May 30, 2011

Google Logo Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm

Big Plans for Nanotechnology in Russia

By Mariette DiChristina

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

MOSCOW, RUSSIA. “As has often happened in Russia, we have had the priority in scientific invention, but completely lose the market,” Anatoly Chubais, chief executive of the Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies, Rusnano[www.rusnano.com], told members of the Scientific American international editions during a visit today. The state-owned venture-capital company aims to change that, intending to grow Russian-made nanotechnology products, now just 2 percent of the international market, into large-scale domestic industry by 2015 .

He added that Russia intends to move from a “minor league” player in global nanotechnology efforts into the “major league” with a total of $30 billion per year in annual sales in five years.

The main focus initially is to add manufacturing capability for various nanotechnologies. Since the initiative was announced in 2007, Rusnano has received more that 2,000 proposals; it has approved 111 projects to date in the categories of medicine and pharmaceuticals, energy efficiency and clean technologies, optics and electronics, coatings and surface modification, and nanomaterials.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Representatives from two companies addressed the conference today. Optogan, a Finnish company founded in 2004 that makes chips of indium gallium nitride for efficient LEDs, has built a plant in St. Petersburg. Advanced Technologies Center of Moscow, a 20-year-old company that makes atomic force microscopes, plans to build a new plant to double production of the device.

“Our role is to build this bridge [between science and business] and to start up the Russian nanotechnology industry,” said Chubais.

Mariette DiChristina, Steering Group chair, is dean and professor of the practice in journalism at the Boston University College of Communication. She was formerly editor in chief of Scientific American and executive vice president, Magazines, for Springer Nature.

More by Mariette DiChristina

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe