Nanotechnology &

The Market

Hitanshu Sachania

“We missed the semiconductor revolution in theearly 1950s. We had just gained independence.But with nanoscience and technology, we cancertainly be on an equal footing with the rest ofthe world”

- Prof CNR Rao, 2006Chairman of Scientific Advisory Board to PM

Development in Nanotechnology and commercializationof the technology is no less then a race!

So far USA (Initiative and Regulation), China (Production)and Japan (Nanomaterials and Nanoelectronics) areclosest enough to the finish line.

Indeed there is plenty of room at thebottom…

India IS present on the nano-map(atleast in some corner of it)

Key Aspects of Nanotech Governance

The Indian Policy Brief

The research and development (R&D) effort was significantly promoted world overwith the announcement of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in 2001 bythe USA. Most advanced countries have based their own programmes on thegroundwork laid by the NNI.

In India it began with the 9th Five-Year Plan (1998 – 2002) wherein the Government ofIndia mentioned that national facilities and core groups shall be set up to promoteresearch in fields like superconductivity, neuroscience, robotics and carbon nano-scalematerials.

It finally began in 2000 with the launch of “Programme onNanomaterials: Science and Devices” by the Department of Science andTechnology (DST).

In 2001-2002, the DST set up an Expert Group on “Nanomaterials:Science and Devices”.

Yet akin to many other initiatives in India, it was all vision and missionand hardly any accountable progress!

But with Nanotechnology retracing the path of InformationTechnology, India couldn’t lag behind.

The Government identified the need to initiate a NanomaterialsScience and Technology Mission in the 10th Five-Year Plan (2002-07).

Accordingly, on 3 May 2007, a Mission on Nano Science andTechnology (Nano Mission) was launched by the DST to foster,promote and develop all aspects of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Major Initiatives in Nanotechnology 2001-2007

The generous Eleventh Five Year PlanBudget allocation of Rs. 1000 crore wasearmarked for the Nano Mission.

The Mission is steered by a Nano MissionCouncil (NMC) under the Chairmanship ofProf. CNR Rao.

The primary objectives of the Nano-Mission are:

Infrastructure Development for Nano Science and TechnologyResearchPublic Private Partnerships and Nano Applications and TechnologyDevelopment CentersHuman Resource DevelopmentInternational CollaborationsAcademia-Industry partnerships to be nurtured under theseprogrammes (DST 2008)

The Nano Mission has basically been divided into two portions:

Phase I: Infrastructure Development

Phase II: Product development and commercialization for markets andconsumers

Source: DST Budget Documents

DST Investments on International R&D Collaborations in Nanotechnology

Healthcare/medicine/drug delivery

Sensors

Energy storage in batteries

Solar energy

Fuel cells

Other areas of use of Nanomaterials such as thin films, carbonnanotubes, Nanocomposites, etc.

Other departments like Department of Electronics andInformation Technology (DeITy), Department of Biotechnology(DBT), Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP),Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, Council ofScientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of New andRenewable Energy, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Space ResearchOrganisation (ISRO), Department of Atomic Energy, andDefence Research and Development Organisation too areinvolved in the development of Nanotechnology andNanoscience in India.

Nanoscience and Technology funding in India

There are Environmental and Ethical issues with Nanotechnology.

Every act requires regulation. Countries all across the globe haveestablished councils, standards and constitutional dictums to bind thegrowth of nanotechnology such that it flourishes with minimal adverseimpact.

For instance…the world’s first government-established system forcertifying nano-products, Nano Mark, was developed by Taiwan.

India is YET to develop such a regulatory framework. Still, rules forother technologies and materials apply to Nanomaterials andtechnology as well.

The Nano Divide

Just like the Digital Divide, with such sky-high rate of Nanotechnologydevelopment in the developed nations, once again the developing worldwill be left behind. Such gradients have formed before too butNanotechnology when developed to its limits shall revolutionize the stateof the world. The world left off on the other side shall suffer is what manyeconomists prophesy. Minorities are raising this as an ethical issue.

But the coin has two sides and the developed world is far from slowingdown! It’s upto countries like ours to catch up.

Some Interesting Stuff:

Banglore Nano Park

India’s Flagship Nanotech Event - Bangalore NANO (7 so far)

Patent Thicket

References:

[1] A. Kumar, "Nanotechnology Development in India," RIS-DP, 2014.

[2] D. S. Bhattacharya, J. A. Pushkaran and S. , "NANOTECHNOLOGYDEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: INVESTIGATING TEN YEARS OF INDIA’S EFFORTSIN CAPACITY BUILDING," CSIR.

[3] "Creating growth opportunities for Indian nanoscience &nanotechnology," Banglore Indian NANO.

Questions:

Now that we have studied the course on Nanotechnology and are awareof the ill-effects it poses, what sort of a policy brief would you suggestfor our country to adopt?

The first ever technological outcome of yet just a hypotheticalneologism “Femtotechnology” is the hafnium bomb. This shall be a verysad start for such a revolutionary technology, how would your policybrief forestall all such ideas w.r.t. Nanotechnology from materializing?

Thank You