We’ll have the best nanotech park in India

The government is planning to set up a nanotechnology park in Bangalore in the financial year 2012-13 to give an impetus to the technology and will soon constitute an expert committee.

The park is likely to be featured at the proposed Information Technology Investment Region at Devanahalli. An initial grant of Rs20 crore has been proposed to develop it on public-private-partnership model on 25 acres.

The final proposal regarding the park was submitted to the government recently. The science and technology (S&T) department is working towards making the park the best in the country.

The aim of the park is to popularise the use of nanotechnology, touted as a gamechanger in fields as diverse as electronics, automobile technology and healthcare.

Nanotechnology’s applications in various industries offer a huge potential for business opportunities.

A nano-incubation centre will be set up at the park. Itsaim will be enabling research and development. It will offer facilities for R&D on a rental basis to make research more accessible.

An advanced laboratory would be set up. Also, it will seek to support new and small companies attain their business goals and achieve a good growth rate.

Further, to provide business opportunity as well as to familiarise students, scholars and public with the concept of nanoscience, an exhibition centre of international standards will be set up at the park.

Educating bureaucrats
Besides promoting research in the field, the S&T department plans to give training to bureaucrats as it believes this would make it easier to promote nanotechnology in the state. Workshops and seminars will be held in this regard. Also, technicians will be trained in the technology to cater to the needs of the industry, which is still in a nascent stage.

Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board will allot the land for the park after acquiring it from farmers. The government has published advertisements, seeking expression of interest from business houses to develop the park. The last date for corporates to respond was January 31.

MN Vidyashankar, principal secretary for IT, BT and S&T, said the government received more than 16 expressions of interest. He said some companies are from the US and Europe.

He said a technical team would prepare the shortlist by February 20.

The government is now acting towards setting up an expert committee to give shape to its dream of setting up the best nano-park in the country. Besides the initial grant of Rs20 crore, efforts are on to seek funds from the Union ministries of S&T and information technology.