France and Venezuela strengthen cooperation on nanoscience and nanotechnology

Caracas, Nov 03. ABN.- In the framework of the bilateral relations on scientific matters between France and Venezuela, this Tuesday finished the French-Venezuelan Cooperation journeys on nanoscience and nanotechnology organized by the Fondo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Investigación (Fonacit), the Red Venezolana de Nanotecnología and the Embassy of France to Venezuela.

Diverse projects were presented during the activities held at the Instituto de Estudios Avanzados (Idea), such as physical properties of porous objects with controlled geometry; designing multistage systems for biological, pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes; nanoparticles used as catalytic converters; and the carbon nanotubes projects, among others.

Also, the journeys helped attendants to know about French and Venezuelan researchers experiences, who have carried out diverse studies in the nanotechnology field.

The President of the Fonacit Adriana Mora pointed out through a press release that these journeys were also fruitful to promote the research at these specific scientific fields.

Mora underscored that promoting this kind of meetings are among Fonacit objectives, especially in the research field, because of its importance and use in other transversal fields, such as medicine, biology and energy to boost social development and strengthen the Venezuelan industrial machine through that knowledge and research.

On the other hand, the Vice Minister for Science and Technology Development of the Ministry of People's Power for Science, Technology and Intermediate Industries Karlin Granadillo stated that the idea is to qualify Venezuelan and French scientists for the nanotechnology field.

In addition, Granadillo said that universities and research centers are involved at the scientific training, because it includes strategic areas such as food, health and the biotechnology applied to the oil sector.

“It has a great importance for Venezuela because it is going to have influence in the development of technologies for sectors that the Venezuelan Government has already established as strategic,” she said.

Likewise, she said: “In France, we have [Venezuelan] professionals that are developing this field, the difference now is that we are going to develop it locally with our attached institutions, with our research centers, with our researchers here in the country. This is going to help, so the progress in this field will be directly addressed to answer our necessities and our strategic sectors.”

Furthermore, the Ambassador of France to Venezuela Jean-Marc Laforet stated that this nanotechnology cooperation is in the framework of the program for Postgraduate Cooperation agreed between both countries.

“This cooperation agreement consists on drafting a thesis in France jointly French and Venezuelan scientists. We have had really important exchanges, for instance, we have in here French scientists that will work three days with their Venezuelan counterparts. Despite nanotechnology is very small, it is really important for the present and the future of countries in health, food and industry. It is the future of our country,” Laforet said.

According to the French Ambassador, thirty five postgraduate thesis are received each year in the cooperation framework. This is really important for the training of Venezuelan institutes,” he stated.

A project that is being boosted in this matter from the Fonacit consists on the creation of a Venezuelan School of Nanotechnology. The draft should be ready for the first trimester of the next year.