Bangalore :

The Karnataka Government has urged the Centre to speed up construction of the Rs 100-crore Indian Institute of Nano Sciences and Technology being set in Bangalore.

The Karnataka Science and Technology Minister, Mr Anand V. Asnotikar, at the fourth edition of Bangalore Nano, reading the Chief Minister, Mr D.V. Sadananda Gowda’s speech copy, said “The civil works of the institute has been taken up and is being taken up by the Central Government at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

“The State Government has already allotted 14 acres of land on Tumkur road.

“I request the intervention of Prof C.N.R. Rao in moving the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to hasten the development work,” he added.

To give emphasis and for the promotion of nano technology in Karnataka, the State Government is planning to give an acre of land for setting up of ‘Nano Lab’ by the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in the neighbouring premises of Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Energy and Development at Jakkur in Bangalore.

Mr Asnotikar said “For the Nano Park planned in the State, the Government is committed to involve private sector. Expression of interest has been called for it and the park will come up on a public-private-partnership mode.”

The Government is planning to locate the Nano Park near the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli.

“This initiative will give a major fillip to the nanotechnology sector in the state and create additional jobs like IT and biotech sector,” Mr Asnotikar said.

“The Government is committed to providing enhanced budgetary support for nano initiatives, such as those of the Vision Group on Science and Technology, in the forthcoming 2012-13 Budget, he added.

LITTLE SEED

Giving his inaugural speech, Prof C.N.R. Rao, President, JNCASR; Chairman, Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India; Chairman, Karnataka Vision Group on Science and Technology and Vision Group on Nanotechnology, said, “The little seed that was sowed four years ago is no more a small plant now. It has grown into a tree-Bangalore Nano. It is a national event now.

“Being a citizen of Bangalore and Karnataka, I am happy to take this initiative.”

He said that Karnataka is the foremost State taking keen interest in the field of education in science.

He congratulated the Government and said, “Every time I speak to dignitaries in New Delhi, I tell them that I wish all States across India follow Karnataka in empowering education in science and engineering.”

AWARD

The Bangalore Nano National Award 2011 was presented to Dr G. Sundararajan – Director, International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad.

The previous recipients of the award were Prof. C.N.R. Rao in 2007, Prof. Dipankar Chakravorty in 2008 and Prof Ajay K. Sood in 2010.

At the tradeshow, 25 exhibitors from across world and about 140 organisations from 12 countries such as Russia, Germany, the US, Japan, Switzerland, Canada and Poland are participating.

The event is also showcasing 115 posters done by young scientists and researchers from institutions such as the IISc, JNCASR, IITs, NCBS and international universities.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Economy / The Hindu Bureau   anilu@thehindu.co.in / Bangalore, December 08th, 2013