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TWO
nanotechnology scientists bagged this year’s Nobel Prize
for Physics. Their discovery of the Giant
Magnetoresistance (GMR) effect has been shrinking the
size of information-storage devices we use today.
Albert
Fert and Peter Gruenberg discovered GMR in 1983, the
physical phenomenon considered as one of the first major
applications of nanotechnology. This GMR is used to
transfer magnetically stored information on a hard disk
to the computer. It is now the stuff of standard
technology such as laptops, iPods and other portable
devices we use to store information.
These
GMR technologies led to a sales boom in the electronics
and computer industry. For instance, Apple Co. is
registering record earnings.
The
future is already upon us. According to prominent
futurist Dr. James Canton, four sciences will stand out
as the wealth-creating pillars of a new global economy:
nanotechnology, information technology, neurotechnology
and biotechnology (“nano-IT-bio-neuro”).
As the
world shifts to a more knowledge-based economy,
countries that are quick to take full advantage of
nano-IT-bio-neuro breakthroughs will come out as
winners.
For this
we badly need an aggressive research and development
(R&D) agenda fully funded by both public and private
sectors. Research money granted to state colleges and
universities should be concentrated on these
wealth-creating fields.
Other
countries are even setting up innovation systems to
ensure that R&D efforts are funded and are in sync with
developmental goals. For instance, Brazil modernized its
National Innovation System through a strong public R&D
and industry linkage.
In this
fast-emerging innovation economy, countries must indeed
innovate or perish.
E-mail:
edgardo_angara@hotmail.com,
Web site:
www.edangara.com |
