Southern Roles in Global Nanotechnology Innovation: Perspectives from Thailand and Australia

Abstract

The term 'nano-divide' has become a catch-phrase for describing various kinds of global nanotechnology inequities. However, there has been little in-depth exploration as to what the global nanodivide really means, and limited commentary on its early nature. Furthermore, the literature often presents countries from the Global South as 'passive' agents in global nanotechnology innovation-without the ability to develop endogenous nanotechnology capabilities. Yet others point to nanotechnology providing opportunities for the South to play new roles in the global research and development process. In this paper I report on the findings of a qualitative study that involved the perspectives of 31 Thai and Australian key informants, from a broad range of fields. The study was supplemented by a survey of approximately 10% of the Thai nanotechnology research community at the time. I first explore how the global nano-divide is understood and the implication of the divide's constructs in terms of the roles to be played by various countries in global nanotechnology innovation. I then explore the potential nature of Southern passivity and barriers and challenges facing Southern endogenous innovation, as well as an in-depth consideration of the proposition that Southern countries could be 'active' agents in the nanotechnology process. I argue that it is the nano-divide relating to nanotechnology research and development capabilities that is considered fundamental to nanotechnology's Southern outcomes. The research suggests that Southern countries will encounter many of the traditional barriers to engaging with emerging technology as well as some new barriers relating to the nature of nanotechnology itself. Finally, the research suggests that nanotechnology may offer new opportunities for Southern countries to enter the global research and development picture.

Broadening nanotechnology's impact on development

“…One can imagine scenarios in which factories producing nanomaterials may create new jobs 26 ; nanotechnology applications may help to improve existing infrastructures for water and electricity that are not functioning optimally; the creation of high-skilled jobs in nanotechnology may curtail brain drain; nanotechnology products using minerals mostly found in developing countries may boost domestic industries; and increasing tax revenues generated from nanotechnology-enabled economic growth may trickle down to the poor in the form of governmental intervention measures. Few of these scenarios have been systematically investigated 27,28 , but even this cursory glance at some of the indirect ways in which nanotechnology may benefit developing countries suggests that the emphasis on technologies that directly address the needs of the poor is lamentably limited.…”

Publics, issues, and nanotechnology in Indian news media

“…Nanotechnology may thus lead to what has been called a "nanodivide." [33,34] Moreover, others have drawn attention to the promising role that nanotechnologies may play in solving development-related issues. Particularly, water, energy, health, and agriculture have been singled out as areas where nanotechnology may be used to develop new products that are directly beneficial to the poor, for instance through the development of nanotechnology-enabled water filters, drug-delivery mechanisms, solar cells, and fertilizers.…”