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India: 20 Years Behind in Terms of Nanotech Advancements

A recent study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science finds that Indian is roughly 20 years behind when it comes to nanotechnology innovations and research.  Nanotechnology is a field of study that involves the manipulation of matter on a molecular or atomic level and the field is limited to academia in India; very little nanotechnology is actually put to use in India.

According to the study, India may be too far behind in terms of nanotechnology advancements and may miss out on the chance to become one of the world’s leading countries in nanotechnology discoveries.  As of new, the country is about two decades behind other countries that are more developed.  According to Neelima Vatsa, the author of the Indian Institute of Science study, the funding in India ceases at research that is academic and no funding is put toward putting nanotechnologies to use.  What’s more, the mechanisms that are put into place to urge entrepreneurships are insufficient in India at this time.

The study conducted to six years and Vatsa visited twelve different startup companies at that time that supported nanotechnology developments.  Vatsa also spoke to more than fifty academics.  Seventeen employees from private firms were included in the survey as well so that the study could provide a clear understanding of status of nanotechnology in India. 

The study reveals that the Indian government is certainly taking adequate measures to support academic nanotechnology research in terms of funding.  Work in the field of nanotechnology in India involves academic research and paper publications.  Vatsa found out that the majority of literature about nanotechnology is also created abroad.  In the late 1990s, the Indian government created the Technology Development Board.  The goal of the board was to promote the research and use of nanotechnology in the country.  Yet, even with this board in place and with enough funds within the 10^th Five Year Plan, there has been very little application of nanotech innovations in India.

Vatsa explains that even though there are some measures used by the Indian government to fund and encourage entrepreneurs, there are other mechanisms that actually discourage businessmen from pursuing nanotechnology simply because of limited finances.  Many of the startup companies that focus on nanotech innovations rely on private funding.  Larger companies are simply not making a move toward using nanotechnologies or commercializing them.  What’s more, there is a very limited sharing of knowledge between academia and other industries.