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Synopsis: Technologies: Nanotechnology: Nanotech:

The two following articles, focusing on Technology assessment (TA) and, using as case study nanotechnology, stress the pressure that new technology developments are posing to the field of TA.

CENELEC and ETSI published by the European commission 38 to develop a standardisation work programme to support the internal market for the service sectors. 3. 2. 3. The future needs for standards in nanotechnology based on a survey among stakeholders

of Germany's nanotechnology community Besides the examples reported above, we present another example of a survey,

Nanotechnology is still in an emerging phase, according to our conceptual model. The current standardisation activities are focused still on terminology and measurement and testing standards.

A first approach was launched in Germany by a study to identify future themes for standardisation based on the negative experiences in the case of nanotechnology,

This paper discusses, based on a first round application in the field of micro and nanotechnologies for single cell analysis, the methodology of such a new approach.

Out project is embedded in a particular network of excellence on nanotechnology called Frontiers. Among the central aims of the Frontiers Network-of-Excellence (Noe) programme1 are a. the coordination of research activities in the research institutes that comprise the Noe (alignment;

This includes actors outside the network, in the case of nanotechnology, start-ups and SMES which have a lot at stake in entering such risky innovation chains.

which allow the Frontiers network to develop strategies for a number of different issues relevant to particular areas within nanotechnologies for the life sciences.

which aim to coordinate activities in enabling nanotechnologies for research in the life sciences. The Technology assessment Programme is part of the Science to Industry work package and the Ethical and Societal Aspect package,

T. Propp/Technological forecasting & Social Change 75 (2008) 517 538 of alignment to allow for the creation of innovation chains in the field of micro and nanotechnology.

'4 Even though group leaders may use roadmap-type forecasts to organize financial support for their research. 5 As the Dutch Minacned consortium did in 2006 with their‘Roadmap Micro/Nanotechnology in Food';

'cf http://www. minacned. nl/nl/activiteiten/roadmap mnt food nutrition. php. 6 MANCEF is based the US Micro and Nanotechnology Commercialization and Education Foundation;

12 It was developed as a framework to study emerging alignments and entanglements in the field of nanotechnology,

Around 2000 nanotechnology started entering this field, offering improvements to existing chip components, but also providing novel concepts for separation and detection, cell analysis, cell manipulation etc.

nanotechnology based tools are beginning to emerge as promising devices for single cell and subcellular analysis. Although current microtechnologies (including microfluidics) provide a foundation for creating a nanotechnology interface with single cells,

both the integration of multiple functions and automated analysis and data handling remain to be accomplished in a selfconttaine cell-on-a-chip.

technical dimension Lab-on-a-chip specifically for cell analysis is particularly relevant for Frontiers research lines due to its focus on instrumentation based on nanotechnologies for the life sciences.

Of particular interest is the proliferation of research and development of nanotechnologies for cell analysis the laboratory, the proliferation of expectation of applications for such cell-on-a-chip devices,

microfabrication and nanotechnology tools for cell analysis and (2) start-up companies and small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) relating to specific cell analysis techniques and lab-on-a-chip technology.

Networks of start-ups and SMES related to micro and nanotechnology (cf Minacned) already exist. Thus a form of co-option would be desired the goal to take the step of integration together

and nanotechnology SME networks such as Minacned. 21 Innovation chain 4 is currently occurring at the University of Twente (NL) where a start-up company with a specific sensor is acting as platform integrator.

The IP issue can be generalised to many projected nanotechnology innovations where technologies cannot be products in themselves

and teaching. 23 One way of doing this is developing an integrated platform based on an interesting 18 This agglomeration effect of technology platforms is particularly strong for nanotechnologies 67.

sensors etc. enabled through nanotechnology. Exceptions however include coatings and catalysts, which can in themselves be turned into innovations. 23 This also a general issue in relation to the current situation of strategic science and application oriented research. 532 D. K. R. Robinson, T. Propp/Technological forecasting

Acknowledgements This work was funded through the Technology assessment Program of the Dutch Nanotechnology Consortium Nanoned led by Arie Rip (University of Twente)

Prerequisites and potential benefits for assessing Nanotechnology, EU US Seminar: New technology Foresight, Forecasting & Assessment Methods, Seville, May 2004, pp. 13 14.28 T. Fleischer, M. Decker,

U. Fiedeler, Assessing Emerging technologies Methodical Challenges and the Case of Nanotechnologies, EU US Seminar: New technology Foresight, Forecasting & Assessment Methods, Seville, May 2004, pp. 13 14.29 S. Kuhlmann, et al.

and measuring lab-on-a-chip of increasing irreversibility in the emergence of nanotechnology paths.

32 A. Rip, D. K. R. Robinson, Socio-technical paths as a multilevel phenomenon, exemplified in the domain of nanotechnology,

Cheltenham, 2005, pp. 251 281.67 D. K. R. Robinson, A. Rip, V. Mangematin, Technological agglomeration and the emergence of clusters and networks in nanotechnology, Res.

K. R. Robinson, The use of the path concept and emerging irreversibilities in the analysis and modulation of nanotechnologies, EIASM Workshop on organising paths paths of organising, Berlin, November 2006, pp. 3 4

and management relating to the dynamics of emerging nanotechnologies, where studies of expectations and paths are combined with strategy articulation tools to provide strategic intelligence for reflexive governance and management of Emerging s&t.

A Case for Critical systems Thinking in Nanotechnology; examines how vitally important the foresight objective of inclusiveness in the embracement of diverse stakeholders is for the credibility of an innovation process.

Using contemporary examples associated with the challenges of nanotechnology, they develop the case for ensuring that foresight offers a democratic rather than just a technocratic input to the future and to the policy processes

An application to prospecting futures of the responsible development of nanotechnology, a research project exploring potential co-evolutions of nanotechnology and governance arrangements.

This involved the inclusion of pre-engagement analysis of potential co-evolutions in the form of scenarios into interactive workshop activities, with the aim of enabling multi-stakeholder anticipation of the complexities of co-evolution.

In addition to the key papers, the technical note of Greg Tegart on Energy and nanotechnologies: Priority areas for Australia's future features an excellent case example of the importance and learning being experienced from the application of novel FTA METHODOLOGIES to explore the possibilities offered by the use of nanotechnologies to contribute to new and improved approaches to energy conversion,

storage and distribution in Australia. 1136 Technological forecasting & Social Change 76 (2009) 1135 1137 We conclude with the observation of Scott Cunningham

such as those that nanotechnologies, population aging, or climate change will pose to the society. In addition, business, policy making and the whole broad spectrum of decision making call for future-oriented technology analysis as well as risk assessment.

Other institutions like the Technical University of Berlin, the Institute for Nanotechnology (INT) of the Research centre Karlsruhe, the RWTH Aachen, the Austrian Research centres Gmbh (ARC), Systems Research Division Dept

1. Life sciences and biotechnology 2. Information and communication technology 3. Materials and their production processes 4. Nanotechnology 5. Optics/photonics/optoelectronics 6. Industrial production processes

A case for critical systems thinking in nanotechnology Denis Loveridge, Ozcan Saritas Manchester Institute of Innovation research, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9pl Manchester, UK a r

nano-technology and nano artifacts that are being adopted widely in areas such as materials, ICTS, and medicine. As a result of the growing interest for nano-field, nanoartiifact are now reaching the consumer markets within a large number of branches.

Foresight Inclusivity Critical systems Heuristics Nanotechnology 1. Institutional Foresight Institutional Foresight programmes(‘Foresight'hereafter) now occupy a prominent position in the minds of public policy makers.

Nano-technology, as will be discussed later, lies in the same ground as GMOS. 2. Expectations of Inclusive foresight The sheer practical arduousness of attempting to run Inclusive foresight in the way outlined below means that expectations of it need to be modest,

and of the nature of what is colloquially, vaguely and incorrectly called‘nanotechnology'.'The clash between the general notions of inclusivity and exclusivity,

of any kind that depends on the systemic interaction between nanoscience, nano-technology and the artifacts themselves for their evolution into desirable artifacts:

Furthermore, the omnibus term‘nanotechnology'misleads the participants in any Foresight study into believing that they are confronting a homogeneous and coherent technology

nano-technology and nano artifacts is a further matter shaping the future situation surrounding the nano-field.

The future of nanotechnologies and their impacts on society require widespread participation in elucidating their acceptability in society.

An application to prospecting futures of the responsible development of nanotechnology Douglas K. R. Robinson STEPS, University of Twente, Enschede, The netherlands a r t i c l e i n

Nanotechnology is no exception, promising many benefits through nano-enabled applications across multiple sectors and with the potential of affecting many parts of our society.

At present, during its early stages, a wide variety of actors are anticipating both on the potential benefits and risks of the development of nanotechnologies and their embedment into markets and into society.

and develop appropriate governance strategies for nanotechnologies need to consider both thewide spectrumof nanotechnology research and development lines,

the governance landscape surrounding nanotechnology and the application areas it will affect, and how these may co-evolve with each other.

and around the notion of Responsible Research and Innovation of nanotechnologies as an opportunity to develop support tools for exploring potential co-evolutions of nanotechnology and governance arrangements.

Co-evolutionary scenarios Selection environment Nanotechnology Responsible development Anticipatory coordination 1. Introduction The path to innovation is journey-like, certainly so for radical innovation.

For those wishing to enable beneficial technology applications stemming from potentially breakthrough areas of science and technology, such as nanotechnology,

In the field of nanotechnology these challenges are compounded further due to the early stage of nano developments

and risks that may become reality as nanotechnology matures. It is uncertain what sort of sectors will be impacted

(or created) by nanotechnology innovations and how the regulatory, economic and societal landscapes will co-evolve.

Therefore, those wishing to develop strategies for managing nanotechnology emergence not only face the general challenge of prospecting possible pathways for innovation they also are challenged to prospect the changing environments

& Social Change 1. 1. Anticipatory coordination for the responsible development of nanotechnology These general challenges become very specific in the case of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

There is a call for anticipatory governance 1 often phrased as the need for responsible development of nanotechnology or responsible innovation in nanotechnology,

1 where activities are underway to enable those nanotechnologies which would provide benefit whilst constraining those that may cause harm.

But the potential breakthrough nature of nanotechnologies as enablers of radically new applications may mean a complex reconfiguration of the environments that a nanotechnology innovation may traverse during its‘lifetime'from concept to well embedded technology in our society.

Only then can effective strategies be developed to shape the emerging nanotechnology governance arrangement. Such an emerging reconfiguration of actor relations, their roles and responsibilities is particularly striking in nanotechnology in the diverse activities in

and around Responsible Research and Innovation of Nanotechnology. 2 That is why it became the subject of a research project

and workshop within a programme of future-oriented technology analysis (FTA) in a nanotechnology research network called Frontiers. 3 The FTA ACTIVITIES in this network revolve around multi-(potential) stakeholder workshops where the aim is to explore the complex dynamics in and around specific areas of nanotechnology important for the Frontiers

Network of Excellence (Frontiers Noe). The objective of the programme was to gain a deeper understanding of issues,

This creates a requirement for rich and easy to digest strategic intelligence for which can prepare the ground for interactive workshops on complex and highly uncertain topics such as nanotechnology.

governance of new and emerging nanotechnologies has become a highly visible debate, disagreements on efficacy of current governance arrangements proliferate,

(or are in the process of being formed to shape possible new configurations of roles and responsibilities in the development of nanotechnology.

which aim to coordinate activities in enabling nanotechnologies for research in the life sciences. The Technology assessment Programme was part of the Science to Industry work package and the Ethical and Societal Aspect package,

Nanotechnology, even at this nascent stage, is stimulating a lot of speculation on shifts in these landscapes leading to a desire to explore the potential mutual co-evolution of nanotechnologies

and their internalisation 3. 1. A project is initiated In Autumn 2007 (as still the case 2 years on) there was an increasing emphasis on societal impact and embedment of nanotechnology applications.

Ideas of responsible development of nanotechnology have been in circulation for a while now, but by the end of 2007 they were solidifying into policy and regulation.

with the aim of bringing together actual and potential players involved in nanotechnology governance to share perspectives,

explore possibilities and draw out some recommendations to guide both the Nanotechnology R&d network (Frontiers) who initiated the project as others exploring potential governance approaches.

At the time of the workshop (December 2007) the situation in and around nanotechnology involved mostly the discussion of Environment, Health and Safety aspects (EHS/HES) and other nanotoxicity related discussions,

. R. Robinson/Technological forecasting & Social Change 76 (2009) 1222-1239 It is not in the scope of this paper to detail the case history of the emergence of RRI for nanotechnology,

including codes of conduct for nanotechnology, some prepared by authorities like the European commission, others offered by one or another firm,

about pressures towards valorisation of research as well as lack of uptake in sectors that could profit from the possibilities offered by nanoscience and nanotechnology.

In the case of the Frontiers Noe for nanotechnology, the programme involved research and preparation of these scenarios an input to 1-day multi-stakeholder workshops

production and use of nanoparticles and the consideration of risks of nanotechnology. 10 Fig. 3 visualizes this (up to 2008.

and new ways of managing them e g. the Risk Framework for Nanotechnology put forward by the unusual alliance of Dupont and Environmental Defence.

Ad hoc public engagement exercises act as a lubricant to continue nanotechnology developments across the board. However, one project in particular captures people's attention,

in general most public engagement activities initiated by R&d actors focused more on enlightening the general public on the potentials of nanotech R&d-engagement as a lubricant against public friction.

Drug delivery becomes a key driver in nanotechnology. Rapid developments in nano means the consequent burgeoning number of delivery methods leads to increasingly bewildering regulatory protocols.

and links them up with overall strategies in motivations for engagement around nanotechnology. 12 The scenario focused on the engagement aspects of RRI, the roles of various actor groups, the strategies and how the interactions played out.

This approach to engagement stems from an anticipation by nanotech developers of public friction which leads to enlightenment and legitimisation strategies.

Finland begins to invest in nanotechnology for paper processing (a major contributor to the Finnish economy.

and communicate the benefits of nanotechnology. There is a proliferation of such projects across (and initiated by) the nano R&d domain focussing on enabling public acceptance.

Gaps in regulation widen as nanotechnologies become increasingly more complex existing laws which could be applied to products (medical devices) are equipped less to oversee products and processes such as active nanostructures

The daylong workshop was comprised of a number nanotechnology researchers, a ministry of health representative, a large chemical company, a trade union representative, a nanotechnology industry association,

One example, Finland begins to invest in nanotechnology for paper processing (a major contributor to the Finnish economy) Anticipatory coordination and lock in:

and developments in nanotechnology for the paper sector Lock in as path enabling: other governments look on with envy at the focus of Finnish nanotechnology.

This is a mirror of anticipatory coordination in other geographical regions 39,40..Government official Nanotechnology promises to revolutionise all industry sectors, paper production could seriously be enhanced through nanotechnology and as a small country,

Finland should focus resources on what is most beneficial for us. Other national governments look with envy at the rapidity of developments of the targeted nano programmes of Finland.

and communicate the benefits of nanotechnology. There is a proliferation of such projects across (and initiated by) the nano R&d domain focussing on enabling public acceptance.

This highlights another issue of where to locate responsibility for nanotechnology in applications, as nano is an enabling technology,

Further diagnostics reveal nanoparticulate aggregation directly linked with the Finnish paper mill (specificity of tailored nanoparticles enables the identification of source of particle) Trigger creating window of opportunity for repositioning and realignment of nanotechnology governance:

Finnish economy begins to suffer due to the high sunk investments into nanotechnology based infrastructure. Public outcry as consumer organisations identify major issues in a number of sectors which could hold potential risk with no protection for the consumer (the house of cards collapses) Window of opportunity for selectors:

5. 4. Total recall By 2014 Nanotech employs approximately 2. 3 million workers globally. Nano has become a many headed hydra

In this case they were used by participants as a resource for discussing the complexities of potential multi-actor multilevel de/re alignments and the effects on nanotechnology emergence.

of maintaining a patchwork of soft law options to facilitate nanotechnology innovation, positions taken on precaution,

the emergence of windows of opportunity for action (stemming from the Finnish worker case being part of the coevollutio of emerging nanotechnology options in paper production and risk and regulation landscape),

and overcome barriers to introduce their nanotechnology into society. The IC+framework provides a gameboard to bring together linear/concentric perspectives with complexity,

The Yearbook of Nanotechnology in Society, Presenting Futures, vol. I, Springer, Berlin, 2008.4 F. W. Geels, Towards sociotechnical scenarios and reflexive anticipation:

Science and Citizens, Globalization and the Challenge of Engagement, Zed Books, London, 2003.32 B. Laurent, Engaging the public in nanotechnology?

Change 75 (3 march 2008) 312 333.35 A. Rip, M. van Amerom, Emerging de facto Agendas Around Nanotechnology:

Springer, 2009.36 M. Kearnes, A. Rip, The Emerging Governance landscape of Nanotechnology, in S. Gammel, A. Lösch, A. Nordmann (eds.

Akademische Verlagsanstalt, 2009.37 Mayer Brown, Minutes of Debate on Governance Initiatives for the European Nanotechnology Community in the Public and Private Sectors European commission, Brussels, December 5th 2007.38 Investing

Medical Nanotechnologies II, Royal College of Surgeons, London, UK, Nov 28 29 2007 (www. nano. org. uk). 39 A. Delemarle, D. K. R

and the emergence of clusters and networks in nanotechnology. Special issue on Nanoscale research, Res. Policy 36 (2007) 871 879.41 A. Nordmann, If and then:

Alongside this, he is also a part-time Technical Analyst at the Institute of Nanotechnology (UK) focusing on nanotechnologies in the agrifood sector. 1239 D. K. R. Robinson/Technological forecasting & Social Change 76 (2009) 1222-1239

1) biotechnology and chemistry,(2) energy,(3) environment,(4) nanotechnology,(5) production and materials technology,(6) information systems,(7) simulation and, finally,(8) research consortia.

i) GM plants and (ii) Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. Hence, this research is expected to contribute improving the strategic processes of priority setting in technoinstittutiona arenas both on the national and international level.

first in the area of genetically modified plants and then for the domain of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. 2. Background and rationale 2. 1. Tailoring Foresight a revision During the last two decades the field of Foresight has developed a lot through practical experience

genetically modified plants and Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. For each domain, we will first characterise the institutional arrangement of the governance arenas and the knowledge configurations,

and programming arena by a stronger institutional steering on EU level. 5. 2. The case of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (N&n) Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (N&n) are seen as the‘top-down'miniaturisation movement of three domains:

To address field specificities for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, we will examine first institutional arrangements and later on Knowledge dynamics. 5. 2. 1. N&n:

It displays explicitly among the EU policies one dedicated to Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. The European Technology platform for Nanoelectronics European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory Council (ENIAC) was launched in 2004 with the mission to bring together all leading players in the field

An example of the latter type is the Mona roadmap13 aiming at better integration between optics and nanotechnology.

To sum up the analysis revealed two types of Foresight useful for underpinning the European research and innovation system in the area of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies:(

and for nanotechnology appears as an interesting way for releasing current tensions that block this field of research a strategic orientation that could fit in a grand challengesbaase R&i policy 18.

in the field of nanotechnology the need to foster the forming of new value networks around nano-products

Merging optics and nanotechnology A European roadmap for photonics and nanotechnologies 2005 2007. Exercise aimed to provide recommendations for EU R&d efforts as input for FP7 and Strategic research Agendas in two fields (Nanomaterials & Photonics.

the case of nanotechnology, in: Presentation at the 2nd PRIME Indicators Conference on STI Indicators for Policy Addressing New Demands of Stakeholders, Oslo, 28 30,may 2008. 47 A. Bonaccorsi, The dynamics of science in the nano

Presentation at the PRIME Winter School on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Grenoble, 4 8 february, 2008.48 A. Bonaccorsi, G. Thoma, Institutional complementarity and inventive performance in nano science and Technology research

Biotechnology and nanotechnology topics are continuing players in the abstract sets. Synthetic biology the prospect of engineering cellular processes to operate as bioreactors, labs in a cell,

Typical lists that emerge are at a high level of aggregation (ICT, biotechnology, nanotechnology, etc. or at one level down listing around 100 key technologies.

In the UK, there had been major scenario work on strategies for developing a competitive edge in nanotechnology and literature/expert surveying of social issues associated with this field, in the early years of the present century.

the earlier studies mentioned in the text are the‘‘Taylor Report''(Advisory Group On Nanotechnology, 2002) 25 and (40 see also 41.

Efforts to engage wider stakeholder communities in such deliberation as in the nanotechnology exercise remain rare (and even that exercise stopped short of deconstructing available scenarios

a case for critical systems thinking in nanotechnology, Technological forecasting and Social Change 76 (9)( 2009) 1208 1221.13 I. Miles, UK Foresight:

, Integrating FTA and risk assessment methodologies, Technological forecasting & Social Change 76 (2009) 1163 1176.25 Advisory Group on Nanotechnology, New dimensions for manufacturing:

a UK strategy for nanotechnology, London, Department of Trade and Industry, 2002 while the original webpage for this text widely cited as‘‘The Taylor Report''has been removed,

IPTS-ISTAG, European commission, Luxembourg, 2001.27 Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering, Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies:

''Nanotechnologies and the royal society and royal academy of engineering's inquiry, Public Understanding of Science 16 (3)( 2007) 345 364.40 S. J. Wood, R. Jones

, A. Geldart, The social and economic challenges of nanotechnology, Swindon Economic and Social science Research council, 2003 (available at:

http://www. esrcsocietytoday. ac. uk/ESRCINFOCENTRE/Images/Nanotechnology tcm6-1803. pdf (accessed 29/07/09)).41 S. J. Wood, R. Jones, A. Geldart, Nanotechnology:

1. Rapid and accelerating technological progress in pervasive fields such as microelectronics, ICTS, biotechnology, new materials, fuel cells and nanotechnologies. 2. Increased financial, trade and investment

Advances in nanotechnology, genomics and quantum computing, if realised within the next decade, could fundamentally alter our ways of making materials,

The growing importance of nanotechnology was first apparent as early as 1986 when Eric Drexler issued his first book on the subject. 4 http://www. metsafoorumi. fi/dokumentit/newsletter3 05. pdf. 5 http://hosting. fountainpark. com/strategysignals/.

virtual science discredited for unreliable biased data Biochips for human implants Nanotechnology radically changes production methods

& Security 8 Europe becomes the most competitive economy in the world WW3 Nanotechnology and

The presentations comprised themes surrounding creative futures, energy, governance, health, horizon scanning, innovation and sustainability, law, mobility, nanotechnology, and others.

By applying it to a particular application in nanotechnology, we will show that it is possible to trace the emerged irreversibilities.

As nanotechnology is intended the partly, partly unintended outcome of the moves of many actors in industry, research and policy,

or CTA. 2 2 Constructive technology assessment studies of nanotechnology are at the moment being performed in The netherlands. These studies are part of a Dutch research and development programme that coordinates the efforts of leading research institutes and companies in The netherlands in the area of nanotechnology.

The preceding informal network was formed in 2001 and recently, in November 2003, it received a substantial funding of 95 Million Euro by the Dutch government,

we first briefly introduce the area of nanotechnology and nanotubes. Nanotechnology is a rising star in the set of new and emerging technologies.

Many countries and firms feel the need to explore and stimulate its possibilities. The future of nanotechnology has become an important topic for technology firms, policy makers and research institutes.

Typically, when new technologies emerge, they are accompanied by promises of all sorts. Earlier examples are biotechnology, genomics and microelectronics,

Although nanotechnology is still in its exploration phase, industry, governments and research institutes already have high stakes in the future application.

and large firms invested over $2 billion in nanotechnology worldwide in 2002 13. No single definition can be given for nanotechnology,

as definitions abound 14. We define it as the ability of controlled manipulation at the nanoscale (1 100 nm) 5

Nanotechnology is seen as an enabling technology, which means that it enables different industries to improve their products,

Nanotechnology can for example, enable precise targeting of drugs (pharmaceuticals) or make computer screens flexible (electronic industry). In this paper we focus on a special kind of nanosized particle, the carbon nanotubes,

and nanotechnology in general, have led, at least according to some analysts, to a nanotechnology hype 13. Various images about nanotechnology were brought into the world by media, spokespersons, etc.

that sketch the seemingly unlimited possibilities that nanotechnology has to offer. Typical examples are very small robots that can conduct operations inside the human body or an elevator into space based on a nanotube cable.

While these examples may be farfetched, they feed expectations by various actors in society (e g.,, the public, politicians, firms.

On the 5 1 nm is approx. 1/80,000 of the thickness of a human hair

of nanotechnology. NGOS and the media became aware of nanotechnology and addressed their concerns. Here again, we see topics that relate to the very far and speculative future such as nano-systems that control

(and reproduce) themselves, but also immediate concerns that are based on today's science, such as toxicological effects of nanoparticles 13.

After this general introduction of nanotechnology and nanotubes, we now turn to the application that will be the subject for the remainder of the paper.

and nanotubes as part of nanotechnology. Such a case specific typology gives a focus for each level

bthe most important material in nanotechnology today. Q Such statements give rise to the belief that nanotubes have much to offer in terms of applications.

Nanotechnology should give the answers here. 3. 1. 3. Research group The expectations of using nanotubes for nonvolatile memories started with the Nature publication of Charles Lieber's group 16.

and consulting arm of CMP Cientifica, providing global nanotechnology business intelligence and consulting services to industry and investors worldwide.

In the near future, these innovations will allow NRAMK to be one of the first mass manufactured nanotechnology products.

This is a clear sign that the media see Nantero as a promising company to take nanotechnology to the market.

www. nanotec. org. uk) of nanoscience and nanotechnologgy The goal is to carry out an independent study of likely developments

and whether nanotechnology raises or is likely to raise new ethical, health and safety or social issues

in the matrix in Fig. 7. These findings also give answers to the questions as proposed in Fig. 2. Nanotubes as part of nanotechnology Next to the acknowledgement that nanotubes offer huge possibilities,

Nanotubes as part of nanotechnology Apart from the concerns on the possible toxicity, industry started to produce nanoparticles with a strong growing increase in capacity.

and the business community that the technology (or even nanotechnology) is actually possible of producing workable products for the electronic industry.

This indicates a growing attention for various aspects related to nanotubes as part of nanotechnology. This at the societal level held discourse is marked as an emerging irreversibility.

Nanotubes as part of nanotechnology Societal discourse on nanotubes Nanotubes as part of nanotechnology Societal discourse on nanotubes Nanotubes in electronic devices Recognition of a specific set of promising applications Nanotubes

and discussion In this paper we proposed a route to deal with the intrinsic uncertainties of a new emerging field like nanotechnology.

As nanotechnology is still in the early phases of development co-construction by all possibly relevant actors is not straightforward.

we note that the emerging character of nanotechnology provides research opportunities for innovation and technology studies.

To study nanotechnology while it is unfolding at this very moment gives the opportunity to observe (for example with the method proposed in this paper) the construction of the technology in a more symmetrical way.

Nanotechnology, Artificial intelligence and Robotics; A Technical, Political and Institutional Map of Emerging technologies, Greenpeace Environmental Trust, London, 2003, July 14 Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Nanoscience and nanotechnologies:

opportunities and uncertainties, RS Policy document, 2004.15 H. W. Kroto, J. R. Heath, S. C. O'brien, R. F. Curl, R. E. Smalley, C60:

The Nanotechnology Opportunity Report. 2nd edition (June 2003. 25 M. R. Diehl, S n. Yaliraki, R. A. Beckman, M. Barahona, J. R. Heath, Self-assembled, deterministic carbon nanotube wiring

The netherlands) working on Constructive technology assessment of emerging technologies and nanotechnology in particular. His research focuses on characterising emerging technologies and anticipating on prospective technological developments.

His current research focuses on prospective studies of nanotechnology. R. O. van Merkerk H. van Lente/Technological forecasting & Social Change 72 (2005) 1094 1111 1111

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