'Applied research required in nanotechnology'

"The department of science and technology will increase the number of nanotechnology centres across the country," said C N R Rao, chairman, nanoscience and technology committee, department of science and technology.

Eight centres were established during the last two years with an expenditure of Rs 300 crore and four more will be established in 2-3 months at a cost of Rs 200 crore.

C N R Rao said that with the establishment of a nanotechnology centre in Bangalore, the effort will be to make it a centre of excellence.

He added that the links between government agencies, industrial researchers and entrepreneurs should be strengthened because at present most of the nanotechnology projects are financed by the government alone.

At present, research on nanomaterials in India is in a nascent stage, wth most active groups concentrated across a small number of public-funded institutions. Technical development in nanotechnologies in every country is done according to their requirements.

There is a need to move from basic nanotechnology to productive nanotechnology which should have social relevance. Nanotechnology "" the "manipulation of materials at the atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales" "" not only has commercial applications but also holds enormous promise in providing safe drinking water, low-cost lighting systems and better agro output to the world's poor.

At present interest in the area is being shown by the pharmaceutical companies looking for nanoparticles-based drug delivery formulations. Even textile mills can impregnate fibres with the desired molecules to get the desired properties in cloth.

"The Indian semiconductor industry is one big area where nanotechnology will have greater relevance," said Michael

Weiss, vice president and general manager for Asia, Veeco Instruments. He added, the greatest demand for nanotechnology in India is in wafer fabrication in the semi-conductor industry.

The company entered the Chinese market three years ago and is doing a $ 30 million business. "Veeco considers India as a prospective market in the sales of nanotechnology equipment," said Weiss.