More than 250 academic researchers and industrial experts from 20 countries are attending the second International Workshop on Nanotechnology Application 2009 in Vung Tau, which began on Nov. 12.

“Nanotechnology is considered a strategic technology for the world’s future economy, and is expected to affect virtually every branch of science and engineering as an enabling or key technology,” Phan Thanh Binh, director of the Vietnam National University in HCM City , told the conference.

“Nanoscience and nanotechnology will be given special priority at the university in HCM City, and a lab for nanotechnology has been built with a broad network of both internal and external collaboration,” he added.

“The university has increased its research collaborations with various organisations and universities around the world.”

The three-day conference was jointly organised by the university’s Laboratory for Nanotechnology and the Micro-Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (Minatec), a European research centre focused on nanotechnologies in France . The Ministry of Science and Technology and the HCM City Department of Science and Technology have also supported the event.

A total of 210 papers will be presented at the conference, covering important issues in nanotechnology, ranging from fundamental research, nanomaterials and processing to nanofabrication, nanodevices and applications.

As a satellite activity of the workshop, the Forum on Business Opportunities in the Micro-Nanotechnology Industry in Vietnam is scheduled to be organised on Nov. 14 morning for scientists, researchers and business community./.