Tamil Nadu - Nagercoil   

“IT revolution more powerful than previous ones in the country”

Nagercoil: The Science and Technology policy of India, adopted in 2003 emphasised the crucial role of science and technology ‘in raising the quality of life of the people, in creating wealth for all, in making India globally competitive, in utilising the natural resources in a sustainable manner, in protecting the environment and ensuring national security’ said A.E. Muthunayagam, chairman, board of governors, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

Presiding over the second international conference on ‘Emerging adaptive systems and technologies under the theme of emerging and exciting worlds of nanotechnology’ at Noorul Islam College of Engineering in Kumarakovil on Thursday, he said that India witnessed the heralding of the information and communication technology (ICT) revolution, far more powerful than earlier industrial and agricultural revolutions.

One could observe the explosion of knowledge in almost all spheres of human endeavour. Knowledge has become a source of economic might and power to ensure security and sustained development. Biotechnology was yet another frontier area of science and technology with a high promise for the welfare of humanity.

The emergence of nanotechnology and its convergence with biotechnology, information technology and material science had already opened up newer capabilities, unimaginable in the past. Nanotechnology with its capability to manipulate at atomic level could become a major force capable of producing million times more powerful computers, stronger and lighter materials with extraordinary properties.

Nanotechnology has been identified as the key to unlock a new generation of materials, devices and systems with revolutionary properties and immense capabilities. It was multidisciplinary and encompasses chemistry, material science, colloidal science, applied physics, biology, several fields of engineering etc.

Moreover many developing countries have launched nanotechnology initiatives. The Government of India has approved the launch of a mission on nano science and technology (Nano Mission) with an allocation of Rs.1000 crore for five years. The thrust of the mission was to convert India in to a global knowledge hub in the field of nanotechnology.

India launched the national nanoscience and technology initiative in 2001.

The programme addressed three major areas namely research, education and industry. Research and Development in nanotechnology was advancing in a number of premier institutions in India, said Muthunayagam.

A.P. Majeed Khan correspondent of the college, K.Thiyagarajan, principal and others spoke.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Surplus water released from dams in Kanyakumari
Man jumps before train, dies
“IT revolution more powerful than previous ones in the country”

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu