Russia Opens New Nanotech Center

Russia opens new nanotech center

Nicolas Mokhoff

EE Times (07/13/2006 5:44 PM EDT)

MOSCOW — A multimillion dollar nanotechnology development center here funded by the Russian Federation expands on anticipated $400 million overall Russian investment in nanotechnology development by 2007. The Pilot Scientific and Technical Center of Excellence for Nanotechnology Development opened in June 3. Robert Cresanti, U.S. undersecretary of commerce for technology, and Bob Gregg, executive vice president at FEI, participated in the opening ceremonies. Global public investment in nanotechnology development is expected to reach $5 billion in 2006. Corporate investment is expected to exceed government funding this year, reaching nearly $6 billion. "Government nanotechnology investments were initially led by Europe, North America and Japan," Sean Murdock, executive director of the U.S.-based NanoBusiness Alliance, said in a statement. "Now countries such as Russia, China, Brazil and India have joined the trend and are making significant investments."

Here we go, again! It is not as if we do not have enough competition, already. I would not be surprised if there were to be a "nanowar," just like the cold war! A decent Russian engineer gets paid about $300-400/month. The correct exchange rate is 26.9 rubes per dollar. This provides the $400-million investment in nanotechnology center with nearly 10-15 times greater impact and return-on-investment (ROI) than it would in the U. S., or any of the other "first-world" nations, for that matter. Furthermore, the Russians already possess the technological know-how that the U. S. and its Western allies do not in many of the fields. (The only significant exception is computer technology; even there, the technology is out in the open and available for the "right" price!) We (the U. S.) must do more - a lot more - immediately! Instead of spending money on such idiotic wars as Iraq, we could invest money in alternative energy sources (sorry, coal not included).; education; medical research; defense (read: not "unnecessary" offense) and the list goes on and on like an Energizer Bunny!

Best,

Nanogurul.