The 6th edition of Bangalore INDIA NANO, the annual Nanoscience and Nanotech event, organised by the Department of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka recently concluded on a high note. The event showcased a plethora of discussions, lectures and presentations on nanoscience and nanotechnology. The event was held under the able guidance of the Vision Group on Nanotechnology led by Prof CNR Rao, FRS, National Research Professor; Linus Pauling Research Professor; President, JNCASR; Chairman, Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India; Chief Mentor Bangalore INDIA NANO; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications.
The event was inaugurated by Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister, Karnataka, in the presence of CNR Rao, Srivatsa Krishna, IAS, Secretary to Government, Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology and (DPAR) e-Governance, Government of Karnataka, Prof AK Sood, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Prof CNR Rao Bangalore INDIA NANO Science 2013 Award was presented to Prof Ashutosh Sharma, IIT, Kanpur. Nobel laureate Prof Sir Andre Geim, Regius and Royal Society Research Professor School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Manchester, UK was honoured.
Siddaramaiah reiterated Karnataka’s commitment to provide the necessary eco-system for the development of industry. Several recommendations are being considered on initiatives for the growth and development of nano science and technology.
A report by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications on the previous five editions which encapsulates the evolution and surge of nanotechnology in India through the platform of the Bangalore INDIA NANO titled ‘Creating Growth Opportunities for Indian Nanoscience & Nanotechnology’ was released. A first of it’s kind ‘Indian Nanotechnology Industry & Institutions Directory’ compiled by CKMNT (Center for knowledge Management of Nanoscience & Technology), Department of Science & Technology, Government of India was released at the inauguration function. The nanotech sector is rapidly growing and with India being one of the front runners in nanotech research, such a compilation would facilitate industry-academia collaboration, which is very critical for the development.
Bangalore INDIA NANO conference has been unique in the sense that it combines academic, research and the industry, which brings products from the academic research to the industrial world. The experts felt this was not a trivial task hence it was important for researchers and industry to present their work in a conference like Bangalore INDIA NANO and discuss it with stakeholders who can provide the means to go forward.
Cumulatively, organisations from 11 countries like The Netherlands, South Africa, the US, the UK, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Israel, China, Austria and Canada participated in the event. The conference sessions under the guidance of Prof AK Sood, Chairman, Conference Executive Committee and its members focused on food & agriculture, healthcare and medicine, energy and water management, advanced materials.
The keynotes were addressed by Prof Reshef Tenne, The Drake Family Professor of Nanotechnology, Materials Scientist, Physical and Inorganic Chemist, Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel; Prof Mercouri G Kanatzidis, Professor, Dept of Chemistry, Northwestern University, US; Dr Thomas Thundat, Professor, Dept of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Oil Sands Molecular Engineering University of Alberta, Canada; Prof Dr Horst Hahn, Executive Director, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nanotechnology, Germany and Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Institute Chair Professor and CV Seshadri Chair Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.
This edition also featured a pre-conference tutorial which saw an active participation from researchers and students. Another initiative was ‘Nano for the Young’ session which had an overwhelming response, not only from students but from senior scientists.
Bangalore INDIA NANO 2013 featured 50 exhibitors from across the globe including Germany Pavilion and an exhibitor each from Korea and Japan. The special DST Nano Mission Pavilion was represented by 11 members. The exhibition turned out to be an excellent platform for nanotech research fraternity, industry, start ups and corporates to connect for mutual benefit and showcase cutting-edge research work, innovative technologies and products for commercial applications. The exhibition attracted over 2000 visitors.
The leading exhibitors included Scrum from Japan; AXO Dresden, VDI Technologiezentrum, Germany Trade and Invest, Initiative Nano In Germany from Germany; Nano Technology Research Association from Korea; and Agilent Technologies, Tata Chemicals, Bruker, Horiba Scientific, Indian Oil R&D, Amity University, VTU, UK Trade and Invest, leading IITs, Jain University, Indian Institute of Science, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Inventys Research Company, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Labindia Nanobio Process, Mosiab Technologies, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), UK Trade & Investment, and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) from India.
Best Exhibitor Awards 2013 were given to four exhibitors; The Germany Pavillion for Content & Information category, TATA Chemicals for Interactive & Best Managed category, IIT Madras for Creative Design and Indian Oil R&D for innovative display.
The Bangalore INDIA NANO Innovation Award 2013 was given to RESIL CHEMICALS for their Antibacterial nanosilver synthesis technologies for textile products and the Malhotra Weikfield Foundation Nano Science Fellowship Award 2013 to Five researchers for their papers.
Young scientists and Researchers from various institutions and international Universities showcased several new concepts and ideas in the Poster Session. Overall 115 posters were displayed by the researchers. The Best Poster Awards 2013 was bagged by K Gopalakrishnan of JNCASR for the poster titled ‘Extraordinary Supercapacitor Performance of Heavily Nitrogenatedgraphene Oxide, the second place was bagged by Ranjith Ramachandran from Amrita Centre for Nanosciences & Molecular Medicine, placed third was P Vineeth Mohanan from IISc and the fourth and fifth place was bagged by Deepak Kumar Khajuria Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy and Parth Dadhania from Indian IIT respectively.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai
