Nanotechnology—answer to New Jersey’s declining high-technology jobs?

Nanotechnology—answer to New Jersey’s declining high-technology jobs?
BY AMOD CHOUDHARY, ESQ.
JerseyPolitics.com Columnist

In the recently concluded election, part of Gov-elect Jon Corzine’s blueprint for New Jersey’s economic growth was establishment of a program called the “Edison Innovation Fund”. One of the main components of the Edison Innovation Fund is to support research and development, technology transfer, and job creation in Nanotechnology.

While the media and the general populace seem to be consumed by concerns for deprivation of life associated with a certain type of stem cell research, the media coverage for Nanotechnology has been sparse to say the least.

Nanotechonolgy is defined as studying and understanding of the properties of matter at nanoscale levels. A nanoscale level is generally considered to be one nanometer, which is one billionth of a meter. To put this number in perspective, the width of one strand of hair is 80,000 nanometers. Also, the thickness of a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers. Materials at the nanoscale level exhibit chemical, physical, and biological properties that are very different from their atomic or bulk matter state. Essentially, particles acquire new properties at nanoscale levels, e.g., metals becoming semiconductors or insulators, and some substances converting light into energy.

Experts estimate that the worldwide corporate investment in Nanotechnology is presently around $4 billion and growing. Since materials are part of everything we do, the use of Nanotechnological innovations are not limited to one specific area. However, the prominent areas of commercial viability seem to be in chemical mechanical polishing, magnetic recording tapes, sunscreens, automotive catalyst supports, biolabeling and electroconductive coatings and optical fibers.

It is interesting to note that many of the nanotech developments are kept under wraps for competitive purposes and to prevent further scrutiny by government regulators and environmentalists.

Research and development in Nanotechnology is not new and has been on going for close to ten years. Besides the United States, European Union, Japan, China, and South Korea have also recognized the tremendous commercial and environmental potential of this technology. In the U.S., Nanotechnology innovations and commercialization have been through (i) Major University laboratories, (ii) start-up entities, and (iii) R&D laboratories of established corporations such as General Electric, Motorola, HP, and Agilent Technologies.

The U.S. has established two organizations that are helping in the R&D efforts: National Nanofabrication Infrastructure Network (NNIN) and the Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN).

The NNIN supports Nanotechnology facilities at 13 prominent universities, while the NCN supports facilities at 7 other universities. Unfortunately, none of these 20 universities are in Garden State. But not to be left behind, New Jersey started its own Nanotechnology Consortium (NJNC) in 2003.

The two prominent members of this consortium are Lucent—through its Bell Labs, and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The NJNC also receives federal funding for R&D associated with small tech devices for advanced smart weapons at Picatinny Arsenal in Dover. One of the important inventions that the Bell Labs along with its NJNC partners have developed is “Nanograss”. With its silicon posts thousand times thinner than a human hair, a Nanograss is used in low friction boat hulls, heat sinks for computer processors, and towards increased battery shell life of 25 years.

Unfortunately, all this good work and innovations are not being advertised by our State in making New Jersey an innovative and business friendly state. This type of activity would be very handy for Mr. Corzine in retarding loss of 14% of New Jersey’s high-technology jobs since 2000, and the high technology job drain in the state's once-solid pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, Nanotechnology is an important means of maintaining New Jersey’s pharmaceutical base because researchers are working on new drug delivery methods and therapeutics.

Mr. Corzine and his team must look at efficient ways to coordinate R&D efforts among NJ universities, the small technology firms, and the major pharmaceutical companies that form the backbone of New Jersey economy. Additionally, despite having 3% of the U.S. population, and 3% of workforce, New Jersey receives only 1.5% of the federal research funds. I would hope that New Jersey’s elected federal representatives take notice and work in unison to secure more federal research funding. As of now, most of federal research funds are heading to California, Massachusetts, and Maryland.

The investment and monitoring of R&D efforts in Nanotechnology and other areas is critical because only by having a well paid workforce (through high technology jobs), the residents of New Jersey can continue to support the fiscal well being of the State Government and support the high cost of living that has unfortunately become part of New Jersey life. In addition, Mr. Corzine must find ways to reduce overtaxation and overregulation of businesses in order to make New Jersey a preferred destination for entrepreneurs and investors.