innovation in nanotechnology an asia-pacific perspective - apctt

7. Manufacturing – Apparel with special niche and functional properties, next-generation
clothing, solid rubber tyres with enhanced properties such as abrasion resistance
for longer tyre life and nano-porous carbons for hydrogen and energy storage and
superior super-capacitors.
While the potential benefits to be gained through the deployment of nanotechnology is
increasingly being accepted, stakeholders have also expressed concerns about the
possible negative fallout. Some of the more important are listed below.
Ethical implications are as follows:
1. Ensuring fair distribution of benefits arising out of technologies developed by the
private sector that also have important humanitarian implications.
2. How should scarce financial resources be apportioned between NSNT research
and other areas?
3. Would lack of skills in developing nations to adopt and utilize nanotechnology
imply that manufacturing jobs will become obsolete as technologically advanced
nations substitute traditional processes by nano-enabled ones?
4. Issues of privacy.
Legal issues are the intellectual property (IP) protection and licensing and civil liability
issues.
Environmental implications include that certain sizes of nanoparticles can react with
biological systems in a way that larger particle do not, nanoparticles release into the
environment and their unintended impacts, and there is a fear from nano-toxicology.
There is a serious need for developing skills in nanotechnology risk assessment.
III. CONCLUDING REMARKS
When one examines the potential of NSNT, it is easy to understand why nanotechnology
is sometimes referred to as the harbinger of the “next industrial revolution”. Yet, many
developing nations are not in a position to be able to take advantage of this technology.
If developing nations are to take advantage of the benefits that this “disruptive” technology
can offer, many serious skill, financial, infrastructure and policy issues that have to be
managed carefully. Sri Lanka has established the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology
(SLINTEC) within a public-private partnership framework. Several other nations in the
Asia-Pacific region have commenced their own initiatives. The Asian Institute of
Technology in Bangkok has set up a Centre of Excellence in Nanotechnology (CoEN)
and has commenced a postgraduate programme in nanotechnology in partnership
with Thailand’s Nanotechnology Centre (NANOTEC). While North-North platforms for
the exchange of know-how and research alliances are quite well established, countries
of the developing South should make sure that they are not left out of these
developments.
The formation of South-South nanotechnology partnerships could help in the eventual
formation of North-South research and business alliances. Collaboration between NSNT
researchers in the South and the sharing of their experiences and research infrastructure
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