Abstract

Efforts to develop and commercialise nanotechnology face a variety of challenges: technical hurdles, availability of capital, environmental, health and safety concerns, and immature manufacturing technology and infrastructure. Nanotechnology is heavily science-based, requiring theoretical understanding and specialist equipment.

Several areas of concern for Europe have been identified by previous studies[1] including a low proportion of global nanotechnology venture capital invested in Europe; lagging behind in the number of nanotechnology patents granted, despite public funding which is on a par with the US; and overall lower industrial investment, despite the presence of global nanotechnology leaders among the European industry.

The EU FP7 funded NanoCom project is a coordinated support action which aims to introduce a new open innovation approach and support environment for overcoming the barriers to commercialisation of nanotechnology results and promoting and spreading best practices (see Figure 1). The target is to increase the uptake of nanotechnologies and facilitate the development of a strong and thriving European nano-manufacturing sector providing global innovation leadership in the field.

By Prof. Svetan Ratchev, Dr. Bertrand Fillon, Dr. Joe Segal and Dr. Emma Kelly

Prof. Svetan Ratchevk, Head of Manufacturing Division, Director of the Nottingham Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Corresponding author: svetan.ratchev@nottingham.ac.uk

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