Government funding, companies and applications in nanotechnology worldwide 2007

GOVERNMENT FUNDING, COMPANIES AND APPLICATIONS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY

WORLDWIDE 2007

The Technology Transfer Center (TTC), an Institute of Nanotechnology spin-out company, has
just published the latest figures on:

• National government spending in nanotechnology worldwide in major countries with

national nanotechnology strategies and initiatives;

• Number of nanotechnology companies in Europe and Asia-Pacific in 2007;

• Market application focus of companies in Europe and Asia-Pacific in 2007.

These figures have been taken from two recent TTC publications, Nanotechnology in Europe
2007 and Nanotechnology in Asia-Pacific 2007 (see www.nano.org.uk/reports.htm). Figures on
North America will be available later in 2007.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING IN NANOTECHNOLOGY 2006-2010

Japan is likely to overtake the United States in terms of government funding for nanotechnology
over the next few years. However, if State funding was added to the USA total then it would lead
all countries by a comfortable margin. In Europe, the German yearly spend on nanotechnology far
exceeds any other country and is roughly the same as all other European countries combined at
around €330milllion per year.

The EU Seventh Framework Programme will be contributing approximately €600million per year
until 2013; therefore as a whole, Europe has a larger yearly spend in nanotechnology than USA
or Japan. Overall it would therefore seem that Europe compares favourably to other regions;
however, Germany aside, no country has really embraced nanotechnology and its potential in the
same manner as the USA and various Asia-Pacific countries.

Asia-Pacific governments are providing significant funds for nanoscience and nanotechnology;
and have generally embraced the area with greater enthusiasm than their European counterparts.
Nanotechnology has been designated a national S&T key technology area by most Asia-Pacific
governments, alongside materials, medicine, the environment and ICT; all areas which
nanoscience and nanotechnology underpin.

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 Government funding, companies and applications in nanotechnology worldwide 2007

4500

4000

3500

3000
Million Euros

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
Japan

United States

EU

China

Germany

South Korea

France

Taiwan

Singapore

The Netherlands

UK

Finland

Australia

Ireland

Canada

Switzerland
Countries

Figure 1: Projected Nanotechnology Funding Worldwide 2006-2010, in million euros (Source:

Technology Transfer Centre, 2007).

NANOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IN EUROPE

There are now over 300 nanotechnology companies in Europe (see figure 2) exploring the
plethora of opportunities across various sectors, over a third of which are based in Germany.
Germany and the United Kingdom lead the way in Europe in nanotechnology in terms of SME
activity and big business investment. Germany especially is noticeable for the willingness of its
indigenous companies to embrace the potential of nanotechnology. There are nanotechnology
R&D activities at scores of German based multinationals including Infineon, Daimler Chrysler,
Schott, Carl Zeiss, Siemens, Osram, BASF, Bayer and Henkel.

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 Government funding, companies and applications in nanotechnology worldwide 2007

120

100

No. of Companies
80

60

40

20

0
Germany

UK

Switzerland

France

Sweden

Eastern Europe

Finland

Denmark

Netherlands

Belgium

Ireland

Austria

Spain

Italy
Countries

Figure 2: Total nanotechnology companies in Europe 2007 (Source: Technology Transfer Centre,
2007).

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 Government funding, companies and applications in nanotechnology worldwide 2007

Textiles Aerospace
4% 1% Automotive and
Transportation
Personal care 6%
3% Chemicals
9%
ITC
Household 9% Construction
5% 6%

Consumer Goods
10%

Healthcare and Life

Sciences Energy Defence and Security
25% 6% 7%
Food
3% Environment
6%

Figure 3: Market application focus of nanotechnology companies in Europe 2007 (Source:

Technology Transfer Centre, 2007).1

NANOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IN ASIA-PACIFIC

There are now over 250 nanotechnology companies in Asia-Pacific (see figure 4) exploring the
plethora of opportunities across various sectors, over a third of which are based in China;
although most of the Chinese companies are re-branded chemicals companies.

Japan, Taiwan and South Korea lead the way in terms of incorporating nanotechnology into
products and processes. These countries are notable for the willingness of their indigenous
companies to embrace the potential of nanotechnology (much like Germany in Europe). There
are nanotechnology R&D activities at scores of Japanese and Korean based multinationals
including Samsung, LG, Hitachi, Nikon and Fujitsu.

1
This figure is for companies for whom nanotechnology products or platforms are a primary area of business (for
example Smith and Nephew develop nanocrystalline wound dressings but are primarily a healthcare company, so have
not been included; Degussa and BYK-Chemie however, have been included as they now have dedicated nanotechnology
business units). These figures do not include tools and instrumentation companies.

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 Government funding, companies and applications in nanotechnology worldwide 2007

100
90

No. of Companies
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Japan

Taiwan

China

South Korea

Singapore

Hong Kong

Australia

Thailand

India
Countries

Figure 4: Nanotechnology companies in Asia Pacific 2007 (Source: Technology Transfer Centre,
2007).

Aerospace
Personal care Textiles 8%
3% 3%
Automotive and
ITC Transportation
Household
8% 10%
7%

Healthcare and Chemicals

Life Sciences 15%
10%

Food
1% Construction
8%
Environment Consumer Goods
Energy Defence and
8% 10%
6% Security
3%

Figure 5: Market application focus of nanotechnology companies in Asia-Pacific 2007 (Source:

Technology Transfer Centre, 2007).2

2
This figure is for companies for whom nanotechnology products or platforms are a primary area of business (for
example, Nikon are applying nanotechnology to semiconductors but this is only a small element of the finished product, so
they have not been included ; Samsung however, have been included as they have dedicated nanotechnology business
units). These figures do not include tools and instrumentation companies.

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 Government funding, companies and applications in nanotechnology worldwide 2007

About the Technology Transfer Centre (TTC)

TTC is an Institute of Nanotechnology (www.nano.org.uk) spin-out company. Founded in 1999,

TTC provides technology scouting and consultancy services for government bodies and some of
the world's leading multinational companies. TTC produces leading-edge nanotechnology reports
(www.nano.org.uk/reports.htm) and has produced roadmapping and foresighting exercises for
ITRI Taiwan, BNFL, Scottish Enterprise, the European Commission, the Department of Trade and
Industry and ITI Techmedia. TTC also runs the nanoposts.com service. Contact
andy.garland@nanoposts.com, +44 (0) 1786 474768 for further information.

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