Padua, Italy---March 17, 2006---Nanochallenge is an international business plan competition launched for the first time in 2005 following a careful evaluation of the international nanotechnology business environment. The great success and enthusiasm with which the competition was hailed in its first edition confirmed the need for an initiative that connects scientists with promising business ideas to key players in the nanotechnology market arena. In fact, Nanochallenge 2005 hosted ideas from 30 different countries and covered the most important Nanotech sectors.

The initiative is designed to attract important nanotechnology business ideas from all over the world and give birth to start up companies by providing them with entrepreneurial education and by linking them to interested investors.

The competition seeks commercially viable business plan entries for innovative start-ups to produce and commercialize products and services in the Nanotechnology industry. Anybody from anywhere who has an innovative and high-growth Nanotechnology business idea can enter Nanochallenge.

The best project will be awarded the grand prize of €300,000 , of which €200,000 as seed investment and €100,000 in services and infrastructure (use of state of the art laboratories, accommodation, web hosting, etc).

Submissions are due by June 16th and the final event will be held on 16, 17 and 18 November in Padua.

For further information, email to info@nanochallenge.com, or visit www.nanochallenge.com