Tag Archives: Darren Frew

Canada, India, and nanotechnology Part 2

Darren Frew, Executive Director for the Nanotech BC, kindly answered some questions about the Aug. 10 – 11, 2008 meeting held between Indian scientists and Canadian scientists at the [Canada] National Institute of Nanotechnology in Edmonton. Here is the second half of the interview (first half was posted on Friday, Sept. 26, 2008).

You organized the Cascadia Nano Symposium in March this year and I’m wondering if you’re thinking of inviting some Indian scientists to the next one (assuming you are organizing another one).

The Indian scientists I met in August will be invited to the 2009 Cascadia Nanotechnology Symposium, which will be held in late April or early May, 2009

Are there any similarities in the nanotech funding situation between Canada and India? (I’ve seen reports that India spends between $7M and $10M per year on nanotechnology funding. I haven’t seen any information about Canadian spending other than the odd report about a specific grant.)

There are similarities between the funding situation for nanotech in India and Alberta in that both jurisdictions are making strategic investments of several million dollars

How does the research approach to nanotechnology differ between Canadian and Indian nanoscientists? Or are the approaches similar?

There is a much more of a nationally co-ordinated research effort in India.  For example, the Indian Institute of Technology co-ordinates the overall nanotech research effort at the several office it has throughout the country. There is no such national coordination in Canada.

What are the advantages to a collaboration between Canadian and Indian nanoscientists?

Many Canadian  researchers and business people are form India or have roots there, so collaborations with India are both desirable and easy for them.  Also, much of the research being undertaken in India is complimentary to R&D being conducted here in Canada.

Thanks Darren and It sounds like  the 2009 Cascadia Nanotechnology Symposium holds some exciting potential. It’s a bit surprising that the scientists didn’t have a stop in BC since (as Darren points out albeit in a different context) there are many connections between BC and India.

I still haven’t received any confirmation of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies webcast (Nanotechnology? Synthetic Biology? Hey, What’s That?) which is supposed to take place tomorrow. I’ll update the blog if I get a confirmation or cancellation notice. (update) They now list tomorrow’s webcast on the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies website.

Upcoming conferences in the Pacific Northwest

I love the name (or is it an acronym?) for this one, the Panomino 2008 meeting which will be held in Friday Harbor, Washington State from  Sept. 3-7, 2008. The full name is the Pacific Northwest Microsystems and Nanotechnology meeting and it’s co-sponsored by the University of British Columbia’s Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering.  The website for the meeting is here. The principal contact for the meeting is: Dr. Karen C. Cheung (UBC) at kcheung@ece.ubc.ca or +1 604.827.4114. This seems to be a scholarly meeting and the website doesn’t provide much info. about the presentations unless you’ve registered.

The other conference is the 5th annual Micro Nano Breakthrough Conference. This is being held Sept. 8-10, 2008 in Vancouver, Washington State. This one seems to be more business-oriented or as they put it “Science, Networking, and Commercialization…” I noticed that one of their keynote speakers is Dr. Mihail Roco who was instrumental in the development of the US’s National Nanotechnology Initiative.  More information about the conference is here.

In the next week, I’m hoping to post my interview with Darren Frew, Nanotech BC’s executive director, regarding his recent meePanoting  with a contingent of Indian scientists. Part of their cross-Canada tour to meet Canada’s nanoscientists, it was held August 10-11, 2008 at the Canada Institute of Nanotechnology in Edmonton, Alberta.