World Gold Council Launches Initiative to Accelerate the Development of Emerging Technologies Utilising Gold

LONDON, February 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Gold Council today announced that it is to play a pivotal role in the transition of new gold-based innovations from 'lab' to 'market'. There has been an explosion of interest in the use of gold in science and technology, mainly driven by the emergence of nanotechnology, yet breakthroughs in research are slow to achieve commercial success due to lack of further targeted investment and support. The World Gold Council's initiative will help bridge the gap between government-funded early stage research and venture capital-backed commercialisation through investing in gold-related technology in the fields of medical diagnosis and treatment, protecting the environment and renewable energy.

This announcement is accompanied by a new report, Gold: The hidden element in innovation, which details how the use of gold has led to the development of ground-breaking advances. As technology continues to progress, gold will be used in a multitude of new products and processes, and the World Gold Council expects these innovations will help address critical needs in medicine and the protection of the environment.

Dr Richard Holliday, Director, Technology at the World Gold Council said:

"The role of gold at the heart of many scientific advances is an untold story of innovation. Although little heralded, gold is the hidden element that has increased the efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness of many technologies. We will continue to provide our expertise and resources to help bring exciting new gold-based technologies through to commercialisation."

The new report includes examples of the World Gold Council's involvement in supporting innovative technologies, such as:

    
    - Professor Molly Stevens and her team at Imperial College London, who
    are exploiting the versatility of gold nanoparticles to design tools 
    which are showing great promise in improving the early diagnosis of many 
    diseases including HIV/AIDS and sepsis.

    - Professor Michael Wong's lab at Rice University, Texas, which has
    developed a gold-alloy nanoparticle catalyst, which breaks down poisonous
    groundwater pollutants, a common health hazard.

    - Professor Carole Perry and her team at Nottingham Trent University, who
    have demonstrated that combining gold nanoparticles with antibiotics may 
    lead to materials with improved and longer-lasting antimicrobial 
    effectiveness.

The World Gold Council has also formed a new International Technology Advisory Board comprised of internationally recognised experts to help provide additional insight and guidance on its research and development activities in 2011 and beyond.

Advisory board member, Professor Vincent Rotello, Charles A. Goessmann Professor of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, USA said:

"Speaking as a researcher who has been active in this field for many years, gold's unique properties and versatility in nanotechnology open up a plethora of potential new applications for the metal. I am delighted to be part of the advisory board for this initiative that will accelerate the development of promising technologies."

The World Gold Council is interested in working with researchers and companies developing gold-based innovations, and would encourage relevant parties to contact technology@gold.org or visit our website at http://www.gold.org/technology for more information.

Gold : The hidden element in innovation report and video can be viewed at: http://www.gold.org/media/

Note to editors:

World Gold Council

The World Gold Council is the market development organisation for the gold industry. Working within the investment, jewellery and technology sectors, as well as engaging in government affairs, its purpose is to provide industry leadership, whilst stimulating and sustaining demand for gold.

We develop gold-backed solutions, services and markets, based on true market insight. As a result, we create structural shifts in demand for gold across key market sectors.

We provide insights into the international gold markets, helping people to better understand the wealth preservation qualities of gold and its role in meeting the social and environmental needs of society.

Based in the UK, with operations in India, the Far East, the Middle East, Europe and the USA, the World Gold Council is an association whose members include the world's leading and most forward thinking gold mining companies. For further information visit http://www.gold.org.

    
    For further information please contact:
    Stephanie Mackrell
    World Gold Council
    +44(0)207-826-4763
    Stephanie.mackrell@gold.org

    Mary Clark, Nathan Williams
    Capital MSL
    +44(0)207-307-5336
    Mary.clark@capitalmsl.com