Nanostart holding Nanosys: Cooperation for anti-counterfeit solutions with multi-billion dollar biotech company Life Technologies

• Nanotechnological markers for extensive counterfeit protection (Quantum Dots)
• Combined technology increases reach into the applied markets
• An estimated 1 trillion US-Dollar loss annually worldwide because of counterfeit goods

Frankfurt / Palo Alto, CA– March 26, 2009. Nanostart holding Nanosys, Inc. and multi-billion dollar company Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced a cross-licensing agreement to share rights to an intellectual property estate related to fluorescent nanocrystals (also known as quantum dots). New products developed as a result of this agreement will help prevent counterfeiting worldwide. The quantum dots will allow manufacturers to trace the source of their materials and manage and track product shipments, helping stop counterfeit material use in pharmaceutical and diagnostic products, food and beverages, and electronic goods, reducing counterfeiting of currency, documents, fine art, and luxury goods.

Quantum dots are tiny (nanometer size) fluorescent particles. While invisible to the eye, they emit intensely bright light when exposed to low-cost violet or ultraviolet light sources. Quantum dots display unique colors due to differences in size. Due to their particulate nature, quantum dots can easily be blended with polymers, gels, or inks and printed onto most surfaces. The complexity of their manufacturing process also makes them almost impossible to counterfeit. And, because quantum dots are highly stable, extremely bright and absorptive, they offer advancements in solid state lighting, solar collector and electronic display technology.

“Life Technologies’ quantum dots are currently being used in life science research and pathology, but there are vast opportunities to use them in a wide variety of applications,” said Paul Grossman, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development & Strategy at Life Technologies. “Our new partnership with Nanosys will allow both companies to expand the opportunities for our combined technologies, and further the reach of Life Technologies into the applied markets.”

Jason Hartlove, CEO of Nanosys, continued, “We are very excited to be partnering with Life Technologies to use our combined nanotechnology to address the growing and pervasive problem of counterfeit goods. By working together with Life Technologies, we can now offer comprehensive solutions and technology licensing to our customers to help them use our unique quantum dot materials for anti-counterfeiting.”

The combination of the two companies’ vast intellectual property estates includes over 270 patents and applications, including 84 issued U.S. patents, for use of fluorescent nanocrystals. The licenses will allow both Life Technologies and Nanosys to work with a variety of manufacturers who want to protect their products from counterfeiting. Nanosys is currently using quantum dot technology to produce devices such as LEDs, photovoltaics and electronic displays, while Life Technologies is focused on life science applications.

The worldwide counterfeit goods trade, excluding counterfeit money, is believed to be on the order of $1 trillion annually. The U.N. estimates counterfeit drug sales alone were over $300 billion in 2008, while the World Customs Organization believes that other counterfeit goods sold for more than $600 billion.

About Nanosys:
Nanosys, Inc. is a leader in the development of nanotechnology-enabled products utilizing high performance inorganic nanostructures. Nanosys has built one of the broadest technology platforms in the industry with approximately 500 patents and patent applications covering fundamental areas of nanotechnology. Based in Palo Alto, California and privately held, Nanosys collaborates with industry leaders to develop revolutionary high-value, high-performance products for computing, optoelectronics, communications, renewable energy, defense and the life sciences.
More company information can be found at: www.nanosysinc.com.

About Life Technologies:
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com.

Disclaimer:
This notice constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe to securities. There will be no public offering of securities of Nanostart AG in conjunction with the existing listing of its shares in the “Entry Standard” segment of the regulated unofficial market (Freiverkehr) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This notice does not constitute a securities prospectus. Neither this notice nor the information contained within is intended for direct or indirect distribution within the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan.

About Nanostart:
Nanostart AG is the world’s leading nanotechnology investment company. The Frankfurt-based company provides venture capital financing for nanotechnology companies in various growth phases. It also provides the benefits of its experience and expertise to developers of financial instruments and to investors in the nanotechnology sector. For further information about the company, please visit www.nanostart.de.

Media contact:
Nanostart AG
Public Relations
Dr. Hans Joachim Dürr
Goethestrasse 26-28
D-60313 Frankfurt
Germany
phone: +49 (0)69-21 93 96 111
fax: +49 (0)69-21 93 96 122
e-mail: press@nanostart.de

This release was published on openPR.