Nanotechnology Industries Association established in Belarus

The Nanotechnology Industries Association has been set up in Belarus, BelTA reports from the foundation meeting of the association.

About 20 Belarusian companies made part of the association. They include the Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer, the Institute of Physical Organic Chemistry, the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the Materials Research Center of the National Academy of Sciences, the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, the Belarusian National Technical University and private companies.

The purpose of the association is to coordinate academic, innovative and commercial activities in the field of nanotechnologies. The association will distribute information about the projects of its members and promote their know-how. The association will also present and protect common tangible and intangible interests of its members.

Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Sergei Chizhik noted that Belarus needs to focus on new promising industries, including bio- and nano-industries. "By uniting companies into the association we will be able to establish efficient horizontal ties and have more leverage to protect their interests and to address their issues," he explained.

The Nanotechnology Industries Association will be a platform to communicate views and discuss ideas, a springboard to promote promising projects in the field of nanotechnology. The association has plans to forge ties with a similar organization in Russia – the National Association of Nanoindustry.

First Deputy Economy Minister of Belarus Anatoly Filonov emphasized that the 15 February meeting is a landmark event for the country, because Belarus is establishing a new industry. Taking into consideration that the capacities of the petrochemical complex, many mechanical engineering companies and Belarusian Steelworks are limited, new high-tech industries should be given a bigger focus.

The companies that made part of the association are able to turn out a variety of high-tech products: from nanotechnologies to "smart" pharmaceutical products. The association will carry out annual monitoring of the nanotechnology industry, study and analyze the demand for nanotechnology products, facilitate cooperation between the members of the association, financial institutions and foreign companies, coordinate joint investment projects, enhance qualifications of people involved in the industry.