Nanotechnologies
A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. The nanotechnologies accordingly investigate the structures and processes occurring on this scale, upon which laws of physics apply which differ from those in force at higher scales. Causing chemistry, biology and physics to meld into one, this change enables the development of entirely new classes of nanomaterials and components. This melding also mandates close working relationships among physicists, engineers, chemists, biologists and doctors, thus making the nanotechnologies the ultimate trans-disciplinary science. The range of applications for its revolutionary products is equally broad: in automotive, environmental, electronic and industrial engineering; in the life sciences, and in the textiles industry. These revolutionary products and applications constitute the reason why nanotechnologies are widely regarded as being one of the keys to progress in the 21st century. This potential is a potent source of opportunities for innovative companies.
Bavaria is poised to tap this potential. Comprised of 160 R & D institutes, manufacturers, state institutions and professional associations, the state’s community is one of the largest in Germany and is at the forefront of the world’s nanotechnological development. This position is due to the state’s institutes. Found in the state’s six major regions of research and forming part of proactive networks, the institutes have repeatedly shown the capability of coming up with cross-disciplinary technologies and of engendering the start-ups capable of turning them into market-making products.
The large number of nanotechs in Bavaria is also attributable to access to funding. In 2002, Munich’s Activest created the world’s first nanotechnologies fund. It has served as a role model for many more.
There is no market for nanotechnologies per se. The nanotechnologies provide value added to a wide range of markets of application, each with its own rate and dynamics of growth. In 2005, the Boston Consulting Group pegged the value added by Bavaria’s nanobiotechnological products to be €1 billion. BCG’s forecast foresees this increasing to up to €18 billion by 2015. This would cause employment to increase from 9,000 to 160,000.
Bavaria has pioneered interdisciplinary research. Much of this research involves close working relationships between the state’s institutes and companies. The consortia conducting this research avail themselves of support forthcoming from Bavaria’s ministries and from the Bavarian Foundation for Research. Facilitated by the dedicated Bayern Patent agency, many of the patents resulting from this research are granted by Germany’s Office of Patents and Trademarks and by the European Patent Office. Both are headquartered in Munich.
Requisite to fully tap the potential offered by nanotechnologies is the expediting of the transferring of research findings to creators of industrial applications. Achieving this speed is the objective of the forging and furthering of networks comprised of nanotech companies, institutes and educational bodies and being undertaken by Bavaria’s nanotechnologies cluster, which is managed by Nanoinitiative Bayern GmbH.
This cluster-building is also being carried out by Nanonetz Bayern e.V. Members of this ‘nanonetwork’ are companies, institutions and inventors working to come up with breakthroughs in the fields of inorganic nanomaterials, nanoanalytics and devices, nanoelectronics and photonics, and nanobiological materials and processes.
Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH has a trove of information and counsel on the use of nanotechnologies in materials engineering.
In the area of nanotechnologies, Bavaria’s Foundation for Research provides support to research consortia and to projects being undertaken by pairs of research institutes and companies. Such consortia also receive support from Bavaria’s ministry for the sciences, research and the arts. In contrast to the above ones, these consortia do not necessarily have to be comprised of at least one manufacturer.
