nanotechnology
Nanotechnology represents an exciting new area of scientific discovery, and has generated increasing interest from government officials, scientists, and the general public in recent years. This innovative field has a broad array of scientific and commercial applications – and an equally broad range of societal implications.
As an enabling technology rather than a specific industry, developments related to nanotechnology have implications for almost any product in all stages of its life cycle. This requires effective communication among a diverse collection of individuals from multiple fields, each with its own terminology. Adding to the complexity, there are few existing standards within or among disciplines, or even countries and firms. As a result, nanotechnology can be one of the most challenging technologies to effectively communicate and understand.
Our nanotechnology research agenda seeks to understand how social and environmental implications affect the development and diffusion of nanotechnology. Equally as important, we are developing methods and tools to disseminate and educate others on research results related to nanotechnology topics. Nanotechnology research at CGGC is currently funded in partnership with:
- University of California Santa Barbara, Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS)
- Duke University’s Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT)
Developing a Value Chain Approach
To tie together these diverse themes, researchers at CGGC are developing a global value chain (GVC) approach to analyze the innovation to commercialization life cycle of an enabling technology. The GVC framework is used to identify how the actions and relationships between public and private stakeholders affect the development, location, and competitiveness of a value chain. This framework will help overcome communication barriers related to nanotechnology topics by enabling researchers to educate and disseminate results on a variety of topics using a comparable method.
Globalization
The research agenda with CNS-UCSB focuses on the global diffusion of nanotechnology and the role of industrial policies, particularly in Asia with a focus on China. As part of this project, CGGC has also looked at the implications for nanotechnology-related industry development in North Carolina.
Presentations and publications include:
Risk Assessment
Our work with CEINT involves creating a process for assessing the risks related to using various nanomaterials in existing and potential products throughout the product’s life cycle. One aspect of this developing an inventory of the materials, processes, and people involved in creating a nano-enabled product from its conception through its end-use and beyond. This information is necessary to develop a comprehensive methodology and assessment of the potential risks to the environment, workers, and consumers. The life cycle process will also be used as a tool to educate and communicate these risks to the relevant stakeholders.
