 | |
| |
TechnologyDaily Mobile
Russia Opens New Nanotech Center
by Danielle Belopotosky
The Commerce Department's undersecretary for technology traveled to Moscow last weekend for the unveiling of Russia's new nanotechnology research center.
Undersecretary Robert Cresanti, who called nanotechnology the "transformative science" during the center's opening ceremony, touted the benefits of the science that takes place on a platform 10,000 times' smaller than the width of a strand of hair. He said nanotechnology's reach impacts "every area of science."
Cresanti said it is "high time" for government leaders to engage in the nanotechnology activity taking place in Russia, given its historically deep roots in science and technology research. The center has purchased two transmission electron microscope systems from FEI, a Hillsboro, Ore.-based company.
The center will provide Russian researchers access to nanoscale imaging and analysis capabilities, according to FEI.
Nanotechnology investment in Russia is expected reach more than $400 million in 2007, according to FEI. Global government investment is expected to reach $5 billion this year, and, for the first time, estimates put private investment ahead of government at $6 billion in 2006.
The market value of nanotechnology is expected to reach $2.6 trillion by 2014, according to data by the nanotech firm, Lux Research. "The failure to excel in nanotechnology will mean being parked on the sidewalk of economic development in the future," Cresanti said.
Cresanti also met with company officials from FEI, Hewlett Packard and Sun Microsystems, according his office. He is slated to return to St. Petersburg later this year to attend the next U.S.-Russia Innovation Council on High-Technologies meeting.
The council, whose goals are to promote bilateral cooperation in innovation and commercialization in the high-tech sector and better interaction among government agencies and the business and scientific communities, was formed in 2004.
Open Document Standards Take Shape Abroad
Denmark last week decided to mandate open standards in its national e-government projects by 2008. The decision by the Danish Assembly could pave the way for the widespread use of the open document format, a non-proprietary format aimed at increasing compatibility among otherwise incompatible document formats.
The XML-based format, which was created by OpenOffice.org, aims to enable different text file and spreadsheet applications to read each other's documents. Government agencies are among the earlier adopters of the format.
The format, touted by the Open Document Format Alliance, or ODF Alliance, "gives governments the freedom to access their documents" even if they change formats or their applications become obsolete in the future, said Piper Cole, vice president of Sun Microsystems' global government and community affairs office. Sun is a founding member of the alliance, which was formed in March.
Last September, the Massachusetts legislature was the first to adopt an open document standard. The state has set a Jan. 1, 2007 deadline by which agencies must install applications in that format.
But ODF is spreading its roots abroad. In addition to Denmark, dozens of municipalities and government agencies around the world have switched to the open format, including the British city of Bristol; Bergen, Norway; Berlin, and Prague, according to the OpenOffice.org Wiki.
The International Organization for Standardization in May voted for ODF to become an international standard. The final documentation for the standards is expected in August.
Back in the United States, Cole said Sun will meet with members of Congress this week and plans on making the federal government "aware" of this new standard.
Europe To Study Tech's Economic Impact
The European Commission on Tuesday launched a new task force aimed at dissolving barriers to competition in the region's information and communications technology sector.
The vision behind the task force is to provide the commission with ideas to reinvigorate Europe's economy, provide ideas to boost ICT uptake among the region's workforce, study the impact of intellectual property rights on national economies and to assess the link between intellectual property, research and development and innovation, according to the commission.
"The task force should provide us with new ideas and coherent recommendations to promote the competitiveness of Europe's ICT industry," European Commission Vice President Gunter Verheugen said in a statement.
Task force members represent 24 executives from the mobile electronics, software and telecommunications sectors. Among its members are Olivier Baujard, Alcatel's chief technology officer; Jean-Phillippe Courtois, senior vice president of Microsoft and president of Microsoft International; Chris Dedicoat, senior vice president of Cisco Systems, and Rudy Provost, CEO of Philips Consumer Electronics.
Its members will be charged with identifying how R&D can help spur value-added services in the manufacturing and services sectors. It also will study the role of online skills, patents and the regulatory environment in prompting entrepreneurial capacity.
The task force is one of a series on initiatives launched by the commission's industrial policy to encourage a more favorable competitive environment in the 25-member union by eliminating regulatory obstacles among its member nations.
Meanwhile, China President Hu Jintao on Monday called on that nation's scientists to "provide strong scientific and technological support" to enhance China's innovation capabilities, according to state-owned Xinhua news agency.
Speaking at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Hu called science and technology the "decisive" forces in China's economic and social development, while urging the nation's top scientists to act quickly to catch up with the technological advancements of the developed world.
Europe Adopts Biometric Visa System
The European Commission on Friday announced it adopted a proposed regulation to introduce biometric identifiers, such as digital fingerprints, in its Visa Information Systems to improve cross-border security and travel.
"This proposal will have a knock-on effect," said European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini, who is responsible for freedom, security and justice.
The biometric-based system aims to facilitate the application process for issuing visas, preventing "visa shopping," combat identity fraud and to improve border security. The system also will assist in controlling illegal immigration among the European Union's 25-member nations.
In an effort to streamline the application process, the commission also announced it will establish visa application centers through member nations. "One central access point will even ensure that the [European Commission's] data protection requirements ... are more easily met," Frattini added.
Moreover, the application centers will eliminate the need for all of Europe's consulate offices to install biometric identifiers. Consulate staff will be able to share biometric equipment in a "neutral" building, where officials will process visa applications.
Captain Copyright To The Rescue!
Canada has enlisted a caped copyright character to help teach kids about the perils of copyright infringement.
Captain Copyright, the green-masked mascot of Canada's Access Copyright licensing agency, offers teachers classroom activities online and aims to teach students the "ABCs" of copyright law.
Capt'n Copyright's Web site also includes a lesson on "exceptions to the rule." The site offers "group role-playing" exercises to teach students about exceptions to Canada's copyright law, such as works that fall in the public domain or creative works that can be used in a classroom setting.
Kids also can test their copyright knowledge via online quizzes. For the copyright-challenged, the Captain includes a dictionary of copyright terms, such as collective licenses and Canada's fair-dealing provision in its copyright law that allows the use of copyrighted material for private study, news reporting or commentary.
NEW FEATURE
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
