal analysis). The principal novelty of the diagnostic complex is that for the first time in the world offered available for use in standard medical laboratories sets, allowing a precision of 99% to detect a child's genes in the blood of pregnant women. The sets are used nanoreagent, consisting of short synthetic DNA segments. For detection of a signal light radiated by fluorophores with wavelength in the nanometer range is used.
On the RVC booth were presented atraumatic wound dressings of production of the Napoli company on the base of of nanofibres of chitosan ChitoPran, which dissolve in the wound and allow to quickly and without scarring to repair a variety of lesions of the skin.
Unique bioprinter to print organs developed by the laboratory of biotechnology research 3D Bioprinting Solutions. "Our laboratory is the only one in Russia has commercial bioprinter of original designs and develops bioprinting on its own technologies, – said the head of marketing of laboratory Yulia Smirnova. – According to our estimates, in the world this technology to develop a total of 16 companies. The major objective of our laboratory is the printing of a complex organ such as the human kidney. By 2015 we expect to print a thyroid gland".
Awards
On 15 October at the startup-zone was held an award ceremony of the federal startup contest accelerator GenerationS. The contest has been held since 2013 organised by RVC and the Moscow Innovation Development Centre under the auspices of the Government of Moscow. The GenerationS finalists in four nominations were selected by a jury comprised of 100 Russian and foreign investors. 25 best projects qualified for the finals. They were assessed based on seven criteria: team spirit, value of the problem and its solution, understanding of the target market, project feasibility, competitive advantages, business model scalability, and the possibility to capitalize the project in three to five years of operation. In the Cleantech nomination won Krasnodar-based nanotechnology company NanoServ. NanoServ is focused on cleaning of heating systems, heat exchangers and industrial boilers from salts and scum using biotechnology based on living bacteria and milk whey. NanoServ's team has cleaned about 500 facilities all over Russia and in 2014 launched their own trademark Bonaka.
The Rusnanoprize 2014 was awarded for achievements in the field of Optics and Nanoelectronics to professor Renato Zenobi of the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), the CEO of the NT-MDT, Viktor Bykov (Russia), and the Head of Product and Applications Development at NT-MDT, Pavel Dorozhkin (Russia) for the development and marketing of equipment, probes and for optical, physical and chemical characterization on the nanometer scale.
The range of affordable scientific equipment developed by NT-MDT enables the combination, with a high degree of accuracy, of two research techniques – scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and Raman-scattering spectroscopy (RS) – for the study of one and the same sample. Using this combination Professor Zenobi has created a new technology, Tip-Enhanced RS, which enables the construction of RS signal maps with spatial resolution of 15 nm for a wide range of nanoscale objects.
This year’s Nanotechnology Russian Youth Prize was awarded by the Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Academician, Michael Alfimov. The 2014 winner was a junior researcher at the Technology Institute for Superhard and New Carbon Materials, Konstantin Kravchuk, for the development of a nano-hardness scanning device, the NanoScan-4D. The device is used to study the properties of materials at the nano-level, measurement of geometric dimensions, local values of the elasticity modulus and hardness of homogeneous and nanostructured materials, determining the mechanical characteristics of the elements of microelectromechanical (MEMS) and radio-electronic devices, and the study of thin functional coatings and heterogeneous materials.
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