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Abstract:
U.S. nonproliferation program supported early development of new businesses.

New Entrepreneurs From Former Soviet Defense Complex to Showcase Innovative Capabilities

Washington, DC | Posted on April 25th, 2007

Six high-tech companies emerging from the former Soviet defense complex will showcase their
technical capabilities at a Russia-Ukraine Pavilion sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Energy at the Larta Institute 2007 Venture Forum. This annual
event, set for May 1-2 in San Francisco, connects early stage innovators
with funding sources and potential business partners.

The companies -- five Russian and one Ukrainian -- will exhibit
technologies in diagnostics, healthcare, nanotechnology, software, and
advanced materials. Each business is a spin-off from a former Soviet
weapons of mass destruction (WMD) institute that participated in Global
Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (GIPP), a highly successful
program of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security
Administration.

GIPP helps prevent proliferation of WMD expertise to terrorists or
states of concern by creating sustainable, non-weapons work for former
weapons scientists, engineers, and technicians. The program sponsors
technology partnership projects at former Soviet nuclear, chemical,
biological and missile systems institutes. Over 16,000 WMD personnel have
been engaged in commercial technology development with U.S. industry and
U.S. national laboratories. The program has generated new businesses and
new jobs in all four participating nations: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
and the United States.

The six exhibitors were selected through a competitive process. The
winners received advanced training in marketing and business development
from Larta to prepare their exhibits and investment sales pitches to
venture capitalists and corporate representatives looking for partnership
and investment opportunities. The U.S. Industry Coalition (USIC) and the
Foundation for Russian American Economic Cooperation (FRAEC) worked with
Larta and GIPP to facilitate the Pavilion.

According to Dr. Gerson S. Sher, president of USIC, "Russia and Ukraine
are largely below the radar of global high-tech investors. Emerging
entrepreneurs from these nations will gain exposure to high-tech markets,
potential customers and investors, while American and international
companies will learn about the rich technological capabilities and
potential for exciting new civilian products."

"Russia and Ukraine's emergence into the marketplace will be enhanced
by their exposure to and participation at the Larta Institute 2007 Venture
Forum. This presents a great opportunity for mutually beneficial business
partnerships," adds Carol Vipperman, president of FRAEC.

The Russia-Ukraine Pavilion exhibitors and their technical capabilities
include:

1. Attometrix Ltd. (Russia): Bio-analytical devices for environmental and
medical/toxicological applications
2. BIOCHIP-IMB Ltd. (Russia): Biochips for medical diagnostics and other
applications
3. International Center for Electron Beam Technologies (Ukraine): Electron
beam physical vapor deposition
4. Kinetic Technologies Ltd. [Kintech] (Russia): Scientific software
products
5. Nanocenter (Russia): Nanostructured materials for advanced applications
6. Sarov Laboratories (Russia): MDT-260 initiator for oil production

The Larta Venture Forum represents technology pipelines from federal
agencies, universities, and global networks, including companies working
with the National Institutes of Health; the Advanced Technology Program of
the National Institute of Standards and Technology; the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency; top universities and research institutions such
as UCLA, USC, MIT, Stanford; and companies from New Zealand, Korea, and
Taiwan. For more information, visit http://www.theventureforum.com

####

About USIC
The U.S. Industry Coalition is a nonprofit organization of American
businesses, associations and research institutions dedicated to
nonproliferation in support of the Global Initiatives for Proliferation
Prevention (GIPP) program. USIC builds partnerships for prosperity and
security through technology commercialization by helping to bring together
U.S. companies with scientists and engineers at weapons institutes in the
former Soviet Union. Since 1994, USIC has facilitated business ventures
that have created thousands of nonmilitary jobs in the FSU.
http://www.usic.net

About FRAEC
The Foundation for Russian American Economic Cooperation (FRAEC) is a
non- profit organization with the mission of expanding economic opportunity
and community development ties between Russia and the United States.
Interaction with Russia occurs on multiple levels as FRAEC serves as a hub
through which grassroots organizations, the private sector, regional
officials and federal decision makers are interconnected. Today, FRAEC has
the respect of both its Russian and U.S. colleagues, and has a strong
reputation for finding effective solutions to complex challenges.
http://www.fraec.org

About GIPP
The Global Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (GIPP) program
within NNSA's Office of Global Security Engagement and Cooperation helps
prevent proliferation of WMD expertise to terrorists or states of concern
by creating sustainable, non-weapons work for former weapons scientists,
engineers, and technicians in Russia, other countries of the former Soviet
Union, Libya and Iraq. http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/na%2D20/gipp.shtml
About NNSA
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), established by
Congress in 2000, is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of
Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military
application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety,
security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile
without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass
destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear
propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the
U.S. and abroad.
http://www.nnsa.doe.gov