UK to promote nanotechnologies
Some 25 UK nanotechnology projects are set to receive 15 million GBP (22.3 million euro), the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced on 24 August. The investment will provide up to 50 per cent of the total amount needed for the projects. The focus of the projects ranges from anti-corrosion coatings and electronics to water purification and printing. 'Nanotechnology is an important and exciting emerging technology that has the capacity to improve daily life for us all. It is about designing new products and improving existing ones by making things much smaller, faster, stronger, or more energy efficient,' said Minister for Small Businesses, Nigel Griffiths, in a statement. 'We want to help organisations turn ideas into reality, helping create jobs and prosperity for companies in the UK,' the minister explained, adding that 'these grants will form part of a range of Government schemes to support this important growth area.' The UK has allocated 90 million GBP (133 million euro) to its micro and nanotechnology manufacturing initiative 'in support of both nanotechnology applied research programmes and for the creation of new nanotechnology facilities across the country,' states the DTI. The UK government hopes the initiative will enable the UK to become a world leader in nanotechnology, which, it is estimated, could be worth one trillion euro within the next decade.
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United Kingdom