Where does Australia sit?
Ever since the US government allocated US$500 million to its National Nanotechnology Institute in 2000, pressure has been growing in Australia for similar initiatives to develop our national nanotechnology resources. While such funding levels are unlikely to be matched given current Federal spending priorities, Australia does have a fairly well developed capacity in nanotechnology.
A 2001 conference hosted by the CSIRO to assess Australia’s nanotechnology strengths identified three main areas of existing research strength: nanoparticle research, nanotubes, and biometrics. The existence of national research organisations such as CSIRO was also seen as a potential benefit.
“The field is still open and the potential for Australia to lead in this area is very strong because of its existing science strength areas and its multi-disciplinary organisations and links which are already in place,” the conference concluded.
Many Australian universities now boast dedicated nanotechnology degrees. Flinders University in Adelaide offers a Bachelor of Science in Nanotechnology, the first such course anywhere in the world, and has a dedicated chair in nanotechnology.
Similar degrees are also offered by the University of New South Wales and Curtin University of Technology in WA, while the University of Technology in Sydney boasts a Bachelor of Science in Nanotechnology Innovation.
Research centres have been established in many tertiary institutions. These include the University of Queensland’s NanoMaterials Centre (specialising in industrial materials), the University of Wollongong’s Intelligent Polymer Research Unit, and UTS’ Institute for Nanoscale Technology (specialising in biomedicine and energy efficient particles).
Recent government initiatives have encouraged some prominent nanotechnology researchers return to Australia. Last year’s Federation Fellowships scheme, designed to ensure skilled researchers are not forced offshore due to lack of resources, saw a number of nano-scientists take up $225,000 a year grants.
On the medical front, Dr Frank Caruso returned to Australia from Germany to continue his research into nanoscale engineered bioparticles, which could be used for delivering medications to highly specific locations in the body. In materials research, Professor Yiu-wing Mai took up a fellowship at the University of Sydney to study polymer nano-composites, which could be used to develop new manufacturing materials. University of NSW Professor Robert Clark received a fellowship to continue research into quantum computing, which could eventually lead to nanoscale computing devices.
Nano technology will change in orders of dimension the way things are done today but has considerable dangers if used improperly.
The CSIRO already has protoypes and patents using 'nano materials' to measure forces on all types of materials that can be used for a wide range of practicle applications.
However, what Austrlia needs is its ability to commercialise its R&D and retain talent that works at the stage of commercial product development, that follows on from organisations like the CSIRO. Taking it from pure research to commercialising product is something Australia needs to get a lot better at and provide incentives for.
Australia's (and all other countries for that matter) challenge will be whether it is able to develop large scale complex commercial software that meets real market needs, is robust and maintainable, to exploit the enormous power available. Currently its software development practices and management need considerable improvement (there are some pockets of excellence) at leading, managing and making good use of the high tech software talent that exists in this country. The U.S certainly isnt showing leadership in this area, but it appears that India is one that is.
So the real issue will be needing strong management leadership talent to utilise and retain the high tech R & D talent within Australia that works at the commecialisation end of the process. It needs to be able to compete in a very competitive global market where the likes of India appears to be taking more the market share in large scale software development.
Perhaps with more government support of software R & D using nano technology beyond pure research and emphasis within the software industry on management leadership talent/skills in addition to pure tech skills, we may be able to move towards being world leaders in this area and retaining both our management/leadership and high technical talent pool.