July 28, 2005 – Veeco Instruments said it will set up a nanotechnology center in Bangalore, India. The facility will be staffed with local scientists and engineers and equipped with Veeco’s latest atomic force microscope, scanning tunneling microscope products, and other advanced nanotechnology application modules, the company said in a statement. The Veeco-India Nanotechnology Laboratory was officially scheduled to open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 27th.

The Veeco-India Nanotechnology Laboratory is to be jointly operated with the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, which promotes scientific research in interdisciplinary areas of science and engineering.

The Indian government launched a nanoscience initiative in 2003, in which it is working with more than 30 R&D institutions to identify prospective nanotechnology products that can be commercialized.

According to Prof. C.N.R. Rao, honorary president of the JNCASR, “Nanotechnology and nanoscience are important opportunities for India….Having access to the appropriate state-of-the-art instruments is critical to future nanotechnology developments in India.”

Michael Weiss, Veeco’s VP and GM for Asia, added, “We anticipate continued growth of nanoscience research applications in India and are excited about embarking on this joint and collaborative effort with the JNC and other nanoscience institutions in India.”

Weiss and Rao will oversee the Veeco-India Nanotechnology Laboratory. Prof. G.U. Kulkarni of JNCASR will function as an advisor and C. Venkatram Dattu has been appointed as the local Veeco manager responsible for day-to-day activities of the ,ab.