Nanotechnology And Sustainable Development

Nanotechnology is a field of science and engineering that deals with the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. It is a recent field, having been developed in the late 20th century. Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize many fields, including sustainable development.

Public institutions, academic researchers, and financial analysts all believe that nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize social and economic development. They predict that the nanotechnology industry will become a trillion euro industry by 2015, and that it will have a similar impact on the economy as the industrial revolution.

The convergence of globalization and increased awareness of the importance of sustainable development has led to a change in the management of innovation. Now, instead of being managed by a few large companies, innovation is being managed by a variety of different groups. This change is leading to a reshaping of technological democracy.

The study focuses on Europe and the United States, using several case studies of stakeholders. It discusses their perspectives on nanotechnology and its potential impact on sustainable development.

Public institutions, academic researchers and financial analysts among others hail nanotechnologies as one of the most promising sectors of social and economic development. Calculations predict that it will become a trillion euro industry by 2015 and that it will bring about economic change of at least the same magnitude as the industrial revolution. Nanotechnology is recent, younger by some thirty years than biotechnology, but it appears at a point in time in human history where there is a convergence between the globalization of access to information and increasing awareness of the importance of sustainable development. Nanotechnology and Sustainable Development explores the ways in which this convergence leads to a change in the management of innovation - and ultimately a reshaping of technological democracy. The scope of the study is global, with a particular focus on Europe and the United States, utilizing several case studies of stakeholders including entrepreneurs, commentators, end users, scientists, and policy makers.