Approaches to nanometer technology-a review of the Yoshida Nano-Mechanism Project

A Japanese national project in the field of nanotechnology is now in action. This project is based on the innovative research effort ERATO program. The principles of the ERATO program and the activities of the project are described in this paper. The Yoshida Nano-Mechanism Project is one of the projects in the ERATO (Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology) program of JRDC (Research Development Corporation of Japan). JRDC is a statutory corporation of the Japanese Government, and is run by the Science and Technology Agency. JRDC administers and fully funds the ERATO program. The research fields and project directors are selected and supported by JRDC, and the researchers are employed by JRDC for each project. The project has funds of US$12 million to be used over the five-year lifetime of the project. The project started in October 1985. New scientific approaches to the fields of measurement, control and processing with nanometer precision are being studied. Physical phenomena and mechanical properties of matter in the nanometer region will be studied. Some specific goals have been chosen in the form of instruments or components to be built. The development of these instruments or components is important, but more important will be the technologies developed in the building of the instruments and the understanding derived from using these instruments. The project is now approaching its climax.