We recently attended the 2009 Nano Korea Conference in Seoul. Like similar conferences in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, Nano Korea consisted of several presentation tracks and exhibitors. In general, the presentation tracks were very academic in nature, including talks by Professor Rodney Ruoff from the University of Texas on graphene for energy storage and composite applications, and Seokwoo Jeon from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on carbon nanotubes for electronic applications. In terms of exhibitors, most were based in Korea, and most were focused on the sale of carbon nanotubes, ceramic and metal nanoparticles, or transparent conductive films. For example, we met with R&D Head Young Choi of Hanwha Nanotech, which makes multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs); Marketing Director Deog-Won Kim of Top Nanosys, which develops single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-based transparent conductive films; and President Inyeon Lee of NanoM, producer of metal nanoparticles. Overseas Marketing Department Foreman Yoon-Mi Park of Advanced Nano Products, which employs 19 and was founded in 2000, told us that the company generated $9.6 million selling silver and metal oxide (such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, indium tin oxide, and antimony tin oxide) nanoparticles and dispersions for electronics and solar cell (dye sensitized and sputtering targets) applications. Furthermore, large companies in attendance included LG Chem, which was pushing nanoparticle-based inks, and Samsung Electronics, showcasing work on memory, logic semiconductors, and hard drives.
Clients interested in the Korean market should plan to attend next year; however, don’t expect as much of an international flavor as found at Japan’s International Nanotechnology Exhibition and Conference (see the March 9, 2009 LRNJ) or the U.S.’s Nano Science and Technology Institute (NSTI) Nanotech Conference and Expo. In the next few weeks, look for several briefings on the companies we met at the conference, including Top Nanosys, Bioneer, NTBase, Hanwha Chemical, NanoM, Sangbo, Daejoo, Jeio, Inktec, Applied Carbon NanoTechnology, QD Solution, and Kumho Petrochemical.
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