Nov. 15, 2002 — Taiwan has formed a consortium to boost research and development of nanotechnology applications for carbon materials, according to the Taiwan News.

The Carbon Nano Capsule Research Alliance, composed of technology firms, industrial groups and academic institutions, seeks to pool research and resources in carbon-based nanotechnology. The group hopes to foster cooperation between public and private entities to commercialize nanotubes and nanocapsules, or buckyballs, the report said.

Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute, which helped coordinate membership and selection for the alliance, said Taiwan can make nearly pure carbon nanocapsules, and some research teams are making nanotubes in the 200- to 600-nanometer range.