"Now that the world is living through a financial crisis, a readjustment of the domestic economy to a more active use of nanotechnologies will help us reach a new, more qualitative level, and substantially resolve the problem to save energy resources, including oil and gas," Sergei Ivanov told the Rossiya TV channel.
"A more active introduction of nanotechnologies will allow us to substantially reduce the use of resources, despite the fact that Russia has large reserves of oil, gas and other energy carriers," he said.
Ivanov said nanotechnologies are especially important in socially important spheres, including medicine and drug production.
"Nanotechnologies in medicine and drug production will make it possible to cure many diseases that are considered incurable now," he said.
Ivanov also stressed the importance of nanotech achievements in aircraft construction.
Earlier, the deputy premier said at an international nanotech forum in Moscow that Russia plans to invest some $10 billion in nanotechnology development programs in the mid-term.
"The total size of funding for nano initiatives has been approved at some $10 billion in Russia for the mid-term, with half of the funds coming from the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation," Ivanov said.
