Posted: October 13, 2009

(Nanowerk News) The Forum has seen over 3,500 visitors and over 8,000 people have attended the nanotechnology project exhibition.

The agenda of the Forum’s last working day included such major topics as nanotechnology in nuclear industry, aerospace industry, shipbuilding, as well as in consumer goods production.

The panel discussion titled “Nanotechnology in hi-tech industries” addressed the issues of developing the applied science and technology basis available in the Russian industries with the highest hi-tech demand. Building up industry centers of excellence was identified as a promising solution for bridging the gap between the stock of knowledge and practical use of this knowledge in such fields as automotive industry, aerospace industry, nuclear industry, machine- and shipbuilding. These are such centers, the panel participants noted, that make it possible to synthesize knowledge and add value to developed products.

The “Nanotechnology in consumer goods production” section discussed the prospects of developing the consumer segment of the market and new retail opportunities brought about by nanotechnology. Today nanotechnology is applied in the production of a wide range of home and office goods, health and hygiene products, as well as in the food industry. As the panel emphasized, special care must be taken to ensure that nanotechnology-based products are safe and environmentally friendly. Special emphasis is therefore placed on generating standards of using nanotechnology in goods manufacture and their mandatory certification.

In the “Science and education” section, the panel presented their vision of developing the Russian nanotechnology network from the perspective of creating its HR potential. The participants from foreign universities talked about special nanotechnology education and R&D centers attached to universities. In Russia models based on integrated science, education, and business, are implemented by the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, and some other technical educational institutions. Another idea of building up the HR potential in the nanoindustry was proposed by Viktor Avdeyev, Chief Constructor of New Materials and Technologies / Deputy General Director, Composite Company. He suggested that an international education and engineering center be built in Russia to provide training within “a model of project education”. This will enable program for educating personnel that are equally capable of synthesizing knowledge and managing projects in the field of nanotechnology.

The closing day of the Forum’s “scientific block” also addressed major areas of development of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. These were discussed by the following panels: “Nanoelectronics and nanophotonics”, “Nanomaterials for electronics, magnetic systems and optics”, “Nanomaterials for energy sources”, “Biological and molecular machines”, “Carbon nanomaterials”, “Catalysts and membranes based on nanomaterials and nanotechnologies”, “Chemical technologies of nanomaterials”.

Also, on October 8, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed between RUSNANO and LUKOIL OJSC. The parties will cooperate in commercializing nanotechnology and introducing it in the oil and gas industry, including at LUKOIL facilities.

The Second Nanotechnology International Forum concluded with an awarding ceremony for the winners of the Second International Competition for Young Researchers. The authors of the best papers and their advisors were awarded honorary diplomas of the Forum and cash prizes. The list of the winners of the International Competition for Young Researchers can be found on the Forum’s web site.