(a) whether alongwith Information Technology and Biotechnology, Nanotechnology is the technology of the future;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government for encouraging research in Nanotechnology; and
(c) the funds allocated to various research institutes in the country for the purpose?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL )
(a) & (b) Government has launched a “Nanoscience & Technology Initiative (NSTI)†programme in October 2001 for encouraging research in Nanotechnology. Close to 100 R&D projects have been supported to individual scientists in the areas of nanofabrication, nanolithography, DNA chips, nanocomposites, molecular electronics, nanosensors, drug delivery, carbon nanotubes & wires etc. Ten Centres of Excellence/Core Groups in Nano Science have been established in leading institutes/Universities. Six Centres for Nano Technology in specific areas, like nanoelectronics, NEMS/MEMS, sensors, tissue engineering etc, important to our country and one Centre for Computational Materials Science have also been approved recently. Some of the selected and leading institutions participating in these programmes are Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, S. N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, Indian Institute of Sci
ence, Bangalore, International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad etc. On the manpower development front, Advanced Schools, Postdoctoral Fellowships, National Conferences etc have been held. An International Conference on Nano Science & Technology (ICONSAT-2003) was held at Kolkata and another, ICONSAT-2006 is scheduled to be organized at Delhi during March 2006. International S&T collaborative programmes with US, Canada etc have been planned. Based on the experience gained so far, a major Nanoscience & Technology Mission has been launched during the current financial year.
(c) A sum of approximately Rs.100 Crores has been allocated to various research institutes in the country so far.