Medvedev urges boost to nanotechnology sector

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for a fully fledged nanotechnology sector to be set up in Russia, and an industry leader predicts the country could be a world leader by 2015.

head of the state nanotechnology corporation said Russia could take a world-leading position in the sector by 2015.

"All types of businesses should be represented -- both private and state, up to transnational corporations," Medvedev told a nanotechnology forum here.

If plans were carried out by 2015, said Medvedev, then Russia's share of the world nanotechnology market could grow to 3 percent.

Earlier, Anatoly Chubais, head of state nanotechnology corporation Rusnano, also said Russia should join the "highest league" of global nanotechnology leaders by 2015, and the global market in this sector could grow to be worth between 800 billion and three trillion U.S. dollars annually by that time.

"If we speak about the goal set for 2015, I am confident that our task is to take a seat in a major league of nanotechnology leaders," said Chubais as quoted by news agencies.

The state-run, nonprofit Rusnano was established in 2007 to oversee nanotechnology research and implement policies related to nanotechnology.

Russian leaders have repeatedly urged the necessity of economic modernization and technological development, in order to help the energy-reliant Russian economy evolve into an innovative one.

Source: Xinhua