Japan at present is not emphasizing nanotechnology research per se in the same way the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) earlier carried out its Fifth-Generation Computer Project. Indeed, it is questionable as to whether the higher-ups in the bureaucracy have ever been exposed to the more esoteric concepts involved--they seem totally oblivious to "strong' nanotechnology "a la" Eric Drexler's concept of nanobots, general assemblers, etc. On the other hand, the basic research areas underlying nanotechnology (biotechnology, fabrication of semiconductor devices on the scale of nanometers) are areas of g

The wide applicability of such devices in the electronics industry for future electronics is why nanotechnology research has, up to now, focused more or less on this top-down, inorganic side of nanotechnology. At present, however, public sector nanotechnology projects seem to have started to shift towards the biotechnology side. This may be due to the fact that the government feels the private sector (in this case the electronics companies) has picked up the research ball in the area of quantum devices; enough research seeds have been sown, and it is time for government to shift over to pushing biotechnology projects.

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