AIST has embarked on the Ultimate Technology for Manipulation of Atoms
and Molecules, or in short, Atom Technology Project, as a part of the Industrial
Science and Technology Frontier Program (ISTF) from fiscal 1992, with expected
duration of 10 years and total budget of around ´ 25 billions (= $ 250 millions).
The most of this amount is funded to the technological research association,
Angstrom Technology Partnership (ATP), via the New Energy and Industrial
Technology Organization (NEDO).
The Atom Technology Project is being carried out at the Joint Research
Center for Atom Technology (JRCAT) consisting of ATP and the National Institute
for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (NAIR) in Tsukuba under a joint
research contract, through the intensive joint research scheme involving
industrial, academic and governmental sectors. More than 100 scientists
have already been gathered at JRCAT from varios research organizations,
both domestic and overseas, to conduct vigorous research activities. JRCAT
is making every effort to play a leading role in the field of nano-scale
technology through the intimate collaboration with public,private and overseas
organizations.
