Global Nanotechnology Network Workshop

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

22 Septiembre 2009
Report on Nanotechnology Capacities and
Programs from Chile e

Víctor M. Fuenzalida
Universidad de Chile
Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas
Departamento de Física
Laboratorio de Superficies y Nanomateriales
vfuenzal@ing.uchile.cl
 Nanoscience in Chile. Sourcee: ISI

CHILE: publications in 
Comparison 2005-2009
nanscience 2001-09
70 2000 B ra s il
2009
1800
60
1600

50 14 00 M e x ic o
1200
40
1000

30 800
A rg e n tin a
600
20
2001 4 00
C h ile
10 200

0
0 1 2 3 4
Publications by area, source: ISI

Chem Phys
Chemistry
multi
Electrochemi
stry
Engineering
Mat Sci
Nanosci
Physics Appl
Physics
Cond Matter
Physics multi
 CHILE: nanoscience funding

Source: Teresita Larrain, report, Jan-April 2009, survay
financed by the Chilean government

Lowest (unrealistic) bound: USD 0, since there are not
government nanoscience or nanotechnology initiatives

Dangerous estimation (not 100% is nano)

2005: USD 740 000

2006: USD 1 070 000

2007: USD 2 180 000

2008: USD 2 600 000

2009: new project around USD 1 500 000 / year for 5
years 100% dedicated to nanoscience was awarded
 CHILE: researchers
 Source: Teresita Larrain, report, Jan-April 2009 (survay
financed by the Chilean government)
 Temptatively 103 researchers working in the area
 Effectively 63 contacted
 100% in Universities
 70 % concentrated in five universities
 Most in basic sciences, 30% in engineering units

 1 rst National Conference on Nanosci-tech, May 2009:

118 abstracts received
Researchers distribution, same source
Inve stig a do re s se g un e spe cia lid a d

Fa rm a ce u ticaTe cn o lo g ia d e
2% Alim e n to s
Fis ica 2%
24%
Qu im ica
42%
B io q u im ica y
b io lo g ia
2%

In g e n ie ria
28%
Characterization
Nanomagnetism
Computational
Sensors
Thin films
Org. Chem.
Basic physics
Nanotubes Research
Semiconductors Areas,
Nanopolymers
Nanofluidics same
Bioremediation source
Cathalysis
Proteins
Inorg. Chem.
Drug delivery
Surface Sci
 Available nano-equipment

200 kV Transmission electron microscope (1x)

Scanning tunneling microscopes (STM):
several, two of them vacuum compatible

Atomic force microscopes (AFM): several, two
of them vacuum compatible

X-ray diffractometers: several

Vacuum and chemical preparation capabilities
 Not avaliable equipment

High resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy

Nanofabrication facilities:

Electron beam lithografy

Clean room

Specialized equipment such as focused ion beam

No central fabrication or characterization
facilities, they are dispersed among the
University campus
 Patents

“Half the way” between science and technology

Two nano-applications to the Patent Coopera-
tion Treaty (PCT), international agreement for
filling patent applications in up to 117 countries

US patents database (http://www.uspto.gov/),

patents AWARDED (no pending) 2005-2009

Chilean origin in general: 122

Chilean origin in nanotech: 0
 NANOTECHNOLOGY
 SOURCE: Marcelo del Valle, No re s p o n d e la
independent consultant, report e n c u e s ta ; 4 7 1 ;
88%
from May 2009
 537 companies were researched
 471 did not answer at all
 36 do not use nanotechnology No e s ta in te r
41;
and will not. This includes 8%
several companies that only R e s p o n d e la
import products E n c u e sta ; 1 2 ;
In te re s a d o p e ro n o
re s p o n d e la
2%
e n cu e sta ; 1 1 ;
2%
 11 had some interest in nanotechnology, but did not answer the
consultant questions
 12 provided full answers
 6 interested in nanotechnology for future applications
 6 already performing some kind of application
 Government defined cathegories
O t ro s ;
2 M a t e ria l
M in e ría
B io t e c n o lo g ía y 4
fa rm a c é u t ic a ;
1

D is p o s it ivo s y
p ro c e d im ie n t o s
q u ir ú rg ic o s ;
 Ata Tecnología 1
 Luval S.A.
Minera Sur Andes Ltda.
T e c n o lo g ía s d e


 Química Passol S.A.

 Sociedad comercial CTEC Ltda. p ro c e s a m ie n t o y
Versus productos industriales E n e rg ía y m e d io
a lm a c e n a m ie n t o d e


a m b ie n t e ;
in fo r m a c ió n ;
2
1
 Capacities

2 companies of 6 able to sinthesize nanoproducts

Other companies buy them in:

Institute Weizen, Israel

Sociedad comercial CTEC de Chile

Degusta/Evonik Germany

VMP, Russia

Otros suppliers from Canadá, China, Corea and Japón

NONE of the companies has regular contacts with
Chilean Universities
 Incredulity In c r e d u lid a d d e l m e d io
Difficulties



No professionals
F a lta d e p r o f e s io n a le s con
e x p e r ie n c ia e n e l m e d io

Universities do
not understand
U n iv e r s id a d e s n o e n tie n d e n
industryn e c e s id a d e s d e la s e m p r e s a

No time ford e tie m p o p a r a d e s a r r o llo
F a lta
development

Lack of equipment
F a lta d e e q u ip a m ie n to


Financing
Pr o b le m a s d e F in a n c ia m ie n to

Lack of
information
F a lta d e In f o r m a c ió n

0 1 2 3
 Suggestions from the industry

Universities more in phase with the industry

Centralized information

Certification by public institutions

Support to industries

Open calls with publicity and prizes

Autorities with technological knowledge

Better financial sources

Education and diffusion
 Conclusions: nanotechnology


Few companies interested

No connection between industries and local
universities

Few or no characterization equipment and poor
contacts with the universities

Very limited capability for production of
nanostructures products