The nano tech Executive Committee is pleased to present nano tech 2013, the 12th International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference, from January 30 to February 1 at Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center), East Exhibition Halls 4, 5, and 6 and Conference Tower.

nano tech2012 (Photo: Business Wire)

Being held for the 12th time, the event will feature 802 booths in total by 571 companies and organizations. Of these, 235 booths will have exhibits by 221 companies and organizations from 22 countries and regions outside Japan.

Practical applications of nanotechnology are advancing, backed by the governments of individual countries. China, South Korea, Taiwan, and other Asian countries and regions have made nanotechnology into a national priority, actively supporting R&D and rapidly approaching parity with leading nanotechnology countries in the West.

[Highlights of nano tech 2013]

(1) A growing number of exhibits showing practical nanotech applications and actual products

In Japan, the influential business association Keidanren pointed to the importance of nanotechnology back in 2001. In the decade since then, R&D in the field has been funded aggressively. Now that the second nanotech decade is here, we are seeing more research aimed at achieving practical, marketable technologies in a relatively short time. Development with a clear focus on the endgame - the technological goals to be achieved and products to be realized - is being carried out actively.

(2) Large booths by all of Japan’s major nanotech labs

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), RIKEN, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Japan’s other leading research organizations will have large exhibits, where one of the attractions is being able to have technologies explained by the researchers themselves.

Much of their research is aimed at practical applications of the outstanding technology seeds emerging in the nanotechnology field. These organizations also serve to facilitate information exchange regarding cooperation by private industry, government, and academia, including component development through vertical upstream-downstream collaboration and through tie-ups across industries and across fields.

(3) Presentation of the nano tech awards for innovative and advanced technologies

The nano tech Executive Committee members and awards judges will be making the rounds of booths during the exhibition to view and evaluate the exhibits. They will select the most innovative and pioneering technologies in each field and present awards on the final day. The objective of the awards is to recognize companies, organizations, and academic institutions that are contributing to the promotion of industry, and also to highlight nanotechnology seeds and needs, in order to spur further advances in technology.

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