Ricerc@Sapienza

Since around 50 years ago, the academic world is developing knowledge and technology to understand and to control matter at the nanoscale in order to exploit the peculiar mechanical, electrical, optical and magnetic properties emerging when a discrete number of atoms is assembled in structures which must be described according to the weird rules of quantum mechanics. This huge know how, commonly named Nanotechnology, was nucleated according to deployment strategies mainly defined and funded worldwide by governmental institutions in order to create the base for their further industrial exploitation and to provide an expectedly large socioeconomic impact. In the following, we will give a brief overview of the main applications of nanomaterials and an estimate of their value, based on the forecasts provided by some market research companies. In particular, we will briefly disclose the application of nanomaterials in the fields of Electronics & ICT, Energy and Environment, and, in particular, in the highly rewarding field of Nanomedicine. Further, we will highlight some key aspects of the deployment policies undertaken around the world which still are a key prerequisite for a full exploitation of the potential of Nanotechnology.