Nanotechnology is recognized as a groundbreaking field that introduces innovative aspects to science and technology by enabling the manipulation of atoms and molecules at the nanometer scale, where ‘nano’ denotes one-billionth of a meter. This technology holds a wide array of potential applications, impacting various sectors such as advanced materials, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, electronics, scientific instrumentation, and industrial manufacturing processes. In the initial phases of nanotechnology’s development and adoption, many anticipated advantages have yet to be fully realized. Nevertheless, scientists and researchers across various disciplines have actively engaged in pertinent studies to enhance the competitiveness of nanotechnology through academic inquiry, while corporations have shifted their research and development efforts towards exploring opportunities within this field. From a scientific perspective, nanotechnology encompasses materials and systems with structures and components that demonstrate unique and significantly enhanced physical, chemical, and biological properties, as well as the phenomena and processes that arise from the ability to manipulate material properties at the nanoscale (NSTC, 2002). The rise of nanotechnology has been facilitated by the advancement of specialized instruments that allow for the observation and manipulation of nanostructures at the atomic or molecular level. This progress has led to the discovery of new nanomaterials, such as fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, which serve as a foundation for developing nanoproducts with superior performance characteristics across various industries, including electronics, cosmetics, and textiles. Additionally, nanotechnology has opened new avenues for rapid miniaturization techniques, employing a ‘top-down’ approach that breaks down materials into their smallest manageable components, as well as a ‘bottom-up’ approach that reconstructs materials at the nanoscale for the creation of new and improved products.

 

The research analyzes the scientific advancement of nanotechnology through the lens of innovation systems, highlighting a network of participants and institutions across both public and private sectors that are engaged in the development and dissemination of innovative technologies. This framework can be applied at various levels—innovation systems may be national, regional, sectoral, or specific to a technology that influences multiple industries, as seen with nanotechnology. It views innovation as a dynamic process characterized by the interaction and collaboration of numerous stakeholders, as well as shifts in foundational technologies, societal contexts, and business models. To effectively organize and analyze the roles and connections within a technological system, the techno-economic network framework offers a valuable approach, introducing a concept that encompasses financial, market, regulatory, technological, and scientific dimensions.