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

LONDON, February 22, 2011 - 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
www.gold.org/technology for more information.

Gold : The hidden element in innovation report and video can be viewed
at: 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 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

For further information please contact: Stephanie Mackrell, World Gold Council, +44(0)207-826-4763, Stephanie.mackrell at gold.org; Mary Clark, Nathan Williams, Capital MSL, +44(0)207-307-5336, Mary.clark at capitalmsl.com