Understanding the emergence and deployment of "nano" S&T

TL;DR

This paper provides an overview of nanotechnology's development, debates, and challenges, focusing on scientific progress, industrial dynamics, knowledge flow, and institutional roles within emerging nanotechnologies.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive perspective on nanotechnology's evolution, analyzing scientific, industrial, and institutional factors shaping its emergence.

Findings

Cumulativeness of science and technologies influences nanotech development

Knowledge dynamics link science and technology in nanotech

Institutions like networks and geographic clusters play key roles

Abstract

As an introduction to the special issue on "emerging nanotechnologies", this paper puts in perspective contemporary debates and challenges about nanotechnology. It presents an overview of diverse analyses and expectations about this presumably revolutionary set of technological, scientific and industrial developments. Three main lines of argument can then be delineated: first of all, the degree of cumulativeness of science and technologies and the respective roles of newcomers and incumbents in the industrial dynamics; second the knowledge dynamics in nanotechnologies, especially the linkages by science and technology and third the role of institutions (network, geographic agglomeration and job market). It finally discusses methodologies to delineate the field of nanotechnologies and to collect data.