Nanotechnology Foundation of Texas

With the emergence of nanoscience, many companies around the world began to devote considerable research funds to nanotechnology, often with help from national governments. It was not long before a number of peak industry bodies were established, and one of these was the Nanotechnology Foundation of Texas (NFT), headquartered in Houston. This proved to be particularly important, because a survey in 2007 showed that Texas had the fourth largest concentration of nanotechnology businesses of states in the United States—only California, Massachusetts, and New York had bigger concentrations. Within Texas, Houston, Austin, and Dallas accounted for much of the research and manufacture—the three were named among the largest “nanotech” cities within the United States. As Brad Burke, the managing director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, commented in 2007, “There is more nano activity here all the time.” He linked some of this to the large number of educational institutions in Houston, and also to it being the location of the Texas Medical Center.

A nonprofit organization—founded in 2001—the Nanotechnology Foundation of Texas, Inc., started giving awards for nanotech research in 2003. The awards are called the George Kozmetsky Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Nanotechnology, and the David G. Nance Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Nanotechnology. Both of these $5,000 awards have been given annually, and have helped to attract students from tertiary institutions in Texas. In its report for the year ending June 1, 2004, the NFT had assets of $21,318, and a total revenue of $42,004. The NFT has also been involved in cosponsoring a number of events, the most well-known one being the Nanotech Conference, held in Texas in January 2006. The event was opened by millionaire and former U.S. presidential candidate, Ross Perot.