The State Base for Nanotechnology Industries (SBNI)

SBNI is the first of its kind in China. It was established not long ago under the direct guidance of the central government and after the Ministry of Science and Technology made an on-site inspection. It is within the boundaries of TEDA, which had been described to be "very promising" by Deng Xiaoping before he passed away.

Now, SBNI has basically summoned together the top-class nanotechnology research institutions and experts of Beijing and Tianjin. Efforts are being made to turn it into a world class nanotechnology research institute. Under it are two expert committees:

Technical Experts Committee and Management Experts Committee. Technical Experts Committee are formed by experts from Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing University, Nankai University, Tianjin University, etc. The Management Experts Committee is led by the experts from the Economic Management Institute of Tsinghua University and does research on major innovations and industrial production.

The mission of SBNI is to drive technological innovations and to become a world-class nanotechnology center within five to ten years. By capitalizing on the existing advantages of TEDA, it is intended to provide a platform that facilitates the development of new and high technologies - a platform that is based on advanced management and operating pattern of risk investment.

Nanometer is a unit of measure. One nanometer is one millimeter divided by one million. The result is one micro millimeter, or one meter divided by 1 billion, or the length of 45 atoms strung together. Nanometer is a concept principally used in the field of biology.

Nanotechnology is in fact a technology of using single atoms or molecules to produce.
According to research done up to now, nanotechnology has three definitions.

The first definition is Molecular Nanotechnology advanced by an American scientist in 1986. According to his theory, all kinds of molecules can be combined at will to produce molecular structures of all kinds. Up to now, no major breakthroughs have been made in this aspect.

The second definition is the limit of microprocessing technology. Microprocessing is a technology of making nanometer-sized structures through nanometer precision processing. This technology also reaches the limit of micro-semiconductors. This is because if the wire spoke of circuit is made smaller, then the insulation film will become too thin and thus insulation will be compromised. In addition, there are also issues of heating and shaking. Research is still being done to solve these issues.

The third definition is based on biology. It is a fact that nanometer-sized structures exist in cells and biomembranes.

Nanotechnology is a new technology of studying the laws of motion and properties of electrons, atoms and molecules within 0.1-100 nanometers. Scientists have found that atoms or molecules measured in nanometers show visible new properties. And the technology of using these properties to make equipment of specified functions is defined as nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology involves many disciplines and various fields of modern science, including biology, electronics, materials, machinery, chemistry, etc. From micron technology, including microelectronics, to nanotechnology, human beings are going deeper and deeper into the microworld and have never been more capable than before of discovering and utilizing the secrets of the microworld. According to Mr. Qian Xuesen, a famous Chinese scientist, nanometer structures will be the focus of scientific research in the next step, and nanometer will bring about another technological and industrial revolution in the 21st century.

The concept of nanotechnology is a new economic growth point in the world economy. This is regarded by TEDA International Business Startup Center (IBSC) as an opportunity. Thus, IBSC established TEDA Supermicro New and High Materials Co. Ltd. in 1999, and owns 90% of the company. Its main business is the transfer of nanotechnology and the processing and production of precision materials and equipment.

After it was established, the company committed itself wholly to obtaining the title of the "State Base for Nanotechnology Industries." After hard efforts of one year and a half, it successfully gained the title at the end of 2000.

SBNI will for sure have a strong appeal to highly sophisticated achievements of nanotechnology. It provides optimal conditions for these achievements to be "incubated" into highly promising companies and further be used successfully in industrial production.