The section “Why is nanotechnology important?” of the European Commission Communication of May 2004 “Towards a European Strategy for Nanotechnology” states:
“Nanoscience is often referred to as “horizontal”, “key” or “enabling” since it can pervade virtually all technological sectors. It often brings together different areas of science and benefits from an interdisciplinary or “converging” approach and is expected to lead to innovations that can contribute towards addressing many of the problems facing today’s society:

– medical applications including e.g. miniaturised diagnostics that could be implanted for early diagnosis of illness. Nanotechnology-based coatings can improve the bioactivity and biocompatibility of implants. Self-organising scaffolds pave the way for new generations of tissue engineering and biomimetic materials, with the long-term potential of synthesising organ replacements. Novel systems for targeted drug delivery are under development and recently nanoparticles could be channelled into tumour cells in order to treat them e.g. through heating;

– information technologies including data storage media with very high recording densities (e.g. 1 Terabit/inch2) and new flexible plastic display technologies. In the long-term, the realisation of molecular or biomolecular nanoelectronics, spintronics and quantum computing could open up new avenues beyond current computer technology;

– energy production and storage can benefit from, for example, novel fuel cells or lightweight nanostructured solids that have the potential for efficient hydrogen storage. Efficient low-cost photovoltaic solar cells (e.g. solar “paint”) are also under development. Energy savings are anticipated via nanotechnological developments that lead to improved insulation, transport and efficient lighting;

– materials science developments using nanotechnology are far-reaching and are expected to impact upon virtually all sectors. Nanoparticles are already used for reinforcing materials or functionalising cosmetics. Surfaces can be modified using nanostructures to be, for example, scratchproof, unwettable, clean or sterile. Selective grafting of organic molecules through surface nanostructuring is expected to impact upon the fabrication of biosensors and molecular electronics devices. The performance of materials under extreme conditions can be significantly improved and advance e.g. the aeronautics and space industries;

– manufacturing at the nanoscale requires a new interdisciplinary approach to both research and fabrication processes. Conceptually, there are two main routes: the first starts from micro-systems and miniaturises them (“top-down”) and the second mimics nature by building structures starting at atomic and molecular level (“bottom-up”). The former can be associated with assembly, the latter to synthesis. The bottom-up approach is in an early development phase but its potential impact is far reaching with a disruptive potential for current production routes;

– instrumentation for the study of the properties of matter at the nanoscale is already having an important direct and indirect impact that is stimulating progress across a wide range of sectors. The invention of the Scanning Tunnelling Microscope was a landmark in the birth of nanotechnology. Instrumentation also plays an essential role for developing the “top down” and “bottom up” manufacturing processes;

– food, water and environmental research can advance via nanotechnology-based developments including tools to detect and neutralise the presence of micro-organisms or pesticides. The origin of imported foods could be traced via novel miniaturised nano-labelling. The development of nanotechnology-based remediation methods (e.g. photo-catalytic techniques) can repair and clean-up environmental damage and pollution (e.g., oil in water or soil);

– security is expected to be enhanced via e.g. novel detection systems with a high specificity that provide early warning against biological or chemical agents, ultimately down to the level of single molecules. Improved protection of property, such as banknotes, could be achieved by nano-tagging. The development of new cryptographic techniques for data communication is also underway.

“If I were asked for an area of science and engineering  that will most likely produce the breakthroughs of tomorrow,  I would point to nanoscale science and engineering”

Neal Lane
Former Assistant to the President of the USA for and Technology and former Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology.

For more information, read:

Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties. The Royal Society & The Royal Academy of Engineering, Nanoscience and nanotechnologies, July 2004

Nanotechnology: Enabling technologies for Australian innovative industries. Paper prepared by an independent working group for the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC). Australian Government, 11 March 2005

Nanotechnology Homepage of the European Commission

National Nanotechnology Initiative. An Overview. Mihail Roco, 3rd Integrated Nanosystems Conference, Pasadena, California, September 22, 2004.

What is nanoforumNanotechnology? Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

What is Nanotechnology? Tim Harper, Nanotechnology 14, 2003