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Content | Watchlist 6-11, Companies 12-39, News in Brief 40-77, EU-Projects 78-79, Events 2012/13 80-85, Cartoon Corner 86, Quotes 87-89

Editor‘s Letter  Dear Readers, in June 2012, Konarka Technologies, a well- known developer of thin-film solar panels, has filed for bankruptcy protection under chapter 7 of the US Federal bankruptcy laws. Under chapter 7 proceedings, the company’s operations cease and a trustee is tasked with liquidating the company’s assets for the benefit of creditors. That‘s the end of this amazing company.

It is not only solar companies that are having a hard time finding follow-up financing and new investors but basically all technology firms. Who can today still remember NanoDynamics in the US or Nanoident Technologies in Austria?

NanoDynamics filed Chapter 11 years ago. This amazing US company had the first portable solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system on the market, their Revolution 50(TM) had been demonstrated to operate reliably over extended periods of time using conventional fuels. Nanoident Technologies from Austria was in great demand for its semiconductor-based sensors by experts. All this is history now.

Keith Blakely, former CEO of NanoDynamics and today Chairman & CEO of The InVentures Group has at least managed that some of Nano- Dynamics’ products survived. That way, the company OnCore Golf has taken over and further developed the hollow-metal core (NDMX HMS110) originally developed by NanoDynamics. Today, OnCore Golf‘s first product, the Omen(TM), is the world’s only hollow-metal core (HMC) golf ball, designed to be straighter off the tee by reducing sidespin, increasing moment of inertia, and adding perimeter weighting. Thanks to Keith for bringing back this technology to us! 

I especially want to highlight news from last weeks because the company works in one of the most important areas of the next decades, namely coping with water shortage. Namib Beetle Design in Boston, USA, won a $10,000 prize during a Venture Competition. The company uses a technology in order to optimize water harvesting techniques. The founders based their design on the namib desert beetle, that uses nanotechnology to trap water from condensation. The company is currently seeking venture financing.

http://oncoregolf.com http://www.theinventuresgroup.com http://www.nbdwater.com

Thomas Ilfrich