The Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, at the launch of CSIR's National Centre for Nano-structured materials. The President and CEO of CSIR, Dr Sibusiso Sibisi, with Minister Mangena and Dr Suprakas Sinha Ray.

The Minister of Science and Technology Mr Mosibudi Mangena, launched South Africa's first two national nanotechnology innovation centres in November at the CSIR. The two nanotechnology innovation centres have been established at the CSIR and at Mintek, respectively.

South Africa, as a developing economy, has much to benefit from nanotechnology. "We therefore have to create an environment conducive to harnessing the potential benefits of this promising field of science", said Minister Mangena.

Nanotechnology potentially holds the key to new materials with extraordinary properties. Such materials could lead to the development of new technologies that could revolutionise the quality of life of the citizens of South Africa, and the continent as a whole. Highly accurate and sensitive medical diagnostic devices, new ways of disease therapy, and the monitoring and remediation of basic water supplies are just a few areas that have been identified where nanoscience and nanotechnology could make a significant impact.

In a bid to ensure that South Africa remains competitive with the international research community in this fast-developing field, the country's nanoscience and nanotechnology effort is being co-ordinated at national level by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) through its National Nanotechnology Strategy. Activities at these new centres are closely aligned with this strategy.

Mangena said these centres should take researchers closer to using nanotechnology to address some of South Africa's socio-economic challenges. "Theirs will not be blue sky research but activities with identified, tangible measurables. They will have to be at the forefront, the tone-setters and catalysts of the country's research and development programme in nanotechnology," he added.

The focus of the CSIR-hosted centre, the National Centre for Nano-structured Materials (NCNSM), is on the design, modelling, synthesis, characterisation and fabrication of new and novel nano-structured materials with specific functional properties. The centre at Mintek focuses on water, health, mining and minerals.

These areas have been identified in the National Nanotechnology Strategy as key focus areas in the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology in order to effect social development. Both centres will have a strong focus on human capital development by training and developing young scientists who will stimulate growth in South Africa's emerging nanotechnology industry.

In its first three years, research at the CSIR-hosted NCNSM will focus on:

• Fabrication of selected novel nano-structured materials for application in solar cells, printed electronic devices, biosensors, and nanopolymers
• Synthesis and characterisation of quantum dots with application in medical sensors, solid-state lighting, and optical devices
• Synthesis of polymer nano-composites for a variety of applications
• Synthesis of nano-structured materials for specific energy-related applications
• Materials modelling and simulation with the aim of understanding and predicting the fundamental properties of nanomaterials.

Dr Suprakas Sinha Ray, chief researcher and leader at the NCNSM says, "We are still in the initial wave of nanotechnology, in which most of the nanotechnology-based products on the market are linked to defence and national security applications or to sporting goods and consumer-convenience items.

"Within five to 10 years, sophisticated electronic devices that use nanoscale circuitry and memory can, however, be expected. After 10 to 15 years, the introduction of pharmaceutical products, drug delivery and health-monitoring devices will begin. Beyond the scope of our current conception, perhaps 20 to 30 years ahead, completely new forms of devices and processes will emerge."