The Nanotechnology Platform Project is a project which was commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) with the aim of producing research results that will lead to innovations, in which 25 research institutions with leading-edge nanotechnology facilities and equipment in the three fields of Microstructural Characterization, Nanofabrication, and Molecule & Material Synthesis will provide opportunities for researchers in industry, academia, and government agencies throughout Japan to use those facilities. As part of Project activities, the “11th International Symposium on Nanotechnology (JAPAN NANO 2013)” will be held on Friday, February 1, 2013.
1. Concept of the Symposium
The role and contribution of science and technology in the world economy and society are increasingly important for solving the global-scale issues that the world now confronts, such as energy and resource security, reduction of environmental loads, and others. Efforts that ensure a stable supply/efficient use of energy and resources based on new concepts, while maintaining harmony with the environment, are required for the sustainable development of society.
In nanotechnology, dramatic technological innovations for solving problems related to energy, the environment, resources, and others are expected as a result of nano-level measurement, material synthesis, control, and integration.
The upcoming “11th International Symposium on Nanotechnology” will present an overview of recent progress in research and development, focusing on multifaceted nanotechnology-based efforts to achieve strategic technological development for securing environmentally-sound energy and resources.
Plenary Lectures will be delivered by Dr. Michiharu Nakamura, President of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), who will speak on the expectations placed on nanotechnology for construction of a sustainable society, and Prof. Takao Kashiwagi of Tokyo Institute of Technology, who will address the issue of “smart energy” for an energy efficient society. A number of frontline researchers from Japan and other countries have also been invited, and will introduce topics including the current status of research on renewable energy and recent progress in research and development related to resource issues such as biomass, rare metal reserves, and methane hydrate, as well as examples of application of nanotechnology to environmental problems. The aim of this program is to create a platform for wide understanding of the contributions of nanotechnology to diverse energy sources, energy saving, and the environment, together with trends in related research.
