South Africa Launches its National Nanotechnology Strategy

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[b]Government of South Africa Announces the Launch of its National Nanotechnology Strategy[/b]

The Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom will officially launch South Africa’s National Nanotechnology Strategy on Thursday, 13 April, at the Mintek offices in Randburg, Johannesburg.

All media is welcome to attend and participate in a tour of Mintek’s laboratories wherein some of the actual applications of nanotechnology will be demonstrated:

Background

The Nanotechnology Strategy takes cognisance of the needs of local industry and focuses on the essential building blocks of Nanoscience, namely synthesis, characterisation and fabrication. In line with this, the strategy is aimed at increasing the number of nanotechnology characterisation centres in South Africa with an investment of R170 million over the next three years. R15 million has already been invested in the 2005/06 financial year towards this cause.

Known as ‘the technology of the very small’ (i.e. about 1/80,000 of the diameter of a human hair), nanotechnology comprises a wide range of technologies, techniques and multidisciplinary research efforts for application in a range of cross cutting industries and activities. These include aerospace, manufacturing and automotive industries; energy conversion, storage and distribution; the hydrogen economy; chemicals; electronics and information processing; as well as in biotechnology and medicines, amongst others.

South African industry and researchers have been key players in nanotechnology and the practical application of nanoscience for a number of years already. One example in this regard is that of chemical processing by catalysis as already done by SASOL.

New generations of nanotechnology based products that are emerging in the world today, require South Africa to develop its ability to derive more benefits from global advances in this area. The National Nanotechnology Strategy positions South African as a global player in this emerging area of science and technology and seeks to strengthen the integrated development focus of Government.

In line with this, the main objectives of the strategy are to:

* support long-term nanoscience research that will lead to a fundamental understanding of the design, synthesis, characterisation, modelling and fabrication of nanomaterials;

* support the creation of new and novel devices for application in various areas;

* develop the required human resources and supporting infrastructure

* stimulate new developments in the technology missions such as advanced materials for advanced manufacturing, nano-bio material for biotechnology, precious metal based nanoparticles for resource based industries, and advanced materials for information and communication technologies.

Programme

13 April 2006

10h00 - 10h15: Arrival and tea:

10h15 – 10h20: Dr Bethuel Sehlapelo (Program coordinator) [DST]: Welcome & Introduction

10h20 – 10h40: Dr Bethuel Sehlapelo Deputy Director-General,

10h40 – 10h50: Dr Roger Paul: Mintek

10h50 - 11h00: Prof David Britton: SANI

11h00 – 11h10: Vinota Bheem: SAPPI

11h15 - 11h35: Honourable Deputy Minister: Derek Hanekom: Keynote Address

11h35 – 11h40: Ms Pontsho Maruping (General Manager – Frontier Programmes and the CSIR): Closure and vote of thanks

11h40 – 12h40: Lunch

Source: Government of South Africa.

URL: [url]http://www.info.gov.za/[/url]

This story was posted on 14 April 2006.