The Science & Technology Department of Gujarat Government has initiated an exercise to frame integrated policy for Nano Technology policy in lines with the Information Technology and Electronics Policy. In the late 1990s, Gujarat Government missed the bus to attract investments in IT sector. The present State Government seems to have learnt the lesson from the past mistakes and is gearing up to create a conducive environment for the emerging Nano Technology sector.

The State Government has allocated Rs43 crore in the Budget to initiate concrete work on framing Nano technology policy and decided to take guidance of ‘Bharat Ratna’ CNR Rao, who is also advisor to the Prime Minister on scientific matters.

Gujarat is heavily banking upon flourishing Pharmaceutical Industry to attract investments in Nano Technology sector, said a senior official, adding that pharmaceutical clusters would be an added advantage to make Gujarat a hub for Nano Technology in India in coming days.

Framing a policy for an emerging sector is a long term process, said Narotam Sahu, advisor to the Gujarat Council of Science & Technology, adding that currently focus explore potential and creation of infrastructure for the Nano Technology. “It will take a couple of years to frame the concrete Nano Technology policy,” said Sahu while talking to The Pioneer.

Gujarat is taking inspiration from Karnataka as far as creation of infrastructure for Nano technology is concerned, said a senior official, adding that Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science has done exceptionally well in Nano Technology. “Gujarat Government has also decided to learn from Karnataka’s experience. We are inviting experts in the field of Nano Technology and arrange a system of knowledge sharing,” he added.

According to him Rs27 crore have been allocated for a campaign called ‘Digital Gujarat for Digital India’, in which Nano Technology has also been covered. Under this campaign a Citizen Engagement Platform will also be formed using social media, he added.