The political, technological, and economic change over the last 20 years does not only result in a reallocation of political power balances. Former leading industrial nations will primarily be displaced by new aspiring countries. Now, China passed Japan in 2010 to become the world's second-largest economy after the U.S., and is expected to spend $153.7 billion on R&D in 2011 (1.4% of GDP). That isn't half of respective U.S. expenses ($405 billion = 2.7% of GDP), but nonetheless the trend is clear. China's R&D investments are growing at a rate that comes close to the annual economic growth.

Europe with $270 billion (2010) is still ahead of China but has to bundle up in the forthcoming 5 to 10 years. While the European countries are generally in the saving money mode and are mainly facing red colours in their balance sheets, China has positive balanced bank accounts. In Europe, Germany ranks first with estimated expenditures on R&D totalling $69.5 billion (2.3% of GDP) in 2011, followed by France with $42.2 billion (1.9% of GDP) and U.K. with $38.4 billion (1.7% of GDP)*.

Therefore, in our nanotimes we will stronger focus on Asian research results - mainly from China and India - besides the coverage of American and European technological advancements. According to the UNESCO Science Report 2010, Asia has the largest percentage of scientists (World Share Researchers) with almost 41%, followed by
Europe with 30% and USA with 20%. 

Hence it is not surprising that this edition contains a variety of Chinese research results such as tumour cells killed by gold nanorods [page 64], progresses in photo-detectors based on metal selenide nanomaterials [page 64], synthetic route for production of micro to nano scale metallic glassy fibres [page 67], nanostructures via a surfactant-assisted self-assembly (SAS) by using an oil/water system as medium [page 66].

The focus in 2011 will remain on the Company-News section and the News in Brief but also on important fundamental research and technological breakthroughs. In this edition, for example, you can find articles on high-efficiency PV-cells, new solar cells, an autonomous microchip not needing batteries, holographic structures, high quality CNT-based TFTs on a plastic substrate.

The nanotimes will remain free of charge for its readers. The readership has constantly increased over the last years, especially in Asia and the U.S. A Big Thanks goes to our company sponsors.

Of course, we are still looking for companies or foundations as sponsors and for advert placement. It represents a great opportunity for European companies that want to present their brand to Asian and American readers. In addition, Chinese, Indian or Russian companies that are not yet well known in Europe or in the USA wanting to enter these markets should consider a sponsorship or an advert placement option.

If you are interested please do not hesitate to contact as at
info@ivcon.net  or by phone +49 30 4849 2774.

If we can be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.