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The Nanomaterials
Laboratory (NML) was established in the first spring of the 21st
century with the objective of making a major contribution to
nanotechnology, or a key technology in the 21st century, from
the viewpoint of materials.
Nanotechnology is an underlying technology which will cause breakthroughs
in various fields ranging from practical engineering such as
information- and bio- technology and energy and medical engineering
to fundamental science including physics, chemistry, biology
and medical science. In order to make a characteristic contribution
to nanotechnology, NML directs its main objective to the development
of novel nanoelectronic devices for information technology of
the next generation with the aim of establishing a highly information
oriented society. To accomplish this mission, NML has recently
made restructuring into a new form consisting of 13 research
groups, several of which are operated by a new director of a
younger generation. These groups not only make their own research
such as creation and characterization of novel nanomaterials,
fabrication and patterning of designed nanostructures and development
of new methods for nanoscale analysis and measurement but also
cooperate with each other through common research projects. Our
goal is to develop advanced nanodevices including molecular and
atomic devices for data processing and storage with much higher
speed and capacity and lower power consumption, novel nanodevices
and their sytems for new computational algorithm with flexibility
such as error tolerance, and highly controlled atomic and molecular
nanosystems for quantum information processing.
As a common idea of the National Institute for Materials Science
(NIMS), we understand that "Materials are of value only
when they are really used", so that NML attaches importance
to the process of growing a technological seed into a young plant
fitted for practical industrialization in cooperation with private
companies. On the other hand, we also recognize that fundamental
research for the creation of new technological seeds is our important
mission. We would therefore like to achieve developments of "only
one" rather than "best one" in the world.
Japan is in a recession in economy and the people seem to have
lost confidence, but technology and science of Japan are on the
top level without doubt. A better system to make full use of
the potentialities is required. NML supports the activities of
the Nanotechnology Researchers Network Center of Japan, which
is placed in NIMS, and contributes to promoting cooperation between
researchers in various institutions related to nanotechnology
in Japan.
I would like to ask you for your kind support and encouragement
to our NML.
Masakazu Aono
Director General,
Nanomaterials Laboratory
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