C&EN: TODAY'S HEADLINES - NANOTECH CONGRESS PAINTS BROAD SWATH

HIGH-TECH BUSINESS

NANOTECH CONGRESS PAINTS BROAD SWATH

Business, government attendees cover wide-ranging topics at inaugural event

We can use smallness to become great," Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shimon Peres told attendees at the first World Nano-Economic Congress held in Washington, D.C., last week. The former Israeli prime minister is championing science and technology, particularly nanotechnology, to promote peace and prosperity.


	"To know to learn is more important than to learn to know because the world is always changing."
	-Shimon Perez

"Nanotechnology has the greatest promise for all of us," Peres continued. "That's why I appreciate what you are doing and how we will be helped by your knowledge and potential in serving humanity," he told attendees.

In a similar vein, Chemistry Nobel Laureate and Rice University professor Richard E. Smalley tackled the issue of global energy supply, his agenda for the past year. "It is the single most important problem facing humanity today," he said, and solving it may lead to answers to other pressing questions around food, water, the environment, poverty, and terrorism.

"The energy problem is also special because we can do something about it," Smalley pointed out. "It's got a techno-fix." Nanotechnology, he believes, will offer revolutions in energy production, storage, transmission, and utilization.

Meanwhile, emerging societal, ethical, and health issues--as well as the disconnect between nanotech research and commercialization--were on the minds of about 280 people from the business and government communities, as was finding the requisite public and private funding to help address the issues and bridge the gap. Attendees from start-up firms were attentive to the advice offered by those from corporations and venture-capital firms.

On a positive note, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) said he anticipates that the Nanotechnology R&D Act (S. 189),which would establish a federal nanotech program and received bipartisan support in the House in May, will soon be passed in the Senate and then signed into law by President George W. Bush.