Nanotechnology conclave 2007, 15 – 16 February, 2007, New Delhi

CII and Department of Science and Technology organized the Nanotechnology Conclave 2007 alongside the IETF (International Engineering and Technology Trade Fair) to facilitate collaborations between industry and institutes on 15-16 February 2007 at Hotel Intercontinental, New Delhi. The conclave served as a platform to introduce new technologies that are under development from various institutes and industry.

In the inaugural session of the conclave Prof. Ramamurthy, Chairman, Board of Governors emphasized the need for Nanotechnology Centre. Dr. M Vidyasagar, Executive Vice President, TCS spoke about the trio bio-info-nano technology. The conference proceeded with sessions of importance like Nanomaterials & Coatings, nanobiotechnology, nanoelectronics, and nanotechnology for energy applications. The discussions included new processes of producing carbon nanotubes, new equipment and processes for nanomaterial production, and various other ranges of technology possibilities under nanomaterials. There were also interesting storage related technologies, which would revolutionize the storage medium, by packing more bytes of date per square inch. Nanobiotechnology presentations included technology for real time monitoring of drug molecules for effective delivery of drugs to the affected cells.

The conclave ended with a high note on the recommendations coming from the panel discussion of session chairman. The following are the recommendations that emerged out of the conclave.

• Nanotechnology research in institutes and industry should be oriented towards national needs.
• A centre well equipped with all instruments and other facilities is needed for the entrepreneurs and industry where R&D can be conducted. Such centre is to be managed by CII.
• Health and Environment related impacts of Nanotechnology has to be studied
• Industry and Institute has to collaborate in the areas of nanotechnology application like medicine, catalysts, and carbon nanotubes for various applications.
• The Conclave in the future also should focus on fostering collaborations between institutes and industry in India.
• CII should help industry to utilize the facilities available in research institutes.
• A website has to be created to host the expertise available with institute and industry in India and abroad.
• Establishment of CII Nanotechnology Forum through the website can streamline the activities from the industry and institute members.

Indo-US Nanotechnology Conclave: 22-23 September 2006, New Delhi

CII and Indo-US S&T Forum jointly organised the Indo-US Nanotechnology Conclave on 22-23 February 2006 at New Delhi, which attracted wide audience. This conclave focused on industrial applications with collaborative support from academics and R&D institutes from both the sides.

President of India, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam inaugurated the Conclave and addressed in length about the products already available in development stage within the research institutes. In the later follow-up meeting he directed CII to take up the products mentioned in the speech and take it to the market place. The initiative conceived here is put together an action plan for realizing the same.

The conclave hosted around 12 speakers for USA and equivalent number from India and attracted about 300 participants from industry, government and academia. The technical sessions focused on areas like nanomaterials, nano coatings, nano manufacturing-processes and tools, nanotechnology and drug delivery and nanoventuring. The technical sessions provided deep insight into applications of nanotechnology like Wireless sensor using carbon nanotube and nanowire (instead of the traditional for monitoring cardiovascular diseases, recording electrical activity of the heart that shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrythmias) and detects the heart muscle damage, Wireless Smart vest integrated with GPS, internet of cellular network for physiological monitoring including respiration recording, temperature, simulation of novel drug delivery systems, coatings that are being tested in commercial vehicles of Mahindra.

The session chairmen brain stormed in the final session and recommended the following to be carried forward by CII.

• CII and IUSTF to carry forward the work of collecting and compiling technologies from the industry and institutions for collaborations & commercialization, as advised by President Abdul Kalam in his inaugural address.
• Identification & collection of market active databases
• A website on nanotechnology to network various stake-holders
• Entrepreneurship clubs to be formed to boost nanotechnology and other frontier technologies in the country
• Govt assistance for funding research and commercialization ventures.
• Technology Collaboration between industry and academia on both the sides – India & US, trough industry liaison programmes in academia and vice versa
• Focusing nano application in health care sector
• Extending future programmes towards practical demo workshop
• Issue of talent – Indian researchers with American institutes - American researchers with industry in India
• How to develop partnership between US Venture capitalists and Indian researchers