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

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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 nano-divide 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.

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Notes

  1. This paper shares its methodology with previous research I have published [7].

  2. Key informants, or experts, are defined as “...those who can provide relevant input to the process, have the highest authority possible and are committed and interested” [8].

  3. Hereafter referred to as ‘nanotechnology practitioners’.

  4. This figure is estimated, based on a previous report’s claim that the overall number of nanotechnology practitioners in Thailand was around 100 [12].

  5. An index combining normalized measures of life expectancy, literacy, educational attainment, and GDP per capita for countries worldwide.

  6. Noted as an advantageous method in future-oriented research [42].

  7. In descending order of interviewee level of citation.

  8. China was not considered a nanotechnology ‘leader’, although its grouping with the North, in terms of nanotechnology prowess, will be discussed later.

  9. An alliance of nine knowledge-intensive technology organisations from around the world (www.research-alliance.net).

  10. The role of licensing will be explored in a future paper as a strategy for developing endogenous innovation capabilities.

  11. 2.7 per 10,000 population in Thailand (according to Tanthapanichakoon).

  12. “A claim or claims to a process for the manufacture of a product, which may itself be the subject of a patent though it does not necessarily have to be” [74].

  13. Who, as of 2007, is Thailand’s Minister of Science and Technology.

  14. Thajchayapong draws this statistic from a 2003 study titled: “Final Report: Survey for Current Situation of Nanotechnology Researchers and R&D in Thailand”, that was conducted by the Unisearch group at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok [12].

  15. approximately equivalent to $165,000.

  16. Although Panitchpakdi claimed Thailand has already produced a nanoscale diagnostic kit [62].

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Acknowledgment

This paper was presented at the Third Nano Ethics Workshop held at the University of Aarhus, October, 2008. The author is grateful to the Nano Ethics Network for their support in making this presentation possible.

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  1. Institute for Nanoscale Technology, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Donald C. Maclurcan

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  1. Donald C. Maclurcan
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Correspondence to Donald C. Maclurcan.

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Maclurcan, D.C. Southern Roles in Global Nanotechnology Innovation: Perspectives from Thailand and Australia. Nanoethics 3, 137–156 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11569-009-0063-1

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