Regular Nanodot readers will not be surprised to read this short item at Forbes.com by Andrew Pasek of AFX News, apparently reporting on an article in the China edition of the Wall Street Journal:
BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) – China is making rapid advances in the field of nanotechnology and the US should monitor China’s progress in order to maintain a competitive edge in the cutting-edge scientific research sector, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a visiting US commerce official.
‘China is one of the players that is gaining on us. We are wise to take a look at what they are doing that’s been successful, and see how it might apply to improve our system,’ the newspaper said, citing Robert Cresanti, undersecretary for technology at the US Department of Commerce.
Cresanti, who is in Beijing to meet with Chinese policymakers, said China’s gains were obvious.
‘We saw labs today full to the rafters with scientists and machinery. There has also been a dramatic increase in the quality and quantity of papers on nanotechnology published by Chinese scientists,’ he said.
My understanding is that to date, China is focusing on nanomaterials. Let’s watch to see whether that’s true, and when it changes to more ambitious devices and systems. —Christine
