Nanotechnology in the United Kingdom

Table Of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION 7
1.1 NANOTECHNOLOGY IN EUROPE 14
1.1.1 Funding 14
1.1.2 National programmes 15
1.1.3 Centres and infrastructure 17
1.1.4 Networks 17
1.1.5 Companies 18
1.2 NANOTECHNOLOGY IN ASIA-PACIFIC 20
1.2.1 Funding 21
1.2.2 National programmes 21
1.2.3 Centres and infrastructure 23
1.2.4 Networks 23
1.2.5 Companies 24
1.3 NANOTECHNOLOGY IN NORTH AMERICA 25
1.3.1 Funding 25
1.3.2 National programmes 26
1.3.2.1 State initiatives 27
1.3.3 Centres and infrastructure 28
1.3.4 Networks in North America 31
1.3.5 Companies 31
1.4 NANOTECHNOLOGY IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA 33
1.5 NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA 33

2 COMMERCIALISING NANOTECHNOLOGY 34
2.1 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 36
2.1.1 Suppliers 37
2.1.1.1 Materials 37
2.1.1.2 Tools and instrumentation 38
2.1.1.3 Devices and system integration 40
2.1.2 Buyers 40
2.1.3 New entrants 40
2.1.4 Substitution threats 41
2.1.5 Competition 42
2.2 KEY CHALLENGES 42
2.2.1 TECHNICAL 42
2.2.1.1 Understanding 42
2.2.1.2 Tools 43
2.2.2 MARKET 44
2.2.2.1 Hype 44
2.2.2.2 Cost 44
2.2.2.3 Production 45
2.2.2.4 Public Perception and Ethics 47
2.2.3 REGULATION 48
2.3 MARKET TRENDS AND DRIVERS 52
2.3.1 DRIVERS 53
2.3.2 TRENDS 55
2.3.2.1 Collaboration 55
2.3.2.2 First to market 55
2.3.2.3 Nanomaterials advantage 56
2.3.2.4 Improved products 58
2.3.2.5 Decreasing cost of nanomaterials 59
2.3.2.6 Autonomous systems 59

3 UNITED KINGDOM 61
3.1 GOVERNMENT BODIES 61
3.1.1 Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 61
3.1.2 Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) 61
3.1.3 DEFRA 62
3.1.4 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 62
3.1.5 Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) 62
3.2 RESEARCH CENTRES 63
3.2.1 Capital Facilities 64
3.3 NETWORKS 65
3.4 UNIVERSITIES 65
3.4.1 New East Wales Institute of Higher Education 65
3.4.2 University of Aberdeen 66
3.4.3 Aston University 66
3.4.4 Queen Mary College, London 66
3.4.5 University of Bath 66
3.4.6 University of Birmingham 66
3.4.7 University of Bradford 67
3.4.8 University of Brighton 67
3.4.9 University of Bristol 67
3.4.10 Brunel University 68
3.4.11 University of Cambridge 68
3.4.12 University of Cardiff 68
3.4.13 University of Central Lancashire 69
3.4.14 University of Cranfield 69
3.4.15 De Montfort University 69
3.4.16 University of Dundee 69
3.4.17 University of Durham 69
3.4.18 University of Edinburgh 70
3.4.19 University of Exeter 70
3.4.20 University of Glasgow 71
3.4.21 University of Greenwich 71
3.4.22 Heriot Watt University 72
3.4.23 Hull University 72
3.4.24 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 72
3.4.25 University of Kent 73
3.4.26 Lancaster University 73
3.4.27 University of Leeds 73
3.4.28 University of Leicester 74
3.4.29 University of Liverpool 74
3.4.30 University of London, Royal Holloway 75
3.4.31 Loughborough University 75
3.4.32 University of Manchester 75
3.4.33 Manchester Metropolitan University 76
3.4.34 University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 76
3.4.35 University of Northumbria 77
3.4.36 University of Nottingham 77
3.4.37 Nottingham Trent University 78
3.4.38 University of Oxford 78
3.4.39 University of the West of Scotland 79
3.4.40 University of Plymouth 79
3.4.41 University of Portsmouth 80
3.4.42 Queen Mary University London 80
3.4.43 Queens University Belfast 81
3.4.44 University of Reading 81
3.4.45 Robert Gordon University 82
3.4.46 University of Salford 82
3.4.47 University of Sheffield 82
3.4.48 Sheffield Hallam University 83
3.4.49 University of Southampton 84
3.4.50 University of Strathclyde 84
3.4.51 University of St Andrews 85
3.4.52 University of Sunderland 85
3.4.53 University of Surrey 85
3.4.54 University of Sussex 86
3.4.55 University of Teeside 87
3.4.56 University of Ulster 87
3.4.57 University of Wales, Swansea 87
3.4.58 University of Wales, Aberystwyth 87
3.4.59 University of Wales, Bangor 88
3.4.60 University of Warwick 88
3.4.61 University of York 88
3.4.62 University College London 89
3.5 COMPANIES 90
3.5.1 Nanomaterials and nanostructures 90
3.5.2 Tools and instrumentation 96