Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.2 Funding of
different sections of the
National Nanotechnology
Initiative
Section
2000
2001
Fundamental research
87
170
Grand challenges
71
140
Centers and networks of excellence
47
77
Research infrastructure
50
80
Ethical, legal, and social implications
15
28
Total
270
495
Fig. 1.17 Distribution of the volume of research in the field of nanotechnology performed in
different countries on 2002/2003
Thus, research efforts in the People's Republic of China in 2002-2003 trailed only
those in the United States.
1.4 Nanotechnology Today: Basic Principles and Their
Unexpected Incarnations
In recent years the development of concrete nanoscale systems confirmed the
significance and attractiveness of this field of activity, as predicted in the end of
the last century. As a result, the current state of affairs can be justifiably called a
nanotechnological boom, which has spread to most of the areas of human activity
