The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce announces that the state of Texas has chosen Molecular Imprints, Inc. (MII), a Central Texas company, as one of the first four companies funded through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). Molecular Imprints was one of the companies that applied to the fund through the Central Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (CenTex RCIC). MII, the leader in imprint lithography and a technology spin-off from the University of Texas at Austin, will receive a $3M project grant to help accelerate the commercialization of its innovative nanotechnology called Step and Flash Imprint Lithography or S-FILTM.

Mark Melliar-Smith, MII’s Chief Executive Officer said, “Molecular Imprints is pleased and excited to be selected as an ETF recipient. The additional resources provided will help our company establish Texas as the world focal point for nano-scale manufacturing.”

Founded in 2001, Molecular Imprints manufactures nano-lithography equipment for the multi-billion dollar semiconductor integrated circuit industry, as well as for the expanding high brightness light emitting diode (LED) and optical components sectors and for the next generation magnetic hard disk drive and data storage markets. MII was chosen after an extensive due diligence process based on multiple criteria including a stringent analyses of the market and financial opportunity, technology potential, management team, and economic impact to Texas.

The CenTex RCIC is a virtual center that operates out of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and serves as a catalyst for emerging technology research, development, commercialization, and start-up incubation. In an effort to keep Texas globally competitive, the CenTex RCIC focuses on integrating technology development and commercialization. The center also works closely with the Chamber’s AusTech Alliance, a group of technology businesses and organizations working together to consolidate efforts to strengthen and grow the technology sector in Central Texas.

"A panel of business leaders volunteered an incredible amount of time to review and screen applications for ETF funding on behalf of CenTex RCIC," noted Jeff King, a partner at the law firm of Haynes and Boone and Chairman of CenTex RCIC. "The level of volunteerism with all the RCICs throughout the state is really quite extraordinary, and it is gratifying to see the generous efforts by those individuals lead to these concrete results."

In addition to the state of Texas, Molecular Imprints is also funded by leading venture capital firms like Alloy Ventures and Draper Fisher Jurvetson and by strategic corporate investors including Motorola, KLA-Tencor, and Dai Nippon Printing, Co.

About Molecular Imprints Inc.
Molecular Imprints, Inc. (MII) is a global developer and manufacturer of nano-lithography systems for high resolution and for 3-dimensional pattern replication. The company has commercialized a proprietary imprint lithography technology (S-FIL™), which is a room temperature, low pressure, non-contact imprint process that has demonstrated sub-20 nanometer resolution. Molecular Imprints provides enabling lithography systems and technology for manufacturing applications in the areas of nano-devices, solid state lighting, silicon applications, micro optical components, and magnetic data storage applications. For more information, visit www.molecularimprints.com.

About CenTex RCIC
Serving a 15-county region, the CenTex RCIC acts as the operational platform for the submittal and management of commercialization project application. Commercialization Subchapter D applications are accepted from Travis, Hays, Williamson, Caldwell, Bastrop, Lee, Fayetteville, Milam, Burnet, Bell, Falls, Lampasas, Mills, Hamilton and Coryell counties of Texas. To learn more, visit www.centexrcic.org