Author: Foresight Editor

The Fall 2001 issue of Research Review magazine, a publication from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL), is devoted to the theme "The Coming of the Nano-Age: Shaping the World Atom by Atom". Along with a general introductory piece, the issue features a half-dozen articles that focus primarily on instrumentation, tools, and materials with interesting nanoscale properties.

from the World-Watch dept.
An article in the Jerusalem Post ("Hebrew University to invest $40m. in new nanotech center", by Tania Hershman, 6 January 2002) describes the inauguration of activities of a new Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Hebrew University. The event marks the culmination of a months-long fundraising effort that began last June, and will lead to the construction of a new building to house the center later. According to the article, what is being launched now is the official cross-disciplinary activity that will involve Hebrew University scientists from the physics, chemistry, engineering and life sciences faculties. In October 2002, the university will begin offering undergraduate courses in the field.
"The physical building will take a couple of years. We are in the process of designing it now," Hebrew University president, professor Menachem Magidor told The Jerusalem Post. "Today is the organizational inauguration. In six months we will inaugurate one [physical] component, the Center for Microcharacterization and Electron Microscopy."

Additonal background on the HU Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology can be found in this article from June 2001 from the Small Times website.

from the World-Watch dept.
An article in the Taipei Times ("Taiwan hoping for giant steps in a minute world", by Chiu Yu-tzu, 5 January 2002) provides useful background on the efforts of the Taiwan government, through its National Science Council (NSC) to coordinate nanotech-related research and development. The efforts include a new Nanotechnology Research Center in the city of Hsinchu, operated by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which will be formally opened on 16 January 2002, and the formulation of a coordinated nanotechnology program to be finalized by the end of the year. The proposed budget for the program is about NT$19.1 billion (about US$547 million) over the next five years (until 2007), of which NT$1.5 billion (US$40 million) has been allocated for this year. The article also briefly reviews various nanotech research activities in Taiwan.

Update: Additional coverage can be found in another article from the Taipei Times ("Funding for nanotech to aid industry", by Dan Nystedt, 8 January 2002) which focuses on comments by Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian: "Nanotechnology is the new century's rising star and will bring about a massive shift in the development of new materials, information-technology products and biomedicine," Chen said during an inspection tour of the Nanotechnology Research Center in Hsinchu.

from the World-Watch dept.
According to a report in the Korea Herald (7 January 2002) the South Korean governmentís Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) is planning to carry out special inspections of government funding in the nanotechnology, as well as the information technology and biotechnology sectors because "up till now no comprehensive examination of how funds were spent were made." This may be necessary because, according to another report from the Asia Pulse news service (21 December 2001), the S. Korean government has decided to spend 13 trillion won (US$10.2 billion) to support the development of 77 technologies in six fields including nanotechnology as well as information technology and biotechnology. The funding is part of the 35 trillion won the government will spend on research and development over the next five years.

from the less-is-more dept.
In a brief article on Tech Central Station ("Small Is Beautiful", 7 January 2002), Duane D. Freese highlights some recent progress in nanotech-related research, and advocates a decidedly limited role for government-funded research and development: "As the potential for nanotechnology moves out of the lab, government spending ought to mimic the technology — and shrink."