Ulyanovsk nanotech center and U.S.? Intermolecular to partner in thin-film research

The Ulyanovsk Nanotech Center in the mid-Volga area and the U.S.? Intermolecular have agreed to jointly research into application technologies for functional thin-film coatings

The Ulyanovsk Nanotech Center in the mid-Volga area and the U.S.? Intermolecular (IMI) have agreed to jointly research into application technologies for functional thin-film coatings, announced Rusnano, Russia?s nanotech giant and initiator of regional nanotech centers. An agreement endorsing collaboration in research has been signed in San Jose, in the heart of Silicon Valley. In addition, the U.S. partner has agreed to sell the Ulyanovsk Center its new research platform enabling the application of thin-film coatings to a variety of materials. Rusnano underscored that ?the platform has no analogs in Russia, in the former Soviet Union or in Europe.? IMI?s equipment is said to make it possible to step up the speed and quality of scientific research in the field of thin-film coatings. It will soon become a property of a special technology company to be set up by the nanotech centers of Ulyanovsk, Dubna (outside Moscow) and Mordovia (also in the mid-Volga area). The future technology company will reportedly focus on applying thin-film technologies to making glass coatings, photocell-based devices, power electronics, displays, etc...