TOKYO, April 15, 2004 — Japan’s nanotechnology budget for fiscal 2004, which began April 1, rose 3.1 percent to $875 million, according to Japan’s Council for Science and Technology Policy. Meanwhile, the two main government ministries responsible for about 90 percent of the country’s nanotechnology research programs are both seeing their budgets increased.
The Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI), responsible for promoting near-to-commercialization research and development, has its nanotechnology research budget boosted to $101.4 million from $96.7 million last year. METI’s overall science and technology budget is $1.15 billion, with nanotechnology and related materials research designated one of four top-priority areas along with information and communications, life science and environmental research.
Japan’s budget is authorized by the Finance Ministry in Tokyo at the end of December and enacted as law by the Japanese Diet (parliament) each March.
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The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is having its nanotechnology research funding boosted to $242.8 million from $228.8 million for this year, with heavy emphasis placed on fundamental materials research ($153.49 million) and a new drug-discovery program. MEXT supports fundamental research that is not expected to produce industrial products or technologies within a decade.
MEXT’s “Virtual Laboratories” nanotechnology research project to develop strategic technologies is being boosted to $430.7 million from $415.81 million last year.
In February, METI said that it has decided to add nanotechnology as an industry that qualifies for government support under an initiative that offers preferential government support to next-generation industries. Measures will include further promotion of cooperation between industry and academia and more funds for companies.
Last year, Japan saw a number of high-profile consortiums set up between industry, academia and government to develop nano- and bionanotechnologies. Last August, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology and Osaka University said they were teaming together to develop large-capacity memory devices that using protein circuitry.
More Asian partnerships
Some major Asian government research centers announced partnerships with foreign companies and institutes to promote nanotechnology. In February, The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said it had teamed up with Magma Design Automation Inc. to create a nanoscale integrated circuit design lab in China. The lab seeks to develop and provide IC design technology for nanometer technologies based on Santa Clara, Calif.-based Magma’s design tools.
In January, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun announced a national development plan to develop strategic industries of individual provinces. The plan involves turning Chungchong Province into center for biotechnology and Kyongsang Province into a base for nanotechnology-related industries.
In February, Korea’s Ministry of Science and Technology said the Institut Pasteur Korea (IP Korea) will be subsidized with $5.14 million in 2004. IP Korea is building a joint research and development center with Britain’s University of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory. IP Korea opened in February inside the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.
Also in February, Seoul National University announced it intended to establish, by 2006, a research and development lab focusing on nanodevices and renewable energy. The research institute will house 60 professors from 12 fields with the aim of producing 50 Ph.D. and 200 master’s degree recipients per year.