Potential impacts of nanotechnology development in Iran

Abstract

Industrialized countries have provided heavy funding for nanotechnology and made its development a priority. Some applications are entering the market and prominent scientists have assessed nanotechnology as a potentially wonderful phenomenon [1]. The worldwide investment in nanotechnology research and development (R&D) by government organizations has increased from $432 million in 1997 to about $4.1 billion in 2005 [2]. Several developing countries also have launched nanotechnology initiatives in order to exploit its benefits and sustain economic growth [3]. But the national issues and problems of developing countries are totally different from those of industrialized countries. Poverty, unemployment, inequality, and inability to fulfill basic needs are common problems in developing countries [4]. On the other hand, industrialized countries are faced with problems like aging populations, collapsing birth rates, unemployment, security issues, and cultural chaos [5]. There are also problems that are shared, such as environmental degradation, air and water pollution, exhaustion of natural resources, and incurable illnesses [3], [5]. From the beginning, nanotechnology pioneers have suggested they will solve these problems and that they will achieve social goals through nanotechnology's development [6]. In 2001, Iran also established a council for the development of nanotechnology and started formulating a nanotechnology development plan. The country faces both opportunities and threats with respect to nanotechnology. This article presents four possible scenarios for nanotechnology in Iran, and evaluates the effectiveness of these different strategies for nanotechnology development in the country. © 2008 IEEE.