NANOTECHNOLOGY BUSINESS: Many potential nanotechnology industry applications and nanotechnology business opportunities

Industrial applications of nanotechnology are strictly bonded with nanotechnology business.

Current industrial applications of nanotechnologies are mainly related to the field of materials production.

It's worthwhile to note that in some (and widest) sense nanotechnologies techniques has been applied for decades in industrial applications such as semiconductors. Enlarging this point of view chemistry use molecular reaction for century, that can be considered per se nanotechnology (in some case sub nanotechnology).

Moreover, because Nanotechnology is in an early stage of development, it is difficult to forecast its commercial potential with an acceptable level of accuracy.

So far We have highlighted the potential disruptive strenght of nanotechnolgy but, at present, the influence of nanotechnologies on industry can be considered as evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Nanotechnology business current data

Nano Business Alliance, 2001; DG-Bank, 2001 estimeted in EUR 54 billion world market in nanotechnology in 2001:

nanoparticles and composites (23%);
ultra-thin layers (44%);
measuring and analyzing nanostructures (24%);
ultrapresicion processes of surfaces (6%);
lateral nanostructures (3%);

Nanotechnology funding

Country	Current funding for on nanoscience and nanotechnologies
Europe	nanotechnology R&D is about 1 billion euros, two-thirds of which comes from national and regional programmes.
Japan	Funding rose from $400M in 2001 to $800M in 2003 and is expected to rise by a further 20% in 2004.
USA	The USA's 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (passed in 2003) allocated nearly $3.7 billion to nanotechnology from 2005 to 2008 (which excludes a substantial defence-related expenditure). This compares with $750M in 2003.
UK	With the launch of its nanotechnology strategy in 2003, the UK Government pledged £45M per year from 2003 to 2009.

Other key data are:

The number of Nanotechnology patents has been growing significantly; many large corporations (e.g. IBM and Samsung as the top two patentees) are among the most active patentees;
ultra-thin layers (44%);
More than 700 companies are involved in Nanotechnology;
Luxcapital report 2003

Nanotechnology business forecast

Estimates of the nanotechnology market - by 2010-2015
USD trillions: 1.1

Source: National Science Foundation

Related potential nanotechnology applications

Nnaotechnology: Chemicals and basic nanostructured materials

Ultra-lightweight, high-strength, precision-formed materials;
Nano-composite polymers for structural and electronic applications;
Membranes and filters for cost-effective desalinization of water;
Thermal and optical barriers;
Ink jet materials;
High efficiency and novel catalysts;
Resistant textiles;

Nanotechnology in Electronics and computing

Miniaturized supercomputers;
Terabit non-volatile memory;
Pervasive computing;
Low voltage and high brightness displays;
Faster semiconductors and micro-processors;

Nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine: Pharmaceuticals and medical products

New and more effective drug compounds
Nearly perfectly targeted drug delivery
Diagnostics, sensors, and assays
DNA sizing and sequencing
Bioelectronics
Bio-warfare protection
Antibacterial dressings and coatings

Nanotechnology: Energy generation

Thin film photovoltaics for cost effective solar energy
Cost competitive fuel cells for automotive applications
Micro fuel cells for portable power applications
High capacity, rapid charge batteries

For a global and detailed view we suggest to consult carefully following documents:

Nanoroadmap project documents:

Nanomaterials author Willems & van den Wildenberg - W&W)

Health and Medical Systems author VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH

Energy author VTT Technology studies

Links

nanovip: list of nanotechnology companies