Competition between Japan and U. S. on nanotechnology

摘要

In January of 2000, the US government unveiled its long-term policy in regard to the next generation technology promotion. In this policy was a plan to invest ￥51.6 billion on nanotechnology. This plan gave jitters to the industry, academic world, and governmental agencies of Japan to an astounding extent, and forced the Japanese government to take an appropriate action in the immediate future. The US policy positioned nanotechnology as a key factor for determining the 21st century paradigm and thereby made it clear that the promotion of this technology would be absolutely necessary for the U.S. to maintain its leading position in technology for the 21st century.