(Nanowerk News) Rusnano Capital (RNC), the
Russian government-owned nanotechnology investment company, and international
technology investment group I2BF Global Ventures have announced the launch of
the I2BF-RNC Strategic Resources Fund to invest in later-stage nanotechnology
companies. The seven-year fund launches with a $53m commitment from its LPs
with a target fund size of $150m. Its remit will be to invest in international
nanotechnology that has applications of value within the Russian Federation,
with a focus on the resource sector as well as water and agriculture.
“We are delighted to partner with Rusnano Capital on our
first late-stage venture fund expanding on I2BF’s existing investment
expertise,” says Ilya Golubovich, Managing Partner of I2BF Global Ventures
(right). “It is important in a fast-maturing nanotech market that together we
are now able to offer expansion capital to larger companies with proven
technologies. The opportunities to roll out nanotech applications and also
production facilities in Russia are widespread and we will be using our global
footprint to channel the best technologies into this market.”
“Agriculture and water supply industries in Russia offer an
immense source for growth,” says Irina Rapoport, CEO of Rusnano Capital. “We
are planning to capitalize and develop those branches of the economy together
with I2BF Global Ventures which has a unique combination of venture industry
experience as well as a Russian edge.”
Nanotech applications are increasingly widespread in sectors
as diverse as food and agriculture, consumer electronics, energy production and
storage, and medicine. Nanoresearch firm Cientifica estimates that since 2000
governments have invested over $65bn in nanotech research. Russia has been a
leading player since the creation of Rusnano in 2007. Compound global growth
rates in the sector are expected to hit 18% between 2010 and 2013. Part of the
attraction of nanotech is increasing the efficiency of materials and processes
in an increasingly resource constrained world.
I2BF Global Ventures is an international clean technology
venture capital firm with a global investment mandate, based in New York.
Established in 2005, I2BF manages over USD 200 million across four venture
capital vehicles and has completed 19 investments since the first portfolio
company investment in 2006. I2BF Global Ventures seeks out game-changing
technologies, and to invest in the most innovative and competitive companies
targeting sectors and technologies it believes can lead the path to a “Brighter
Future”. In keeping with its worldwide investment focus, further to the team in
New York, I2BF retains a team of technology and sector experts including
renewable energy researchers in London, Moscow and Dubai, www.i2bf.com.
RUSNANO Capital is a subsidiary of OJSC RUSNANO and was
established in 2010 for the purpose of fund management and corporate control of
RUSNANO investment. Key goals assigned to RUSNANO Capital are innovative
technology transfer to Russia and attracting foreign investment capital for
co-investment in Russian nanotechnology projects. Total assets under management
RUSNANO Capital are $ 1 billion, currently registered and started five
investment funds focused on such industry sector’s as medicine and
pharmaceutics, "green" technologies and alternative energy,
developing new materials.
