North Carolina will put its growing nanotechnology sector on display over the next two days in Charlotte.

The state’s North Carolina Office of Science and Technology is one of the hosts for the “Nano: Technology Building Blocks” event at UNC-Charlotte in partnership with the N.C. Department of Commerce, the Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology, the Charlotte Research Institute and the Small Business Technology Development Corporation.

More than 200 people have already registered to attend.

The primary focus is on commercialization, and the program includes panels as well as networking opportunities – similar to “speed dating” at venture capital events – where startup companies and entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to meet numerous investors or people affiliated with funding organizations.

Travis Earles, assistant director for nanotechnology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, will deliver a keynote speech on Tuesday night.

Other high-profile speakers include Doug Jamison, chief executive officer of Harris & Harris, a publicly traded venture capital firm, and Michael Bolick, president of Lab 21, which focuses on personalized medicine diagnostics.

“Networking at the Speed of Nano” will be offered on two occasions with entrepreneurs getting 10 minutes or so to talk with five funders, tech transfer and business development executives.

The roundtable panelists include:

• Paul Ulanch, NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
• Briles Johnson, Business Link North Carolina (BLNC), NC Department of Commerce
• Carl Mahler, Office of Technology Transfer, UNC Charlotte
• Jarrod Hamilton, CMG Partners
• Tim Howard, Stonecroft Capital

Other panels will discuss what the funding outlook is for nanotech-related startups.

Panelists include:

• Paul Wetenhall, UNC-Charlotte Ben Craig Center, Inc. (Moderator)
• John Cambier, NC IDEA and IDEA Fund Partners
• Tim Howard, Stonecroft Capital
• Mike Elliott, Noro-Moseley
• Doug Jamison, Harris & Harris Group

Another panel will discuss nanotech priorities from the government’s perspective and opportunities for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

For more about the conference, read here.

Get the latest news alerts: Follow WRAL Tech Wire at Twitter.