Press Release - February 23, 2009

Undergraduate Students Represent Canada Among Industrial And Academic Leaders At International Nanotech Expo in Japan

The University of Waterloo is pleased to announce that an undergraduate led nanotechnology based robotics team travelled to Japan representing the Canadian delegation at Nanotech Expo 2009 in Tokyo. The University of Waterloo Nanorobotics Group (UW_NRG) met with representatives from world leaders in industry and academic in order to promote nanotechnology collaboration and partnerships with Canada. As the University of Waterloo's premier undergraduate nanotechnology group, UW_NRG was the only undergraduate organization at this international event. With the help of its faculty mentors, the group presented its nanoscale pneumatic pump technology to an audience of Japanese government and industry representatives at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo.

At the conference, UW_NRG took its place amongst Canadian government and private organizations at the Canadian booth. UW_NRG presented its technologies to a delegation of industry and government representatives from Taiwan, Canada, and many other countries.

UW_NRG was also invited to the residence of Jonathan T. Fried, the Canadian Ambassador to Japan, amongst other industry and academic leaders from both Canada and Japan to discuss future nanotechnology collaboration between the countries.

Building Canada's Nanotechnology Brand

With the inclusion of UW_NRG, Canada presented a full spectrum of efforts in nanotechnology ranging from undergraduate students to professors, government, and private industry. Researchers from Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec including Dr. Mustafa Yavuz, Dr. Nils Petersen, and Dr. Jean-François Massoon presented their work while their provincial and regional organizations including the Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology (WIN), National Institute of Nanotechnology (NINT), NanoAlberta, and NanoQuebec presented their strategies for the promotion of Nanotechnology in Canada. Together, the regions have come together to push for a united Nanotechnology strategy to the world.

About Nanotech Expo

The Nanotech Expo is an event that strives to bring together researchers, technology vendors, and large industries together to stimulate discussion of applications of nanotechnology. By bringing together a broad spectrum of expertise and capabilities, it fosters collaboration between industry and academia to create huge potential for business opportunities.

About UW_NRG

UW_NRG is an undergraduate led research group with a focus on microfluidics and systems integration on the micro scale. Its current goal is to participate in the 2009 Robocup Nanogram competition in Graz, Austria. The previous competition in 2007 hosted only one successful participant. With many innovative and groundbreaking technologies including two reciprocating micropumps, an innovative optical power and control scheme, it expects a strong showing at this competition. The group comprises of eleven undergraduate students in Nanotechnology, Mechatronics, and Electrical Engineering with Professor Mustafa Yavuz of Mechatronics Engineering, and Professor Omar Ramahi of Electrical Engineering acting as its advisors. The team's website can be found at www.uwnrg.org, and it is always open to partnerships with commercial and academic groups around the world.

The group was represented by three nanotechnology engineering undergraduate students: Ivan Law, Edgar Cao, and Keith Peiris. Ivan, the business development officers of the group, currently holds a research position at Rogers Cable Inc. He was a finalist in multiple case study competitions including Sun Microsystems, AGFA Healthcare, and Business Development Bank of Canada. Edgar, the fabrication engineer of the group, currently holds a research position at The Woodbridge Group and was previously a member of the Nano Bio-interfacial Engineering Group led by Dr. Pu Chen. Keith, the project director of the group, was listed as one of Canada's Top 20 Under 20 in 2006 and currently holds a research position at the National Institute For Nanotechnology. He also participated in the Team Canada Trade Mission to China in 2001 (with the Prime Minister and Premiers of Canada) and the APEC Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs Forum in 2003 to promote Cyberteks Design, an IT company started when he was 11 years old.

For more information, please contact:

Deepal Peiris
Vice President, Operations and Marketing
Cyberteks Design
105 Cedarwood Crescent
London, Ontario, N6H 5P5
Canada
Phone: 519-649-6572
E-Mail: dpeiris@cyberteks.net