Publicity for the 2045 Initiative
Some press for the 2045 Initiative:
Russian multi-millionaire is targeting the business community to raise money to fund a project that aims to make immortality a reality by 2045. It may sound like something straight out of a science fiction novel, but Dmitry Itskov, a 35-year-old media mogul, is seeking investors to fund research for technology that will make eternal life possible by transferring human consciousness in an artificial form to avatars (robotic bodies).Itskov is the founder of Initiative 2045, a non-profit organization focused on creating an international research center where scientists will research and develop the technologies to make eternal life possible. Last year, Itskov wrote a public letter to individuals on Forbes billionaires list asking them to invest in his project. While Itskov did not receive any public responses, he did accomplish his goal of getting word out about the project and he is continually in talks with wealthy individuals about his project, he said.
"The goal was to get the public's attention," Itskov said. "I do communicate with some of the richest people in the world, but I can't share who they are." This summer, Itskov will make a pitch to not only to the world's most wealthy individuals, but the entire business community, to invest in his project as well as research and development in areas that help further his cause. In June, Itskov's organization will be hosting the second annual Global Future 2045 World Congress, an event where leading scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs will gather to discuss and demonstrate new technologies that are paving the way for life expansion.
Link: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/russian-tycoon-bets-immortality-125538299.html
He will attract a lot of attention if he can demonstrate neural or cognitive prostheses which enhance normal function. Some interesting reports:
"Researchers Develop Neural Prosthesis That Improves Memory in Rats"
http://singularityhub.com/2011/06/22/researchers-develop-neural-prosthesis-that-improves-memory-in-rats/
http://neural-prosthesis.com/
A good plot for a sci-philosophy/sci-non-fi movie.