Comparative Nanotechnology Policy Analysis

With an estimated US$1 trillion dollars to be made in the nano market in 2015, countries are more than eager to be world leaders in the nanotechnology realm. With such a large incentive pushing governments to succeed, I ask how governments attempt to create an innovative environment for nanotechnology. Governments do this largely through industrial policy, which creates policies and gives grants to support nanotechnology in industry. Web searches were conducted to find the policies, action plans, and frameworks on nanotechnology created by select industrialized (G20) states. Once the data was compiled it was organized and analyzed into a database for each G20 country researched: Russia, Germany, etc. The information was organized according to regulatory frameworks, funding levels, and research strategies within the database. Most of the states are continuing to pursue nanotechnology as a worthy investment by devoting more money each year to its research and development, application and commercialization. They are particularly focused on developing startups and investing in small and medium-sized enterprises.