India, Brazil And South Africa Chalked Out A Three Year Plan: Collaboarative Projects Of Common Relevance

With an aim to develop trilateral collaborative projects of common relevance and interest in nanotechnology, India, Brazil and South Africa have chalked out a three-year plan to work in energy systems, health and water treatment, a senior scientist said here on Monday.

"In 2009-2010 under ISBA nanotechnology initiative, with the help of scientists, senior PhD students and junior researchers from three countries will be carrying out morethan 90 projects in nanotechnology over next three years in areas such as energy, water treatment and health," he added.

The purpose of these programmes was to explore the areas in each country, establish contact points among scientists, identify available expertise and infrastructural capabilities in various scientific and technological cooperation.

Global energy demand was expected to increase steeply due to the growing world population, he said, adding that present capacity of global energy generation was 370 GWE (Giga Watt Electrical) and was expected to increase to over 500 GWE by 2030.

Baldev Raj, who is in Kalpakkam automic energey research institue to organise a five-day seminar on advanced materials as a part of ISBA initiative, said "the achievement of this ambitious long-term goal in the energy area relies heavily on the nanotechnology development."

On the health initiative, the IGCAR director said the scientists would be working to develop 'Nano Drug Delivery System', which would focus on discovering medical treatments with lower dosage to patients for various diseases.

"Apart from this, in order to face the water crisis challenge, scientists will also work out to bring a solution for water purification and desalination through nanotechnology," Baldev said.

He said education and human resource development in the challenging and multi dimensional area of nanotechnology has also been identified as one of the major focus areas of the IBSA programme, towards nurturing young talents and motivating them to pursue a career in nanoscience and technology.

Anil K Sood, Advisor and Head, International Corporation, Department of Science and Technology (DST), said the Centre has earmarked Rs 30 crore this year for various developmental projects in science and technology.

"DST has so far spent Rs 85 lakh to organise seminars under IBSA," he said, adding his department was keen to recognise good research and projects, initiated by Indian scientists.

Over 90 people, including 40 faculty members and delegates from the three countries, are taking part in the seminar which began today.

- Asian Tribune -