ICSTI Statement on Nanotechnology - Forfás

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5.3 Improved Products and Processes
There exists a large and rapidly growing number of products and
process that have been or that are capable of being improved by
utilising nanotools or incorporating nanomaterials.
Nanotools are increasingly being used to establish the
relationship between the structure of the materials used to
manufacture a product and the performance and cost of the
product. They are also increasingly being used to optimise and
control the processes that are used to manufacture the above
products. In the case of small companies, these nanotools are
often accessed, at least initially, through national or regional
centres linked to third level institutions or national laboratories.
Nanomaterials, possessing novel properties, are increasingly being
used to improve the performance and reduce the cost of a
product. Such materials include nanoparticles, nanofilms and
nanocomposites of organic (drugs and biopolymers) and inorganic
(metal and ceramic) materials. In the future, the assembly and
organisation of nanomaterials to yield nanodevices and
nanosystems possessing increasingly complex functions will be
important. Examples of improved products and processes include
secure printing inks (nanoparticle), self-cleaning windows
(nanostructured film) and harder wearing tyres (nanocomposite).
For a company to use nanotools and nanomaterials to improve its
existing products and processes it will be necessary that the
above tools and materials are readily available from a reputable
commercial source. It will generally be the case that a company’s
manufacturing process will be readily adapted to accommodate
the use of the above nanotools and nanomaterials.
It is expected that the investment in improving a product or
process will be recovered in the form of maintained or improved
market share. Increased margins may, however, be quickly eroded
by the competitive response; unless, the initial competitive
advantage can be maintained by establishing ownership of the
relevant intellectual property.