The Emerging Technology Forum educates investors, entrepreneurs and trend watchers on the commercial potential and likely impact of "coming" technologies. Subjects in this forum have progressed beyond raw technology development to early product developments but are only beginning to see customer adoption and have not yet become broadly adopted by mainstream customers.

Nanotechnology has ignited a great deal of interest, confusion and speculation. Often, the hype has exceeded the reality. No one argues the 20 year, long term prospects for all things moving to the nanoscale. But in the meantime, there's a great deal of work to do. What's gone largely unnoticed is another converging natural force: biology. The intersection of these two areas of investigation is bringing together researchers from life sciences and the electronics industry into start ups moving to harness the biological forces of nature and put them to work for assembling next generation materials and electronics systems. Researchers in both fields are confronted with similar challenges of trying to manage and manipulate complex molecules at the molecular scale.

What are the technological advancements making possible the fusing of biotech and nanotech and creating new business opportunities? How will this new area impact the semiconductor industry and biomedicine? What are the shortcomings in tools that need to be solved today? These are a few of the questions we'll explore in this spirited evening panel discussion with leading market participants.

Moderator:
Lee Bruno, Senior Editor, Red Herring

Industry Overview
Hari Manoharan, Associate Professor of Physics, Stanford University

Panel:
Gajus Worthington, President, CEO & Cofounder, Fluidigm
Michael Knapp, President and CEO, Cambrios
Venture Capital Speaker (forthcoming)

Emerging Technology Forum Chairman:
Ronald Weissman, Apax Partners

Date: April 6, 2005

Place:
Gray, Cary [DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary]
2000 University Avenue
East Palo Alto
(650) 833-2000

Time: 6-9pm
Doors open: 6:00 p.m. for informal networking
Panel Discussion: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Q&A: 8:30 p.m.-9:00pm

Fee: $55 VC Task Force members, $65 Affiliates, $75 General

Registration Link
Hors d'oeuvres, wine and soft drinks will be served.