Accelrys Nanotechnology Consortium - Background

The Nanotechnology Consortium is a new initiative led by Accelrys, the leading provider of nanotechnology software. Its goal is to extend existing and create new software tools, which enable the rational design of nanomaterials and nanodevices.

Rational Design Approach for Nanomaterials

As noted by the roadmap report, "Chemical Industry R&D Roadmap for Nanomaterials By Design: From Fundamentals to Function," published by the Chemical Industry Vision2020 Technology Partnership, only a solution-oriented approach to materials development will lead to the realization of broad economic benefits from nanomaterials. The report also points out the importance of modeling and simulation software to enable a rational design approach.

Role of the Accelrys Nanotechnology Consortium

The Accelrys Nanotechnology Consortium gives members the edge in their R&D, increasing both its efficiency and effectiveness. It will further enhance the impact of software tools, contributing to R&D cost savings, supporting patent applications, facilitating interdisciplinary working, and supporting a smooth ongoing ‘lab to fab’ transition.

The Accelrys Nanotechnology Consortium provides a project framework and a detailed scientific proposal that addresses the challenges of rational nanomaterials and nanodevice design. The proposal includes developments by which the time and length scales of high-precision chemistry calculations can be extended, the simulation of device function be addressed, and the boundary of inorganic, organic, and biological materials models be overcome. The developments include enhancements to Accelrys’ existing well-validated software tools and new, breakthrough technologies. These new tools will also build bridges to complementary engineering design tools.

About the Nanotechnology Consortium Model

The method by which proposed developments will be achieved is the successful Accelrys Consortium model, which has in the past delivered important advancements in areas such as catalysis and combinatorial chemistry.The Consortium is a shared-risk/shared-cost development project between members, Accelrys, and academic collaborators. It is open to commercial, government, and academic organizations. Organizations become members through a combination of licensing Accelrys software,which forms the basis of Consortium activities, and a membership fee, which is re-invested into the project. Members determine software development directions and adopt a workplan by majority vote.

Potential development areas have been identified and an initial workplan has been proposed by Accelrys and its academic collaborators. As a result of the Consortium project, new and enhanced rational design software tools will become available to members in a quality-controlled, integrated toolkit, supported by knowledge-transfer to enable successful application.

The Consortium is an ongoing initiative, organized into phases of three years. The first phase runs from 1 July 2004 to 31 August 2007.