Scientific and technological potential in the national nanotechnology area

The article estimates scientific and technological potential of the domestic sphere of nanotechnology. The study is based on economic and statistical analysis of primary data (reports of research institutions) by the producers of nanotechnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Also the article investigates the organizational and economic preconditions of research in the implementation of nanotechnology. It is found that the state policy to encourage nanotechnological activities is sporadic and the result is inefficient. The basic tools of public policy in this area remain programmatic forms that provide budget funds, at national and sectoral levels, to finance the approved projects. Generalization of the annual reports of scientific institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine has revealed that, in recent years, in Ukraine, R&D related to nanotechnology have been carried out by more than 70 organizations, representing about 35% of organizations subordinated to NAS. It is found that most of the institutions that conduct research in this area belong to such NAS branches as Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Physical and Technical Problems of Materials and Chemistry Department. Analysis of the activities guidelines of the research institutions engaged in nanotechnological R&D shows that the greatest potential in Ukraine is possessed by nanophysics. In addition, our scientists have a potential to perform works in nanobiotechnologies, nanochemistry and development of various nanomaterials. However, it should be noted that such a sufficiently high level of development has ben achieved mainly due to the completed projects and significant legacy of research institutes of NAS of Ukraine for a long time of their operation, as well as very large support of the international scientific community (particularly through grants and joint projects). Most of the contracts and projects of the NASU institutions specialized in research in the field of nanotechnology, were executed by order of the European Union and the United States, and given the complexity of relations with Russia, we can assume that these will continue to deepen cooperation. In addition, analysis of primary documents leads to the conclusion about the low level of cooperation with of the analyzed domestic institutions with Ukraine's education system (low number of teaching scientists, a small number of projects implemented jointly with universities), which, together with other personnel problems inherent in the domestic sphere of nanotechnology can lead to further deterioration of the quality of training for nanotechnology specialties. Results of the study reveal the problematic aspects of the current stage of development of nanotechnologies in Ukraine, whose solution should take place within the framework of the Strategy of Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies in Ukraine, which should be developed in the near future to enhance competitive advantage and provide high value-added in domestic industry at the expense of large-scale introduction of nanotechnological innovation.