Putin Attempts to Resurrect a Dying Russia Using the Desperate Magic of Nano Technology

Putin is attempting to thrust Russia into the mainstream of world nanotechnology research and production via a desperate crash program of spending. In a typically "Soviet" manner, Putin has chosen a highly centralised approach to Russian nanotech development. Russia accounts for less than one tenth of one per cent of the global nano-industry, so the country has some significant catching up to do. At a time when Russia's population is steadily shrinking, it may seem odd that Putin would spend large amounts of Russia's energy cash on a technology area where Russia has no infrastructure -- academically, commercially, militarily, or in government research labs.

In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), Russia ranks as the eleventh largest economy in the world. But while many smaller countries such as Australia or South Korea, not to mention all of the bigger nations, have invested steadily and broadly in all areas of nanosciences and nanotechnologies for years now, Russia has had no coordinated science policy, no industrial policy, and no commercial industrial base to develop its nanotechnology capabilities. Until last year, that is. In April 2007, the Russian president signed off on a public policy paper that ordered a multi-billion dollar program to develop a world-class Russian nanotechnology industry by 2015.

...It is obvious that Russia has chosen a much more centralized approach to developing a nanotechnology industry than most other industrial nations. While this could be a result of the countries past history of large state monopolies, it could on the other hand be the only realistic way of pulling off the crash development of the Russian nanoindustry...

Time will show if the Russian approach works. With the flurry of deals, projects and cooperations announced over the past few months, not to mention the glitzy Rusnanotech event, they appear to be off to a good start. _Nanowerk

The Russian bear is suffering from a number of problems relating to a rapidly contracting and aging population. Russia is unable to maintain its huge energy infrastructure -- and that is the source of most of Russia's income. Russia's rusting and demoralised military struggled to subdue tiny Georgia, while Russia is helpless to stop Chinese illegal immigration into Eastern Siberia -- a de facto invasion and takeover. Russia's medical infrastructure is unable to cope with rising rates of Tuberculosis, AIDS, alcoholism, and widespread suicidal depression.

The Nano Initiative, coming at this low ebb of Russia's existence, seems like just another Potemkin Village. The question is not whether Russia will be able to compete in Nanotechnology in 15 or 20 years. The question is whether Russia will even exist after that time.