All staffs and students of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) once again witnessed a memorable event when the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Y.A.B Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak visited UTM main campus here in Skudai on the 4^th July, 2005.

Following the the previous visit made by the Prime Minister Y.A.B Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to UTM last month, Datuk Seri Najib’s visit was to officiate the Nanotechnology Forum held by the Ibnu Sinna Institute of Fundamental Science (IIS). He also officiated IIS’s new building and then the Aeronautics’ Lab at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

In his opening remark at the Nanotechnology Forum, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the government was considering a proposal to establish a National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) to enable the country to have more effective control over nanotechnology.

He said the proposal also involved the setting up of a Malaysia Nanotechnology Centre (MNC) that would coordinate efforts for research and development, investment opportunities, commercialisation activities and industrial partnership in fields like fabrication as well as life sciences.

He also added that the government was interested in promoting nanotechnology as one of the top priority areas in science and technology.

“Nanotechnology has huge potentioal, to the extent of creating a revolution in lifestyle and manufacture of various products.  Therefore, efforts should be intensified so that Malaysia is among the countries with wide knowledge in the field.

“It is hoped that with NNI, Malaysia will benefit from advances in nanotechnology related sciences by clustering and linking the resources and knowledge of our researchers,”

Nanotechnology is the application of science to control matter at the molecular level.  It is a manufacturing technology that will make most products lighter, stronger, cleaner, less expensive and more precise.

Najib, who is also Defence Minister, said the proposed MNC would be entrusted with the responsibility of drafting a master plan to ensure the country’s success in the domain.

He did not say where the MNC would be set up but said UTM, already known in the field of nanotechnology, would play a significant role in the government’s effort to excel in the sphere.

Earlier, in his speech, Najib said one of the key perfomance indices of the success of nanotechnology was strategic alliance, including the mechanism of integration and coordination between the research and development players or scientists, the policy makers, the technology developers and industries, the financiers and the public who would benefit from it.

“Nanotechnology is about people, its is about making sure we educate, integrate ideas, technology and knowledge to produce better products with novel properties at the nano scale which enhances our environment and standard of living,” he added.

He said the worldwide annual industrial production in the nanotechnology sector, where component parts could be measured in a billionth of a metre, was estimated to exceed US$1 trillion (US$1 = RM3.80) in 10 to 15 years and would require about two million nanotechnology workers.

“So far, Malaysia has spent more than RM140 million IRPA grants on a number of nanotechnology related research projects,” he added.

He said that in 2003 Asia contributed over US$1.5 billion or half of the global nanotechnology funding.

Najib said research activities of world class standing were being conducted by local scientists in the universities and research institutes on important areas such as nano structured mesoporous materials, hybrid catalysts and others.

In addition, there were many young Malaysian scientists undergoing postgraduate studies in areas of nanotechnology locally and overseas, he added.

Also present at the forum were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, UTM Vice Chancellor Prof. Datuk. Ir. Dr. Mohd. Zulkifli Mohd. Bin Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali and Chairman of UTM’s Board of Directors Tan Sri Halim Ali.