Dow boosts nanotech interests with Starpharma subsidiary appointments

US giant Dow Corning's investment in Australian nanotechnology has deepend with a series of high-profile Dow-related appointments to the board and management of Starpharma's US subsidiary Dendritic Nanotechnologies.

Among the new appointments are recently retired Dow Corning president and CEO, Richard Hazelton, who has joined DNT's board, and Dow's former vice-president of planning and finance and CFO, Gifford Brown, who will take on the role of CFO at DNT.

In addition, Dr Sonke Svensen, who was a senior scientist at Dow Corning specialising in drug delivery, has accepted a senior scientific position in DNT's research laboratories.

"The ability of DNT to attract people of this calibre is an outstanding achievement for an Australian-US joint venture initiative," said Starpharma CEO Dr John Raff. Starpharma owns 49.9 per cent equity in DNT, which has a broad IP portfolio in the area of dendrimer nanotechnology through its US founder Dr Donald Tomalia.

Last year Dow Corning, along with US company Genencor, invested more than $AUD5 million in another Australian nanotechnology company, Ambri, whose acting CEO David Cornelius is on secondment from Dow Corning.

Dr Bruce Cornell, Ambri's senior VP and chief scientist, said that the interest shown by multinationals such as Dow Corning emphasised the potential of nanotechnology for the development of new processes and industries.

"I think they are looking to see where the future breaks might be," he said. "It is probably one of the most exciting opportunities that presents itself... to be seen by one of the large multinationals."

DNT has also joined the Institute of Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN), a $US50 million joint research collaboration between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the US Army, as an industrial partner. The ISN is developing a number of technologies including protection from bullets, blasts, and chemical/biological threats; automated medical monitoring and treatment; improved performance; and reduced load weight. Other partners include DuPont, Raytheon, Partners Healthcare, Dow Corning, Triton Systems, Nomadics and Carbon Nanotechnologies.

Raff said that the opportunities made possible through the involvement with the ISN would include funding and participation in joint initiatives with other members of the collaboration.

"The others selected are far more mature companies than DNT," said Raff. "It [the ISN collaboration] puts DNT in there as a credible player with credible people."