A nanometer is one-billionth of 1 meter. Nanometer technology is used to develop new materials and turns out an annual value of US$50 billion around the globe.

The Tianjin nanometer technology base has set its short and middle-term development on semiconductor, biopreparate, explosives, ecologically friendly diesel oil, paint and catalyzing materials.

Its long-term focus is to develop and produce nanometer parts and nanometer machinery.

Officials said as a joint effort of the State Administration of Petroleum and Chemical Industries, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghua University and Beijing University of Science and Engineering, the base would use the talented personnel and the existing labs in the universities, research institutions and enterprises to accelerate nanometer technology industrial development in the country.

(Xinhua 01/13/2001)