Australia Nanobusiness Forum

Following the success of the Second National Nanotechnology Conference—held in Melbourne, Australia, in September 2005—it was decided to establish the Australia Nanobusiness Forum (ANBF) in early 2006 to build on this enthusiasm, and to have a national body to help promote Australian companies focusing on this new field.

This was in part inspired by the formation of the U.S. Nanobusiness Alliance, which was successful in lobbying and helping U.S. companies compete internationally. There was also a great deal of interest from the Australian government, which hoped “to develop a national nanotechnology strategy and develop niche manufacturing industries based on nanotechnology, totaling $57.7 million Australian.”

Technically, the ANBF is a limited company, formally registered on October 27, 2005, in Heidelberg, in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. The stated aim of the ANBF is to “provide information to members on nanotechnology developments and issues effecting the industry,” both regulatory and political; “provide a forum for interaction between nanotechnology companies, their suppliers and collaborators,” and “provide a collective view of industry needs to political and regulatory decision-makers, and a focal point for international and export representation.” They also have regular meetings and consultation exercises.

The ANBF elected a chairman, Brian Power—the director of Realtek Technologies, who had experience in the field of toolmaking. The other members of the ANBF Board were Professor Erol Harvey, chief executive officer (CEO) of MiniFAB (Australia) Pty Ltd; Dr. Ian Birkby, CEO of AzoNetwork; Dr. Paul McCormick, CEO of Antaria Ltd; Dr. Kristin Alford, Director of Bridge8 Pty Ltd; and Rosie Hicks, CEO of the Australian National Fabrication Facility.

Since its establishment, there has been increasing interest in nanoscience, and a New South Wales chapter of the ANBF was established in March 2007, with support from Tina Rankovic, then CEO of the ANBF, and originally from South Australia. The ANBF has been involved in organizing seminars and as well as increasing awareness of “nano risks.” These risks can come from the misuse of nanomaterials, especially carbon nanotubes, which already exist in some consumer items. They have been shown to be a risk for developing mesothelioma, similar to the risk from asbestos fibers. To deal with this issue, the ANBF supported the system of full labeling of nanomaterials to help protect both consumers and workers in the industry, a move that had the strong support of the trade union movement. To highlight the role in nanotechnology in Australia, an Internet blog site, http://blog.nanovic.com.au, has been established, where detailed discussions take.