Karnataka government is planning to set up India's first Nano Park in Bangalore to gain a major share in this cutting edge technology, before the year-end. The state information technology and biotechnology department has identified a 15-acre plot in north Bangalore for the Park. The state government is waiting for the formal clearance from the Union government's science and technology committee to commence the construction.

To begin with, the Park will operate out of makeshift premises at the University of Agricultural Sciences this year but specific timing was not disclosed.

According to M N Vidyashankar, secretary, information technology and biotechnology department of Karnataka government, the nano technology initiative will take off with a training programme expected to benefit 7,000-8,000 IT graduates in the first year. "Plans are also there to extend the training to biotech graduates because nano technology plays a critical role in the sector," he added.

As part of its initiatives in nano technology, the state is also playing host to an annual two-day global conference, which is to be held in Bangalore between December 6 and 7, 2007. Last year, the state government had pressurized Planning Commission to ensure Karnataka plays host to the event, stated sources.

Pharmabiz had earlier reported that the Union government had allocated Rs 1,000 crore for Nanotechnology research and training programmes and this also included the setting up of a dedicated Nano Park. The investment of Rs 250 crore is part of the Central government fund. Karnataka was identified for the Park after taking into account the efforts of research teams at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). Some of the notable names from the State are Prof. CNR Rao, Linus Pauling Research Professor, representing JNCASR and Prof, Goverdhan Mehta, former director, IISc. There have also been efforts by information technology companies like Cranes Software which set up a nanotechnology facility within the IISc campus. Early this year, IBM researchers from Bangalore worked on visualizing nanoscale objects as part of an international research programme.

Although nanotechnology is still in a formative phase, it has been maturing rapidly between 1997 and 2005. Significant investments have gone in from the global companies for research projects. The sector is also expected to provide over 2 million jobs worldwide.

- Our Bureau, Bangalore