The Hindu Business Line : Welcome focus on nanotechnology

The President of India, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, has repeatedly stressed on the need to focus on nanotechnology and nanosciences to propel India to the frontiers of scientific research and technology

Two major problems have arisen, as gleaned from US researchers, in this field.

First is the problem of creating/inventing the instruments, metrology and other tools such as scanning probe micro scopes, dip-pen lithography,

NMR spectroscopy etc. Second comes the question of making nanotech products, when they become available, commercially viable. There is no business model available yet to treat the new materials as different from `commodities'.

The prices of `conventional' materials have fallen rather steeply and nanomaterials, which may cost higher, will have to compete with them.

Another important question is whether it is feasible for India to get into global competition in the field. Or is it wiser to join hands with another global player to tackle the issue of resource constraints?

Kangayam R. Rangaswamy

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Welcome focus on nanotechnology