The Hindu Business Line : `Try to get 5 pc of nanotech products market in 10 years'

THINKING TOGETHER: The President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, with the Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, at the Indo-US Nanotechnology Conclave in the Capital on Wednesday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Feb. 22

THE President, Mr A.P.J. Kalam, called for a focused mission by Indians to acquire at least five per cent share of the $50-billion nanotechnology-based product market within 10 years.

Speaking at the inaugural of the Indo-US Nanotechnology Conclave, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, he said, "The next 10 years will see nanotechnology playing the most dominant role in the global business environment and is expected to go beyond the estimates and cross the figure of one trillion dollar."

He urged scientists, industrialists and venture capitalists to work together to provide cost-effective quality products based on nanotechnology to the global consumers at the right time.

Partnership between India and the US in the area of their own core-competencies could benefit the industry on both sides, he added.

Based on the model of Singapore, he advised the Ministry of Human Resources Development and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to initiate a capacity building drive for developing the human resource on convergence of technologies in bio, info and nano science and technologies.

He suggested launching vertical missions under an umbrella organisation, in partnership with the DST, R&D institutions, universities the public-private investment in at least 10 nanotechnology products in water, energy, agriculture, healthcare, space and defence and ICT sectors.

Speaking at the function, the Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, said the Indian Government had taken up nanotechnology on a priority basis and currently about 40 universities in the country were working on this.

The budget for this could go up substantially from Rs 125 crore to Rs 500 crore in the next five years, he added.