On October 18, 2006, a mere one year after the opening of “Nanofab” - the Nanofabrication Facility located in Marghera, (Venice) and designed for the application of scientific research and technologic improvements to productive systems - the first results regarding the research process and the conditions of the relationship between the local Universities and businesses were presented in view of the development and technical improvement of the Veneto industrial system.

During its first year of activity, Nanofab has been contacted by nearly 300 companies, 20 of which have already placed orders with the Facility for various research projects to be carried on in the field of goldsmith’s arts, eye glass making, mechanics, printing, biotechnologies, building and plastic processing.
Among these companies are many renowned names of the Veneto industrial scene, like the Benetton Group, which sought Nanofab’s advice for the development of new applications for a new type of wear - and shrink- resistant fabric. But also Safilo and Luxottica, leaders of the optical field, who contacted the Facility for the creation of cutting-edge materials and sturdier, cost-efficient glass frames; and finally Walmec, who is working on the development of magnesium-alloy glass frames.

Nanofab’s new solutions have also attracted a number of sports companies, like Dainese, which expressed interest in shock-resistant materials for the manufacturing of helmets and special visors, or Campagnolo, who is working on the creation of lighter alloys for the development of new gears.
But also Oderzo’s Plastal, a manufacturer of plastic dashboards which feature the same level of resistance and elegance as metal ones. And it looks like Nanofab may have also conquered the world of mineral waters: as a matter of fact, San Benedetto (located in Scorzè, by Venice) is conducting a research on the application of nanotechnologies on Pet bottles and foodstorage containers.

At a meeting held at the VEGA Scientific Technological Park, in Marghera, the Chairman of Veneto Nanotech, Luigi Rossi Luciani, expressed his satisfaction with the exceptional results achieved by the company, which, together with CIVEN Association (Veneto Inter-University Coordination for Nanotechnologies) constitutes Nanofab scarl (non-profit cooperative company).

Just one year after its opening, the level of success achieved by the company is amazing. According to the Regional Councilor of the Research and Improvement Department, Fabio Gava, the most interesting result obtained by Nanofab is that it helped remove any existing barriers between University Research Labs and the entrepreneurial world. As a matter of fact, Nanofab gives businesses the opportunity to work with its state-of-the-art laboratories, to take advantage of its scientific know-how and technical qualifications in order to find practical solutions for the development and improvement of their companies. At the same time, Nanofab offers scientific advice, both through its own facilities and through partnerships established with local and international Universities.

Future perspectives for the company are more than promising. As a matter of fact, Nanofab has already been asked to work on about 40 different projects so far, for a total of 735,000 Euros and nearly 10.5 million Euros invested in research projects for a number of companies. Considering these results, the company is expected to reach a break-even point as early as 2008.

In the wake of such great success, Nanofab’s researches will be carried on with even more enthusiasm in their labs, which cover an area of over 1,500 sq. meters and rely on a staff of 12 fulltime researchers.
Laboratories at Nanofab were partially built thanks to financial support offered by the Veneto Region, which accounted for a total of 17 million Euros in investments.
To that, 3 more million were added by VEGA and 500,000 Euros by Veneto Nanotech.

Further great results are expected from a number of research projects that the Veneto Region ordered regarding the law on Districts and Metadistricts.

The advantages offered by the use of Nanotechnologies are a well-known fact for any company pursuing expansion and improvement today.
The increasing number of projects ordered with Nanofab by local Veneto companies for the development of innovative technologies, and the forthcoming opening of ECSIN in Rovigo (a unified European center for the
study of the legal and ethical consequences of nanotech applications in the biomedical field) stand as a proof of all that.

Veneto Nanotech s.c.p.a.
Via San Crispino 106 - 35129 Padova - Italy
Phone/Tel. +39 049 7705500 - Fax. +39 049 7705555
www.venetonanotech.it  - info@venetonanotech.it