Cameron Chai’s Oct. 11, 2011 news article about a Global Nano Innovation contest mentions the University of Waterloo (located in Ontario, Canada),

The second prize has gone to the University of Waterloo for its work titled ‘Nanosensors for X-ray Radiation Dosimetry in a Wireless Network’ and NASA received the third prize for its work titled ’A Nano Chemical Sensor in a Cell Phone’.

1st prize went to IBM for its entry, Graphene Nanoelectronics: Wafer Scale Single Atomic Layer Carbon RF Devices and Circuits.

The contest was initiated by Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute and coordinated by their POP (Prototype On Prototype) division. From the POP website describing the contest,

Overview

The 2011 Global Nano Innovation Contest–Prototype on Prototype was initiated by Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). In addition to the support from a number of institutions in different countries, both National Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program (NNP), and Taiwan Nanotechnology Industry Development Association (TANIDA) are severed [sic] as the co-organizers.

The organizers will provide 3-minute videos demonstrating the process of creating a prototype from the concept to final manufacturing based on nanotechnology. The videos are provided as templates for the contestants, but mainly as points of reference.

In the upcoming Global Nano Innovation Contest, participants can submit their own ideas based on concepts from the video to create and design their own products. You may integrate any of the prototypes into a more sophisticated system or application with potential commercial value, which is the spirit of prototype on prototype (POP).

Goals

• Develop nanotechnology prototyping capability for practical applications with universal appeal.
• Emphasize higher, system-level integration of prototypes, to spur the creation of a wider diversity of high-value nanotechnology applications.
• Establish an international platform promoting collaboration on nanotechnology.

Organizers

Initiating organizer：

• Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)

Co-organizers：

• Taiwan National Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program office (NNP)
• Taiwan Nanotechnology Industry Development Association (TANIDA)
• National Chiao Tung University (NCTU)
• National Chung Cheng University (CCU)
• National Nanotechnology Center, NSTDA,Thailand (NANOTEC)

Congratulations to all the winners!