Nanosys Signs Deal with In-Q-Tel to Support Development of Nanotechnology-Enabled Systems

Palo Alto, CA - (October 20, 2003). Nanosys Inc., a leader in nanotechnology-enabled systems, announced today that it has signed a multi-million dollar strategic development deal with In-Q-Tel, a private nonprofit group funded by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Nanosys’ novel and patent-protected nanotechnology-enabled systems are based on inorganic semiconductor nanostructures. These nanostructures integrate functional complexity directly into each individual nanoparticle, enabling the low-cost fabrication of revolutionary high-value, high-performance applications.

“Nanosys’ technology has the potential to radically enhance the flexibility, size and power of applications across a wide range of industries,” said Gilman Louie, CEO of In-Q-Tel. “In-Q-Tel continues to seek innovative technologies that address some of the most difficult challenges in commercial enterprises and the national security community. Nanosys’ proprietary technology offers great promise for leading edge applications for customers in both of these markets.”

"This deal is a big step forward in moving our nano-enabled systems into the market,” said Dr. Stephen Empedocles, Nanosys co-founder and director of business development. “In-Q-Tel’s recognition of the value that our technologies provide to their applications highlights their value in commercial applications as well. Nanosys’s strategic relationship with In-Q-Tel means that the Intelligence Community can capitalize on trends in commercial markets and access the improvements possible with nanotechnology-enabled systems. At the same time, In-Q-Tel’s expert insight into the government’s needs informs our commercial development, allowing us to turn challenges into well thought out solutions. Overall, it’s a win for all sides!”

About In-Q-Tel

In-Q-Tel is a private, independent, enterprise funded by the CIA. Launched in 1999, In-Q-Tel's mission is to identify and invest in companies developing cutting-edge technologies that serve United States national security interests. Working from an evolving strategic blueprint that defines the CIA's critical information technology needs, In-Q-Tel engages with entrepreneurs, established companies, researchers and venture capitalists to deliver technologies that pay out in superior intelligence capabilities for the CIA and the larger Intelligence Community.

About Nanosys

Nanosys, Inc. is a rapidly growing advanced technology company, leading the burgeoning nanotechnology industry through the development of nano-enabled systems. These systems incorporate novel and patent-protected nanostructures that integrate functional complexity directly into each individual nanoparticle, enabling the low-cost fabrication of revolutionary high-value, high-performance applications in a broad range of industries from life and physical sciences to information technology and communications to renewable energy and defense. These nanosystems incorporate nanowires, nanorods, nanotetrapods and nanodots based on all of the industrially important semiconductor materials. These systems exploit the fundamentally new and unique electronic, optical, magnetic and interfacial properties associated with materials on the nanometer-scale. The initial applications include ultra sensitive chemical and biological sensors, high performance large area macroelectronics, and lightweight high-efficiency conformal photovoltaics. Nanosys, Inc. is a highly innovative company combining the best talent and the strongest intellectual property position in the field of nanotechnology.