GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2531
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15-12-2005

RESEARCH ON NANOTECHNOLOGY

2531. SHRI RAJIV SHUKLA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that Government have recently signed an agreement with Canada with a special emphasis on research on nanotechnology;
(b) if so, the details and scope of the agreement;
(c) whether it is also a fact that Government have announced launch of a national nanotechnology centre;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of any other initiatives taken by Government to promote Nanotechnology research in India?
ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (b): India and Canada have concluded an inter-governmental agreement at Toronto on 18th November, 2005 facilitating joint scientific and technological cooperation. Nano-Science & Nano-Technology; Sustainable Energy; Biomedical Technologies; Infotainment; and Natural Disasters & Earth Sciences have been identified as priority areas of cooperation.

(c) It has been suggested to the Canadian Government that a Joint Indo-Canadian Centre for Nanotechnology may be set up in India. The suggestion is in the initial stage and no firm response agreeing to this suggestion has been received from the Canadian side. However, Government has launched a "Nano science & Nanotechnology initiative (NSTI)" programme in October 2001 for encouraging research in Nanotechnology.

(d) & (e): Under NSTI, about 100 R&D projects have been supported in the areas of nanofabrication, nanolithography, DNA chips, nanocomposites, molecular electronics, nanosensors, drug delivery, carbon nanotubes and wires etc. 10 Centres of Excellence/Core groups in Nano-Science have been established. 6 new centres on nanoelectronics, NEMS/MEMS, sensors, tissue engineering have also been approved recently. A sum of approximately Rs.100 crores has been allocated to various research institutes in the country so far under this programme.