Govt allocates Rs 1,000 cr for nanotechnology research

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) The government has allocated about Rs 1,000 crores for research in nanotechnology, out of which Rs 100 crores has been sanctioned to various institutes across the country.

''The goverment has allocated a sum of Rs 1,000 crores for research in this field, out of which 100 crores has been given to the various institutes of the country,'' Ansal Institute of Technology (AIT) Director, M P Singh said at an 'International Conference on Nanotechnology' here.

The three-day conference will be addressed by 22 speakers from the United States, Australia, Japan, France, including several invitees from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, JNU, Delhi, AIIMS, IIT Kanpur, Kharagpur and New Delhi.

Currently the worldwide investment in nanotechnology is about 10 billion dollars and is expected to double in the next five years, said Prof J Narayan of North Carolina State University.

The application of nanotechnology has significance application in the field of diagnostic, better drug delivery vechiles, cancer treatment tissue engineering and chemistry.

There has been also been promising result of this technology in the energy sectors, which include reduction of energy consumption, increasing efficiency of energy production and use of more environment friendly energy system.

''With the development of ceramic engines, nanotechnology can help increase fuel efficiency by 35 per cent and hence, reducing pollution to a great extent,'' added Prof Narayan.

''Most of the research work is being done by the academic istitutions, but it is the corporates who are resposible for bringinging this technology to the market for the use of the commonman,''said Prof Ravi Bellamkonda from Georgia Institute of Technology.

UNI