Cientifica decided to launch the World Nano-Economic Congress (WNEC) event series back in 2003 based on our dissatisfaction with the same tired nanotechnology conferences that we had to endure as participants. At these other conferences, we had heard from what seemed like every law firm in North America drone on about Intellectual Property and patenting (a worthy subject, but do we really need to have a dozen lawyers speaking at a conference in which there are only about 20 speakers). Or another get-rich-quick scheme on investing in nanotechnology through the financial markets when there is only a handful of publicly traded nanotechnology companies (we’re sorry, but as try as you might, you cannot value IBM on their nanotechnology).
So, back in September 2003 we launched the first WNEC event in Washington, DC, and followed up with succeeding events in London, Munich, Singapore, and now in Dublin, Ireland. In these events, we moved the discussion of nanotechnology from a few nanotechnology evangelists to corporate decision makers, leaders of government, and the most acclaimed scientists. What all these events achieved is a realistic discussion of the economic impact of nanotechnology upon various industries.
In the rapidly changing field of nanotechnology, the companies, strategies, and influence on the sector are always evolving. To keep abreast of this, you need views that extend beyond the same 10 people year after year. As a result, the WNEC events have involved over 250 different speakers from all over the world.
Another issue that always troubled us about other nanotechnology conferences is that nanotechnology’s commercial development is global. It isn’t restricted by national borders. So, we have run these conferences on three continents.
Now, the WNEC will be in Ireland where its rapid development into a technology-based economy has extended into the field of nanotechnology with ground breaking start-ups, researchers of international acclaim, and large technology companies proactive in nanotechnology’s development.
If you really want to know what nanotechnology means to business, without the hype, then well see you in Ireland in April.