Nanotechnology, implying an opportunity to operate separate molecules and atoms of matter, - is a unique sphere of science. Scholars of authority, who are traditionally skeptical towards all unusual and scantily explored trends, usually assess with restraint development prospects of different spheres of knowledge, as a rule they rarely prognosticate and they are extremely unwilling to change their opinions.
That happened in history of almost all natural sciences, and the more surprising is the change of scientific circles’ attitude towards nanotecnologies. Till 1998, when there appeared the first transistor of nanoscale, practical opportunities of nanotechnologies application had been regarded in academic circles as science fiction. Then, literally within 2-3 years, scholars had tempered justice with mercy, and the next 15- 30 years were mentioned as possible terms of appearance of the first applied nanoprojects.
But only 4 years have passed since then, and the world has been swept over by the information of working nano devices, composed of separate molecules or atoms, and of new materials created by means of nanotechnologies. Nowadays, such pieces of news are taken as common and obvious things.
What’s the cause of this change? First of all, it’s rapid growth of investments into nanotechnologies, which have quickly resulted in the first sensational achievements, and then, we’ve got very tempting prospects depicted by futurologists. You know, nanomechanisms can make up any things of arbitrary material at hand, which will lead to mass abundance.
In 2003 total expenses of state structures and private companies on nanotechnologies reached the point of 6 billion dollars. Only in 1998 the volume of these investments was 2 times smaller!
In 2003 states of all the countries of the world invested in nanoscience 2 billion dollars, as a result, this scientific sphere became the most well financed one. According to the data, presented by English Department of Trade, by 2005 demand for services of nanotechnology market will have reached 100 billion dollars, and by 2015 it’ll have become 10 times larger. By this time, the sphere will include 2 million workers.
Since 2006 there must increase practical return of what we’ve done today. In 3 – 5 years there will start an active partition of market that will have been over by 2010- 2015.
Partition of nanotechnology market in trends:
Trend Market share, %
New materials 30 – 35
Semi-conductors 18 - 25
Devices of data storage 15 – 20
Biotechnologies 9 – 14
Polymers 8 – 12
Electrochemistry 3-5
Optics 2-4
Partition of nanotechnology market as to countries:
Country Market share, %
The USA 40 – 45
Japan 25 - 30
Europe 15- 20
Asia 5 –10
The project “Human genome” has been replaced by the project “Genome of epithaxial layer of a human”, that fixes chemical processes capable of starting up and stopping the work of different human genomes. Such work can be done only on the basis of up-to-date nano achievements. By means of nano technologies, Russian Ministry of Public Health has managed to decode the genetic code of atypical pneumonia virus, received from the only Russian citizen who had caught this disease.
The company “Rutgers” is working at a nano motor (the project “Viral Protein Nano Motor”) for a device moving through the human circulatory system and restoring damaged cell structure.
At present, outstanding scientists are engaged in creating systems of cellular delivery of medicine and nutrients that will transport medicinal and nutritional molecules right into a cell.
A vast spread of achievements based on nanotechnologies will start in 10 years.
Nowadays, there appear great opportunities to experiment with nanotechnologies at the intersection of various scientific trends, so, in the nearest future, we’ll get to know about lots of wonderful discoveries in this sphere.
Read more here .
The source: “International Strategy for Nanotechnology Research and Development”, U.S. National Science Foundation, 2001
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