THINKING SMALL IN CHINA―CAN NANOTECH BE THE NEXT BIG THING?

摘要

There is no doubt that China is coming on strong in the rapidly emerging field of nanotechnology. In fact, there is ample evidence to show that China has already been a player in this arena for a number of years. Chunli Bai, chair of the National Steering Committee for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology and member of the Chinese Academy of Science ("CAS"), reported on China's ten-year "Climbing Project on Nanometer Science" (1990-1999) in 1996 at a nanotechnology forum in Germany, ample proof of China's early recognition of and longstanding commitment to nanotech. Mihail Roco, Chair of the Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Eng. & Tech. (U.S. National Science & Tech. Council), reported in 1998 that 3,000 researchers have contributed to the field since the mid-1980s. To date, nanotech research in China is mainly confined to academic institutions (including Government affiliates), less than 10% of R&D being produced in industry. Nevertheless, it is clear that China is taking a leadership role in key areas of nanomaterials innovation and commercial production, including carbon nanotubes and nanomaterials for engineered plastics. For its part, Inframat has participated in two recent nanomaterials conferences in China, in Beijing in 2001 and in Shanghai in 2002. Presentations at these two events provide valuable cross sectional data of nanotech activities in the PRC. From the standpoint of China policy, at the National Science and Technology Working Conf. sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology ("MS&T"), held on Oct 30, 2000, Mdm. Zhu Lilan, Minister of S&T revealed major objectives, strategies, and development targets in China's 10th Five Year Plan (2000-2005) to an assembly of China's leaders. One of the explicit targets for the S&T activities in this period was to enhance the overall industrial technical level and international competitiveness in the field of information, biology, and new materials.