What is nano mission and what are its objectives?

The government of India, in May 2007 has approved the launching of a mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission) with an allocation of Rs. 1000 crore for five years. The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency for implementing the Nano Mission.

Capacity building is the utmost importance for the Nano Mission so that India emerges as a global knowledge-hub in this field. The Nano Mission will strive for the development of products and processes for national development, especially in the areas of national relevance like safe drinking water, materials development, sensors development, drug delivery etc.

For this, it will forge linkages between educational and research institutions and industry and promote public private partnerships, the Nano Mission has been structured in a fashion so, as to achieve synergy between the national research efforts of various agencies in Nano Science and Technology and launch a new programmes in a concerted fashion.

Objectives:

The Nano Mission is an umbrella programme for capacity building, which envisages the overall development of this field of research in the country and to tap its applied potential for nation’s development. In brief, the objectives of the Nano- Mission are:

(i) Basic Research Promotion:

It includes funding of basis research by individual scientists or group of scientists and creation of centers of excellence for pursuing studies leading in to fundamental understanding of matter that enables control and manipulation at the nanoscale.

(ii) Infrastructure Development for Nano Science and Technology:

Investigations on the nanoscale require expensive equipments like optical tweezer, Nano Indentors

Transmission Electron Microscope, Atomic Force Microscope, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer, (MALDITOFMS).for optical use of expensive and sophisticated facilities, it is proposed to establish a chain of chaired facilities across the country.

(iii) Nano Applications and Technology Development Programmes:

To catalyze applications and technology development programmes, the mission proposes to promote application-oriented R&D projects, establish Nano Applications and Technology Development Centers, Nano Technology Business incubators etc.

(iv) Human Resource Development:

Here mission will focus on providing effective education and training to researchers and professionals in diverse fields so that a genuine interdisciplinary culture for nanoscale science, engineering and technology can emerge. It is also creating national and overseas post-doctoral fellowships, in nanotechnology,.

(v) International Collaborations:

Apart from exploratory visits of scientists, organizations of joint workshops, researches it is also planned to facilitate access to sophisticated research facilities abroad, establish joint centers of excellence and forge academic- industry partnerships at international levels. Organization Structure of Nano Mission:

The Nano Mission is a mission -mode programme within Department of Science and Technology. At the apex level, it is steered by a Nano Mission Council. It is currently being chaired by professor CNR Rao. The technical programmes of the Nano Mission are also being guided by two advisory groups i.e. Nano Science Advisory Group (NSAG) and the Nano Applications and technology Advisory Group (NATAG).