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JAPAN NANONET BULLETIN
-- 32nd Issue -- November 25, 2004
Nanotechnology Researchers Network Center of Japan
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
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IN THIS ISSUE
Nanonet Special Interview (Part I):
Dr. Mihail C. ROCO
Senior Adviser for Nanotechnology, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Chair for U.S. Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET),
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)
-- NANO CALENDAR --
For information on nanotechnology related symposiums and conferences
held in the world,
http://www.nanonet.go.jp/english/calendar/
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NANONET SPECIAL INTERVIEW (PART I)
Visions for the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (Part I)
(Issued in Japanese: November 24, 2004)
Dr. Mihail C. ROCO
Senior Adviser for Nanotechnology, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Chair for U.S. Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET),
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)
We had an opportunity to interview him about his visions for the U.S.
National Nanotechnology Initiative during his visit to the National
Institute for Materials Science at Tsukuba, Japan in February 2003.
This interview article was revised in October 2004.
This is the part I of this interview. The part II contains the
objective of NBIC Convergence project, societal implications and
international collaboration on nanotechnology. The part II will be
issued on December 9, 2004.
Q: Your major was Mechanical Engineering. It seems that nanotechnology
and Mechanical engineering are not related to each other. What made
you work on nanotechnology?
Dr. Roco: Your question can be regarded as what are nanoscale science
and engineering. Basically all disciplines have a contribution. My
research work was a combination of chemical, mechanics and computer
simulation areas in the early 80's. I noted in my work on finely
dispersed multiphase systems that shared layers behaved like a
superfluid or a quasi-solid depending on the thickness of those layers
in a confined space. In a subsequent IBM-sponsored project on two-
phase toner flow, I observed how nanometer-size particles and thin
layers unexpectedly and significantly change properties if their
dimensions or shapes become closer to the atomic or molecular size.
Interacting with numerous researchers and consulting with a wide
variety of industries helped me to understand the multiple facets of
nanoscience. I became interested in the overall picture of its
potential implications on knowledge development and transforming tools
at the end of 80's. In 1990, I proposed the nanoparticle program at
NSF, and since then I have devoted more time to the advancement of the
entire field of nanotechnology besides my research and teaching.
Q: So do you think that there are no differences between fields where
nanotechnology is concerned?
Dr. Roco: Nanotechnology deals with the intermediate domain between a
single atom or a single molecule and large molecular systems, where
all primary structures and properties of matter are defined, at the
transitions between discontinued behavior and continuum behavior. Here,
all fields of science and engineering deal directly with atoms and
molecules, without using the discipline-specific averaging methods and
mathematical formalisms that are applicable at the micro and macro
scales. The phenomena are strongly correlated and simultaneous at the
nanoscale and cannot be treated in the frame of a single discipline
any longer. So, you will reach the same conclusions no matter what
discipline you start with your exploration. One has to analyze the
interdependent phenomena at the same time. This is the reason why many
researchers in different disciplines like to work together in
nanoscience, and why they integrate disciplines and use a transforming
system approach in nanoengineering.
Q: You have actually started worldwide nanotechnology initiatives and
are working in the midst of everything. Each government has its own
policies and initiatives. How do you feel about this trend? What are
your impressions?
Dr. Roco: First of all, it's an interesting trend that more than 30
countries have developed activities or plans at the national level in
the field of nanotechnology within two years after NNI was announced
in January 2000. The spread of national programs in nanotechnology is
much faster than in information technology in the 70's and 80's or
biotechnology in the 80's and 90's. The long-term vision of
nanotechnology has focused on the systematic control of matter at the
nanoscale that would affect almost all sectors of society is a key
factor in these rapid changes. Main outcomes are added-value synergies
among various scientific and technological branches, acceleration of
research and education in critical areas of progress, and converging
technologies from the nanoscale for increasing human potential. In the
United States, we have a focus on "horizontal" interdisciplinary
strategy for applying not only the tools and methods but also the
architecture and the principles of many different fields to a new one.
In Korea, in another example, the focus has been more on a "vertical"
development strategy for turning fundamental discoveries into useful
products in one field at a time. This strategy fits better in smaller
countries. They are working to become the best in the area of high
density memory. In Australia, they have started to focus on
nanostructure photonics and a little on nanobiology while Japan has
focused on promoting both "horizontal" interdisciplinary
infrastructures and targeted potential industrial applications. In the
United States, about 75% of the overall R&D (research and development)
investment has come from industry and 25% comes from the government,
and of this last one only half has been used for developing civilian
applications. This is the reasons that the Federal government has
focused on creating the long-term foundation for developments to be
made by industry. Currently developments in nanoscale fundamental
research are occurring faster than expected, and many governmental
agencies around the world have started their own initiatives to
support fundamental long-term research.
Q: What do you think the overall vision should be?
Dr. Roco: It took us about 3 years from 1997 to 2000 to begin a global
nanotechnology initiative. We prepared this program looking ten years
ahead, and we conducted international benchmarking and considered what
governments can or cannot do to foster open interaction with the
public and to address societal implications. We spent months looking
for funding agencies to invest in our program, but at the beginning
nobody paid attention probably because of the difficulties in dealing
with nanoscale materials. In 2000, with the President Clinton's
support for the NNI programs, it became a national interest. We
emphasized that, beyond the small size, new phenomena at the nanoscale
are more important. In addition, because of weak molecular
interactions, smaller energy requirements and the need for less
material, manufacturing can be accomplished with the highest return
and added value. A unified science and engineering platform based on
the same principles and transforming tools at the nanoscale will
emerge. NNI reached about $1 billion in R&D investment in 2004, which
is about four times higher than in 2000, while the worldwide R&D
investments will exceed $3.6 billion in 2004. In summary, the long-
term vision and addressing societal implications are key drivers for
the advancement of nanotechnology. Its importance has been proven by
the 30 countries that started using the basic concepts of NNI in a
short period of time.
(To be continued ...)
(Interviewer: Kazuyo Yamashiro, Nanonet)
For more information,
http://www.nanonet.go.jp/english/mailmag/2004/032a.html
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