AUTHORITATIVE RANKING OF NANOTECHNOLOGY START-UP COMPANIES TO BE RELEASED AT UPCOMING LUX EXECUTIVE SUMMIT
Study ranks 136 venture-capital-backed nanotech start-ups worldwide on suitability for partnership
New York, NY – October 5, 2006 – 2006 has been a banner year for nanotechnology partnerships, as small companies like A123Systems and NanoMaterials Technology tied up with corporate giants like Black & Decker and BASF. But nanotechnology’s technical challenges, contorted intellectual property landscape, and multi-step value chains make selecting a partner difficult. The good news: Corporate executives can rely on objective criteria to shortlist start-ups for partnership on an industry-specific basis, according to a new report from Lux Research entitled “Ranking Nanotech Start-ups for Partnership Value.” The ranking from this report, which evaluates all 136 venture capital-backed, independently-operating nanotech start-ups worldwide, will be exclusively released at the upcoming Lux Executive Summit conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 16-17.
To assess nanotechnology start-ups on their suitability for corporate partnerships, the Lux Research analyst team developed a robust evaluation tool with 20 objective criteria spanning four success factors – 1) scientific pipeline, 2) commercial viability, 3) legal and regulatory position, and 4) operational and financial performance. The evaluation incorporated both quantitative criteria like the number of U.S. patents issued as well as qualitative criteria like the strength of companies’ management teams. All criteria were scored on well-documented 1 to 5 scales, and each company evaluated was provided with a summary of initial scores for feedback prior to finalization. In addition to the overall results, the report also presents rankings by success factor and industry sector.
Lux Research Senior Analyst Mark Bünger will unveil the results of the study on Tuesday, October 17 during a speech at the second annual Lux Executive Summit. “The Lux Executive Summit is a forum for corporate and start-up leaders to meet, learn, and transact,” said Lux Research President Matthew M. Nordan. “This ranking of nanotech start-ups – and the analytical rigor behind it – will help set the stage for dealmaking.”
The Lux Executive Summit is the only event designed to provide corporate executives and investment managers with the knowledge and insights required to create a visionary nanotechnology strategy. The event is grounded by the proprietary data and analysis from Lux Research’s world-renowned analyst team, joined onstage by more than 50 speakers from large corporations, innovative start-ups, forward-thinking investment management firms, and the public sector. Capacity is limited at this premier event. For the 2006 Lux Executive Summit agenda, early registration and additional event details, please visit www.luxexecutivesummit.com. For more information on speaker and sponsorship opportunities, contact Lux Research Vice President Rob Burns at rob.burns@luxresearchinc.com.
About Lux Research:
Lux Research provides market intelligence and strategic advice on nanotechnology and the physical sciences. We help our clients make better decisions to profit from cutting-edge technologies by tapping into our analysts' unique expertise and unrivaled network. Our clients include top decision makers at large corporations, investment professionals at leading financial institutions, CEOs of the most innovative start-ups, and visionary public policy makers. To get connected and for more information, visit www.luxresearchinc.com. For Lux Executive Summit registration and additional event details, please visit www.luxexecutivesummit.com
