Nanotechnology

NANOTECH

“The economic potential of nanotechnology is tremendous. It is about our future way of life,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said when opening the Malaysian Nanotechnology Forum at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Pasir Gudang yesterday.

“Annual production in nanotechnology sectors worldwide is expected to exceed US$1tril (RM3.8tril) 10 to 15 years from now and will require about two million workers. We must be part of this important revolution.”

A Malaysian Nanotechnology Centre would also be set up to co-ordinate research and development programmes in the field, Najib said, adding that it would look into investment opportunities, commercial activities and industrial partnerships in such areas as materials, fabrication, electronics and education.

Speaking to newsmen later, Najib said: “It is still a new field and I think we are not that late. I think we can do better than others.”

Dear Najib,

doing better than others, is but, a far-fetch dream. It is not that we can't; but the spirit may be willing, but the system body is strickened.

If we could be, not too far inferior from our competitors, in terms of competitiveness and competitive advantage, in terms of knowledge-based technological advances, in terms of innovativeness and creativity, we can celebrate and consider it as ultra-success.

The juxtaposition we are in is, the paradox of breeding meritocracy and system efficiency. Till the system managers are enabled with core competency, we will still be talking about our dream, our vision, our mission ... but never a destination, neither a journey to the destination, and shall remain an illusion.

Maybe, we need an Alchemist and some magic water plus a Paulo Coelho to guide us on the journey, the pilgrimage, or the Zahir.