Never Ask a Luddite to Fix Something

Professor Reynolds points to this and asks “IS THE PATENT SYSTEM stifling nanotechnology?”

Follow the link and you will find that the article is sourced from the ETC Group.  My long time readers (heh) may remember that I consider the ETC Group Luddites and an anti-science group.  ETC is known for such howlers as calling for a “mandatory moratorium on synthetic nanomaterials"  Looking to the ETC Group for direction on nanotechnology is like looking to the American Communist Party for direction on free market economics. 

Professor Reynolds is a libertarian scholar and knows the value of the market. In order to fund research and development one must obtain funding and that funding is based upon the ability to protect the R&D investment.  The ETC Group and the “Innovation Partnership” have started an all from war on bio and nanotechnology.  This is their strike against the value of the technology.

The patent system has a bunch of problems; the patent offices of the world are slow and have historically had trouble with new technology.  The plastics industry and the electronics industry faced these challenges during their early phases; those seem to have been worked out to everyone’s benefit.  The U.S. Patent system is the goose that continues to lay golden eggs why should we listen to Luddites to find solutions. 

Some of my proposed solutions for fixing the patent system are here.  Unfortunately, I came up with these without funding from “governments, industry and NGOs” that help ETC Group and the “Innovation Partnership.”   The top three are:

First, identify new technologies early on and develop the infrastructure to rigorously examine patent applications in those areas.

Second, establish meaningful inter partes opposition in the Patent Office that allows the party challenging validity to be fully heard and does not precluding further argument in district court.

Third, establish a unique district court with jurisdiction over patent cases.

Ohio Entrepreneurial Signature Programs

If you are a budding nano-entrepreneur in the State of Ohio, I strongly suggest contacting one of the Ohio Third Frontier Entrepreneurial Signature Programs (ESP). The ESP's can provide business counseling and are a source of funds for Ohio companies and entrepreneurs.

The state is divided into regions and each region has different technical specialties based on existing institutions. Contact your local region and if your technology isn’t a specialty, they can direct you to the best region for you.

Northeast
The Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition (NorTech) serving Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Crawford, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, and Wayne counties.

Northwest
Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) serving Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties.

Central
TechColumbus serving Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, Ross and Union counties.

West Central
Dayton Development Coalition serving Champaign, Clarke, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby counties.

Southwest
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber serving Butler, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland and Warren counties.

Southeast
Ohio University - Voinovich Center serving Adams, Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Muskingham, Noble, Pike, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington counties.

Reporting from the 2008 Ohio Nanotechnology Summit.

The 2008 Ohio Nanotechnology Summit ran from April 9th to 11th at Great Wolf lodge in Mason Ohio. The striking change between 2008 and 2005 is how far Ohio has come, with the Third Frontier project and the growth of the Ohio Department of Development.

Not only is Ohio’s investment improving but so is the quality of the Nanotechnology Summit. In 2005 the Summit was more of a meet and greet for graduate students presenting posters. in 2008 the Summit has grown up with general managers, business unit presidents and leaders of major technology institutions presenting.

Look for several posting over the next few days.

OHIO NANOTECHNOLOGY SUMMIT

The 2008 Ohio Nanotechnology summit will be held on April 8th through 11th at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio. Bring your swim suit and remember that swimsuits are one area where bigger is better.


Topics Include:

Experimental Methods and Modeling
Entrepreneurial Signature Program from the Ohio Department of Development and Pre-Seed Funds
Technology Transfer
Intellectual Property
An Emerging Technology Forum
Sensor Technology
Nano-Biotechnology

The speakers will include:

Mike Roco -- National Science Foundation

Elliott Liggett -- Lockheed Martin

John Chang -- GrafTech

Asis Banerjie -- Ovation Polymers

Wayne Earley -- PolymerOhio

Dr. Linda Horton -- Oak Ridge National LaboratoryDirector, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences

Lance Criscuolo -- General Manager Zyvex Performance Materials
David Burton -- General Manager Pyrograf Products

Dr. Sharmila M. Mukhopadhyay -- Director, Center for Nanoscale Multifunctional Materials Wright State University

Carlos Gonzales --Deputy Division Chief, Physical and Chemical Properties Division

George Schatz -- Proffessor Northwestern University

Dr. Melanie Tomczak -- UES Inc.

Dr. Wolf Spendel -- Industry Liaison Miami University, Center for Nanotechnology