Feb 23: Giving a big push to nanotechnology in India, President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has urged Indian scientists and industrialists to combine forces for bringing world-class nano products in the global market in the next four years.

"We missed the revolution in micro electronics in the 70s. We must grab the opportunities in nanotechnology now," said Dr Kalam while inaugurating the Indo-US Nanotechnology Conclave in New Delhi on February 22, 2006.

The President's enthusiasm was understandable. After all, he conceived India's National Nanotechnology Mission almost two years ago. It may just be the beginning for nanotechnology in the country, but with the world market for nanotechnology products expected to reach $28 billion in just two years from the present $7 billion, India has to act fast, said Dr. Kalam, himself a top scientist.

People-oriented and cost-effective nanotechnology products are one of the priority areas listed by him for the country. Indian scientists have already invented nano products like carbon nanotube water filters ( Benares Hindu University), a typhoid detection kit by a defence laboratory in Gwalior and a drug delivery system by the Delhi University, he said.

" India should be able to bring world-class nanotechnology products in the global market within the next four years," Dr. Kalam said at the two-day conclave attended by scientists and corporate leaders from India and the United States.

The President, however, cautioned the scientific community against repeating the mistake in the 70s when Taiwan and South Korea beat India to commercially produce LCD screens though the Raman Research Institute had made "good progress" in the area.

Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and Prof CNR Rao, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government, were among those who attended the meeting.

( www.hindustantimes.com)