The Russian News and Information Agency NOVOSTI reports that Russian president Vladimir Putin is ready to back nanotechnology research “on a grand scale” — but that he wants results implemented effectively. Nanotechnology will lay the groundwork for new weapon systems, both offensive and defensive, he said.
Already, 1.66 billion rubles [$63.8 million] has been allocated for nanotechnology research in 2007. Russia’s Science and Education ministry has drafted a nanotechnology development program through 2015.
The Itar-Tass agency reports on Putin’s participation in a nanotechnology-development meeting at Moscow’s Kurchatov Institute, a research center with expertise in nuclear technology and microelectronics.