ICSTI Statement on Nanotechnology - Forfás

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2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 Background
For some nanotechnology is one of three key enabling
technologies that, together with information and communication
technology (ICT) and biotechnology, will underpin important
innovations and enhance our quality of life.
For others, it is yet another example of a worrying trend among
modern scientists and engineers to hype their findings and to do
so by ‘repackaging’ existing and long-established scientific and
engineering disciplines.
Whatever your view, it is clear that very significant and rapidly
growing funding is being allocated to research and development
under the banner of nanotechnology by agencies in the US,
Europe and Japan.
It is also clear that the leading early stage venture capital
companies and institutional investors in the US, Europe and
Japan have identified nanotechnology as a potentially important
opportunity and are investing heavily in a growing number of
start-ups and established companies.
Many leading multinational corporations have established internal
groups to examine the ‘nanotechnology opportunity’. In some
cases these groups have gone on to exploit identified
opportunities by establishing ‘in-house’ or ‘spun-out’ start-ups, or
by acquiring stakes in existing start-ups.
2.2 Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation
It was against this background that the Irish Council for Science
Technology and Innovation (<strong>ICSTI</strong>) established a Nanotechnology
Task Force.
The role of this Task Force was to bring together the key
stakeholders to facilitate the development of a common vision
and strategy for nanotechnology in Ireland.
The key stakeholders include relevant government departments,
their agencies, professional research organisations, indigenous
and multinational industry and the wider community.