China – The nanotech leader

1. China – The nanotech leader By Arun Kottolli

2. Emerging Technology • Prior to 2000, there was no mention of nanotech in China • By Jan 2005 China has dozens of Nanotech research centers – in Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong • Government has funded Nanotech research through National 863 Hi-Tech R&D Plan • People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is driving the military research in nanotech • China Plans to be a global leader in nanotech by 2010

3. Major Nanotech Complexes • In July 2001 Shanghai Nanotech Promotion Center (SNPC) was established to focus on nanotech research • Shanghai has started work on a $217 million Stone Nanotechnology Park • Nanotech park will unite state-level research centers, several laboratories focusing on nano materials, and eleven additional companies that are commercializing R&D into products

4. Shanghai Takes a lead • In 2001, Shanghai government invested 30 million Yuan in nanotech – nano-biology, nano-medicine and nano-electronics; this laid solid foundation for nano-sector • Shanghai's government will accelerate the application of nanotech in different industries, especially automotive products • Shanghai S&T Commission stated that it would also set up a nanotech incubator program

5. Universities Join in • East China Science and Technology (S&T) University has setup a 76,000 square meters facility for nanotech firms • Currently six nanotech R&D centers – built in such leading Shanghai universities • Jiaotong University, • Fudan University, • East China University, • East China Normal University, • Shanghai University • East China S&T University – • Universities are exchanging their latest nanotech results

6. Universities are getting Results • The Center for Nanotechnologies at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing opened in 2000 • Beijing's Tsinghua University announced a new approach to the production of carbon nano-tubes at a rate of 15 kilograms per hour, 60 times faster than the speed at which they had originally been produced • Current research is aimed at nano-materials, nano-electronic components and nano-medical technologies

7. Joint Ventures with US firms • The CAS Institute of Chemistry and Veeco of USA has an alliance which provides access to Veeco-made nanotech instruments to Chinese researchers including atomic force and scanning-tunneling microscopes • "China will gain the leadership position in nanotech," remarked Veeco President Don Kania • CTI Molecular Imaging to provide Zhejiang University with a $1 million microPET scanner • Zhejiang University in exchange will allow CTI access to its research facilities and activity that will use the microPET scanner to compare various forms of cancer treatments

8. National Standards for Nanotech • China will have its first national standards for nano material in effect from April 1 • This is the first national standards for nano material in the world • Standards is expected to lay a good foundation for market access, technical standards, regulating the market, proper application of tech-intensive nano materials

9. China will gain leadership position • China enjoys the advantage in research of nanometer materials • China had more than 300 enterprises in the nanotech sector • More than 7,000 scientists engaged in nanotech R&D • The Central government has budgeted two billion Yuan for nanotech projects between 2003 and 2007

10. Conclusion • China has developed a focused program in Nano tech aimed at securing a global leadership position in Nano technology • In terms of basic nanotech R&D, China has reached the most advanced levels in the world, rivaling even the capacities of the United States.