by Marina POPOVA, journalist

The 4th International Forum on Nanotechnologies Rusnanotech, held at the Moscow exhibition complex Expocenter in Krasnaya Presnya in October of 2011, put an end to the discussion on a possible creation of the modern nanoindustry in our country: new works and technologies in the Russian Federation, which are ready for practical use, are essential for national and foreign consumers. The Rusnano state corporation as the forum organizer received over 2,000 applications for projects and has already granted financial support to 130 of them. Only in 2011 the company launched 13 new production projects.

The Rusnanotech forum is held in Moscow since 2008. In the focus of its attention-creation of an efficient mechanism for search and selection of perspective nanotechnological studies in a wide range of industries--from building and mechanical engineering to electronics and pharmaceutics, conditions for their practical application (expert opinion, attraction of investments, organization of large-scale production) and also problems of standardization, improvement of legislation and removal of administrative barriers. In this respect, the fourth meeting of leading scientists and politicians, national and foreign representatives of business and the investment community was no exception. However, the emphasis of the agenda was nonetheless on practical problems of product distribution of high-technology companies and demand for innovations. According to the First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Government Sergei Ivanov, "the question is, first of all, mechanisms of stimulation of such demand on the part of the state: from orders for research and development from ministries and departments, as well as from companies with state participation to direct purchases of products under the federal and regional programs."

In the course of a discussion their points of view on the main subject were stated also by two principal experts, i.e. Rusnano Board Chairman Anatoly Chubais and Skolkovo Foundation President Viktor Vekselberg. The head of the company established for development and support of nanotechnologies in the country is of the opinion that the paramount objective of the national innovation sphere is a substantial increase in financing of science on the part of private business and reduction of the government share. The government investment obligations in all Rusnano projects (more than 130) make up 220 bln rubles. But Chubais reminded that there are also other financial means, namely, 312 bln rubles contributed to these companies by private business. This is essentially more than the government investments, which means willingness of the business community to invest in nanotechnological projects with sizable economic and social potential.

However, the stated figures seemed not very convincing to Vekselberg as he insisted that the government support-financial and in the sphere of regulatory activities-should play a leading role in stimulating of innovations.

Meanwhile, on the eve of the forum some mass media wrote: Is there any use in debating this subject, if due to the elections "all modernization projects are curtailed in the country"? Addressing a plenary meeting, the Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev stated: "Of course, we are not going to curtail anything but, on the contrary, shall only increase financing in all directions of modernization, including innovational directions and nanotechnologies." He also stressed that the increase in financing of scientific studies remained an absolute priority for our country, and the provision for 8 bln dollars was made in the budget until 2014 to supply research centers with advanced equipment and stimulate scientific programs. Within the framework of the forum, Medvedev held a sitting of the Commission on Modernization of the Economy, where he discussed the problems of the innovation market creation in our country with experts. The adopted decisions referred, first of all, to investments in perspective projects.

On that same day, the famous American futurologist Eric Drexler, addressed forum participants. He is known as a popularizer of molecular nanotechnologies, whose potential was described in his epochal work Mechanisms of Creation: the Coming Era of Nanotechnology (1986). His doctor's thesis, defended in 1991 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was published a year later as a book Molecular Nanosystems. Drexler acquired a reputation of the "godfather" of nanotechnologies (by the way, he is the author of this very term). In recent years the scientist works at the Oxford University in Great Britain. At the forum he dealt with technologies for large-scale production based on self-assembly of large objects from nanometer scale elementary building blocks.

THE BIRTHDAY OF A NEW TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE

On the first day of the forum, there was signed a three-year cooperation agreement under the program of creation of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technologies near Moscow, which was officially registered the day before. The institute will become a key element of the Skolkovo Innovational Center, a major proving ground for a new economic policy of Russia. This independent non-state higher educational establishment is a result of cooperation between the Skolkovo Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the prestigious technical institutions of the USA and a world leader in robotics and artificial intellect. The Skolkovo Institute will train bachelors under research programs prepared by American scientists. In addition, the students will have a perfect knowledge of the English language, which will be the main language of communication.

The founders of this educational structure are: OAO Rusnano, Russian Venture Company, Mezhekonombank, Moscow Physico-Technical Institute, Tomsk Polytechnical University, Moscow Management School "Skolkovo", Russian Economic School, Fund of Assistance to Small Business Development in the Scientific and Technical Sphere, and Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Chernogolovka near Moscow. They represent all profiles of the innovational market, namely, development structures, classical higher educa-

tional establishments, companies financing research work, educational and research institutions of a new generation. The signing of the agreement was accompanied by an interesting digression into history. Vekselberg handed over to the President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Susan Hockfield a letter written in 1876 by the then MIT President to his colleague in the Imperial Moscow Technical College (today the Moscow State Technical University named after N. Bauman). In this letter the MIT President gave a flattering assessment of the organization principles of the educational process, which he had become acquainted with at the Russian college, and promised to make them the basis of the MIT activities as "the only correct ones". "It is a very touching reminder of the fact that our cooperation has more than 100-year history," Mrs. Hockfield pointed out. Later on, at the press conference she stressed the importance of "the exceptionally compelling experiment", i.e. the birth of the institute: "It is obvious for us that we cannot remain leaders in the 21st century, if we limit ourselves only by work at home, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. If we want to remain in the forefront of science, our institute should participate in such projects." By the way, her colleague Edward Crawley, professor of aeronautics, astronautics and of engineering systems was appointed President of the Skolkovo Institute.

UNDER THE BRAND "MADE IN RUSSIA"

More than 100 events are held annually at the Expocenter, the main exhibition site of the country. Rusnano-techExpo has become an absolute record-holder by its size and importance. It gathered almost 400 companies from 107 Russian cities and 10 foreign countries--world leaders of nanoindustry, including Australia, Great Britain, Japan, Germany, Iran, the Netherlands, Finland and South Korea. Among the newcomers is the Kingdom of Spain, which for the first time exhibited products of its 20 leading high-technology companies. Due to such a great number of the participants, the exhibition area (which made up 4,605 m ) was increased as compared with 2010.

The organizers of Rusnanotech Expo gave special priority to collective expositions (36 altogether), where 15 Russian regions displayed their achievements in nanoindustry--mechanical engineering and metal-working, optoelectronics and nanoelectronics, solar energy and energy saving, medicine and biotechnologies. The largest stand (over 500 m²) was occupied by Rusnano and the Fund of Infrastructural and Educational Programs. The products of 60 companies, made due to the financial participation of the corporation, presented the following six clusters: optics and electronics, medicine and pharmacology, infrastructural projects, surface modification, energy efficiency, and nanomaterials. Among them were companies, which launched their business in 2010-2011, and also new participants displaying their products and technologies for the first time.

The exhibition has shown that among the priorities of the corporation are projects working for development of human capital, i.e. for support of public health and wel-

fare. For example, in Sarov* (Nizhni Novgorod Region), Rusnano financed expansion of the commercial output of polyurethane foam medical coating Locus (liquid bandage) for wounds, bedsores and burns, with nanocrys-talline boehmite (a mineral of hydroxide class) possessing high bactericidal and sorption properties. By providing thermal insulation and increasing gas permeability of dressing and also in comparison with conventional dressing materials Locus reduces the time of medical treatment from 28 to 16 days.

In cooperation with the Moscow medical establishments (Shumakov Research Institute of Transplantology and Artificial Organs and the Institute of Biomedical Research and Technologies) Rusnano will participate in production of nanostructured biopolymer implants (plasters) for transdermal (through skin) delivery of medicinal substances. Such "comfortable" technologies will be highly competitive with conventional injections, which is especially important for treatment of chronic diseases with lifetime taking of medicines by patients.

The corporation Supervisory Board approved investment of funds in the expansion of the existing production of active elements of erbium garnet, a key element of unique laser radiators, on the basis of which a series of national medical equipment, such as the Erby and Professional perforators will be developed. The application of such devices will enable realization of the methods developed by the Engineering Center of New Technologies company (Troitsk, Moscow Region) and providing contact-less piercing of biological tissues of a finger by laser light for blood sampling.

The corporation will finance the project for production of artificial bicuspid and tricuspid valves by Ruscardio-invest company (Moscow). These valves possess parameters near to the characteristics of natural ones as they provide low resistance to blood flow and a low degree of clotting. Russia needs annually 30,000-60,000 operations for valve replacement, while today physicians can carry out only 10,000-11,000.

Rusnano will render assistance to the Center of Theoretical Problems of Physico-Chemical Pharmacology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Hematological Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the State Research Experimental Institute of Military Medicine in promotion of a new method of diagnostics of blood clotting disorders and development on its basis nanotechnological production of modern equipment: instruments which reveal pathology data and determine complication risks, in particular, thromboses, single-use test systems for exploration of hemostasis.

Let's note that the state corporation as a development institution does not seek to control business in every new company, i.e. to replace the private owner, it only tries to help and support the latter. "In many projects our share makes up less than 15 percent," Anatoly Chubais said in his interview to Russia 24 TV channel. "And it is right as those who have worked out the project are true innovators, and they must control their business." Therefore, after a definite period of time Rusnano withdraws from the group of shareholders, which, according to the Board chairman, creates a "revolving principle" of the company operation. According to Chubais, such is a target task of the corporation.

* See: A. Vodopshin, "On a Visit to Khariton", Science in Russia, No. 5, 2009.--Ed.

FROM SHOP TO HOME

"The shop of the future" opened at the forum site became a surprise for its participants and guests. All its goods had radiofrequency marks for remote reading of information, which, according to nanotechnologists, must replace the marking bar codes used nowadays. The technology unusual for today's consumers really simplifies the purchase procedure: a customer can carry goods with the said identification in a handcart through a special frame and learn the total cost of his purchase at the exit. In this case, there is no need in a cashier as a customer just can use his mobile phone or a bank card at an electronic terminal.

The route from the shop led to the model of "the house of the future" with an autonomous lighting system, low-emission double-glass panes, composite fittings and nanoplastic. Thus the design companies of the state corporation demonstrated the demand for their products. Moreover, the forum participants had an opportunity to conduct on-line control of some elements of the interior and technical equipment.

DIAMONDS PRODUCED BY EXPLOSION

The three-day program of the forum was followed by presentation of the Rusnanoprize International award, instituted by Rusnano and granted for science and technology developments, inventions and their extensive practical application. In 2011, it was presented to Academician Gennady Sakovich, research supervisor of the Institute of Problems of Chemical and Power Engineering Technologies, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who suggested the technology of manufacture of nanometer diamonds by means of explosion. At the same time, the award symbol and a memorable diploma were presented to the Federal Science and Production Center Altai (city of Biysk), which started commercial production of innovational products.

Nanodiamonds as a powerful structure-forming agent provide dispersion strengthening of composition and are used therefore for the formation of wear-resistant coatings needed for machine and mechanism components, cutting and stamping tools, for superfmishing polishing of supersolid and soft materials, and creation of oil additives reducing friction factor in mating components.

They became necessary at the end of the 1970s-beginning of the 1980s: the dynamically developing national mechanical engineering industry required at that time, new methods of mining and production of technical diamonds. It stimulated works on diamond detonation synthesis, which started at the Science and Production Association Altai and the Institute of Hydrodynamics of the RAS Siberian Branch (Novosibirsk). The then director of the Biysk enterprise Gennady Sakovich and his colleagues managed to prove, in their first publications, economic expediency of the new method, which served as an impetus for making a decision by the USSR Ministry of Mechanical Engineering on creation of industrial technology. In 1985, robotized production of nanosize diamonds started at the Altai enterprise, and a year later their commercial production and supply to the country enterprises. At first the production was secret, but soon there appeared open publications. After getting a patent for it, the new technology was promoted at forums in the USA, Japan and France, and the Altai enterprise received the first contracts for delivery of its products to foreign countries. Today it produces 10 varieties of nanodiamonds, including for export to the developed countries.

The youth contest, analogous to the "adult" Rusnanoprize, in which innovators under 35 competed, brought victory to Maria Davydova from the Institute of Problems of Oil and Gas, RAS Siberian Branch (Yakutsk). She suggested a unique method of producing frost-resistant nanocomposites. The judges singled out this method among five finalists for its novelty and topicality.