Nanotechnology at MSU is a gold mine
A.B.Chubais at Alma MaterOn November 19, 2008, a delegation of Rosnanotech Group headed by the General Director of the Corporation A.B.Chubais paid a working visit at the invitation of the Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Academician V.A.Sadovnichy, Moscow University.
During the visit, negotiations were held on possible financial support from Rosnanotech Group of Companies for the production of modern carbon materials for aerospace engineering developed at the Department of Chemical Technology and New Materials of the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University (Prof. V.V.Avdeev). The next point of the visit was Laboratory Building B, including a visit to biotechnological laboratories at the Bioengineering Center with the participation of the Dean of the Faculty of Bioinformatics and Bioengineering, Academician V.P.Skulachev and the Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Academician M.P.Kirpichnikov. Academician V.P.Skulachev made a short report on medicines being developed at the Mitotechnology Center for the treatment of dangerous diseases (in particular, in ophthalmology) and improving the quality of life.
The report of Academician M.P.Kirpichnikov focused on the problems of toxicity of nanomaterials and the necessary ways to solve this problem. After that, the Rusnano delegation visited a small exhibition of innovative projects of Moscow State University. In particular, A.B.Chubais passed an express blood test, which was carried out with the help of biosensors, the General Director of Rusnano was also shown original developments based on scanning probe microscopes of the Center for Advanced Technologies (Prof. I.V.Yaminsky). After that, the Rosnanotech delegation visited the Computing Center of Moscow State University and a new 60 teraflops supercomputer located there (academician A.V.Tikhonravov).
In the second part of the visit, the guests and hosts of the meeting moved to the 7th floor of the MSU Fundamental Library in the meeting room of the Academic Council, where an exchange of views on the prospects of cooperation between MSU and the Corporation took place in a working (but solemn) atmosphere. In his opening speech, the Rector of Moscow State University spoke about the development of nanotechnology at Moscow University, after which there were also speeches by leading professors of Moscow State University about certain scientific, applied and educational aspects of nanotechnology in the field of chemistry, physics and biology. In response, A.B.Chubais noted that he was impressed by the visit to Moscow State University and counts on cooperation with the University in matters of expertise, education and certification of nanomaterials. In the future, the parties see possible joint participation in the project for the construction of a state-of-the-art Nanotechnology Center on the territory of Moscow State University on the Lenin Hills.
Vesti cites the following emotional statement by A.B. Chubais after visiting a number of MSU laboratories that are "engaged in nanotechnology": "I am now in a state of some shock from all that I have seen and heard. It feels like I have not been to the institute, but to some gold mines, distinguished by the supernatural content of gold and the supernatural scale of the deposit itself." Further, he also argued that this deposit should be developed. At the end of the report, according to Vesti, it was added that "... we absolutely need scientific expertise. We need an outside view. Expertise is the cornerstone of Rosnanotech, because any miscalculations in this area instantly discredit us... But we also need to be taught. You need to teach me, in particular." According to A.B.Chubais, there is already an agreement on the organization of a special training course on nanotechnology for the top management of the state corporation.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru20.11.2008