NucrystEdmonton Sun
October 31, 2006
Cutting edge of nanotechnology
By DARCY HENTON, LEGISLATURE BUREAU
California has Silicon Valley. Now Alberta has Nano Way.
Like the silicon chip-producing companies clustered in California, world-leading nanotechnology companies are making 99 Street their base, says David Lynch, University of Alberta dean of engineering.
He told a committee of Tory politicians at the legislature yesterday that there's such a proliferation of nanotechnology companies along a south side stretch of the street that it has been dubbed Nano Way.
"People with like ideas tend to associate with one another," he said.
"In 10 or 15 years we'll look back on it and see it was the genesis of an entirely new industrial base for Alberta."
Lynch said the companies are attracted to the area by the presence of the Alberta Research Park.
He told Tory MLAs that the technology is already being applied to improve the efficiency of the oilsands industry and improve clean coal technology.
But he "wowed" them when he talked about how nanotechnology can both reduce health care costs and improve health care, providing Albertans with a higher quality of life.
Lynch said technology being developed at the University of Alberta's $300-million National Institute for Nanotechnology will enable doctors to diagnose diseases faster and more cheaply.
It can also be used to create sensors that can warn doctors when artificial hips need replacing in the same way diagnostics enables mechanics to advise motorists when their vehicle brakes need changing.
Lynch said one new nano product called Acticoat that's being developed by Nucryst Pharmaceuticals in Fort Saskatchewan is already being shipped around the world for burn treatment.
"That material, which is a wound dressing, has dramatically improved the quality of life of people who have serious burns and wounds and at a very much lower cost than other technology provides," he said.
Cindy Ady, who chairs the committee on education and employment, was dazzled by the presentation.
"All I can say is: 'Wow.' It's quite impressive ... This is a very exciting frontier for this province."