Russia's nanospending to reach $432 million

From RIA Novosti:

“President Vladimir Putin Monday announced support for plans to develop nanotechnology and said the government would choose a body to oversee a federal program…

“Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko said his ministry was drafting a medium-term program until 2015 in a bid to step up efforts in development of nanotechnology…

” ‘Nanotechnology is the technology of the 21st century. A country successful in its implementation will be a 21st-century leader,’ [Deputy Prime Minister Alexander] Zhukov said. ‘As of now this is Japan. The EU countries are outlining special national programs’…

“Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref supported the creation of a program, saying a total of 12 billion rubles ($432 million) had been already allocated in the 2007 budget for the development of nanotechnology.”

That’s actually quite a bit of money for an economy of Russia’s size. —Christine

Update: related story in Kommersant.