NEW YORK, January 28 /PRNewswire/ --

Nanotech Briefs has announced a Call for Nominations for its fourth annual Nano 50 awards competition, which launched on January 7. The Nano 50 recognizes the top 50 technologies, innovators, and products with the greatest potential to advance the commercialization of nanotechnology.

Nominations are accepted at no cost via an online submission form at the official awards Web site: www.nanotechbriefs.com/nano50. The awards categories are:

-- Technology -- A nanotechnology breakthrough that has, or is expected to have, a significant impact in one or more application areas. -- Product -- A product that incorporates nanotechnology in its design and/or operation, with significant current or near-term commercial applications. -- Innovator -- An individual recognized as a leader or pioneer in a specific area of nanotechnology, with a significant background of accomplishments in advancing the state of the art in nanotechnology.

All nominations must be submitted by March 21, 2008. Entries are judged by an independent, expert panel. Awards will be presented at the Annual Nano 50 Awards Dinner scheduled for November 12, 2008, at NASA Tech Briefs' National Nano Engineering Conference taking place at the Boston Colonnade Hotel.

For complete rules or to submit a nomination, please visit the official Web site at: www.nanotechbriefs.com/nano50.

About Nanotech Briefs

Nanotech Briefs is a monthly email newsletter and web site from the publishers of NASA Tech Briefs that provides the best of government, industry, and university nanotech innovations with real-world applications in areas such as electronics, materials, sensors, manufacturing, biomedical, optics/photonics, and aerospace/defense.

Web site: http://www.nanotechbriefs.com/nano50

Linda Bell, Editorial Director, +1-212-490-3999, ext. 5511, or linda@abpi.net, for Nanotech Briefs