In August 2004, Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, PC, announced the first Nanotechnology and Microtechnology Practice Group in the Pacific Northwest.
The announcement followed passage of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act by Congress in 2003. The legislation authorizes $3.7 billion over four years for emerging technologies. Nanotechnology spans the fields of biology, chemistry, physics and material science, and has potential applications in electronics, medicine, communications and manufacturing.
A new Oregon alliance -- comprised of the state's three largest public universities, the Governor's office, the state's congressional delegation, the legislature and industry partners -- targets nanotechnology as a new area of economic opportunity for the Pacific Northwest.
The alliance, called ONAMI (Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute), leverages the complementary research strength of Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Portland State University, Pacific Northwest Laboratory and private sector companies, such as Hewlett-Packard, Intel Capital, Pixelworks and FEI.
ONAMI is undertaking research to develop new devices -- from fist-sized heat pumps and matchbox-sized dialysis filters, to higher capacity chips for the semiconductor industry and the next generation of ink-jet printers. These innovations could lead to new and expanded business in Oregon and elsewhere.
ONAMI is seeding an industry that will demand lawyers and law firms with multi-disciplinary skill sets in corporate law, science and technology law, patent and intellectual property law.
Oregon's collaboration among industry, academia, federal and state government and the legal community will help build a new generation of companies based on strong technology and innovation.
Schwabe shareholders Al AuYeung and Donald L. Krahmer, Jr. will co-chair the firm's new Nanotechnology and Microtechnology Practice Group, in addition to co-chairing Schwabe's Technology and Business Practice Group. Schwabe has offices in Portland, Salem and Bend, Oregon, as well as Seattle, Washington and Washington D.C. For more information, go to www.schwabe.com. For more information on ONAMI, visit www.onami.us.