Economic Impacts of Nanotechnology .pptVIP

Jolt to the System:The Transformative Impact of Nanotechnology Mike Treder Executive Director Center for Responsible Nanotechnology Troy, New York November 16, 2004 Industrial Revolutions Industrial Revolutions Industrial Revolutions Industrial Revolutions The Next Revolution Not just new products — a new means of production Manufacturing systems that make more manufacturing systems — exponential proliferation Vastly accelerated product improvement — cheap rapid prototyping Affects all industries and economic sectors — general-purpose technology Inexpensive raw materials, potentially negligible capital cost — economic discontinuity Portable, desktop-size factories — social disruption Impacts will cross borders — global transformation Benefits + Risks An automated, self-contained factory could provide... Dangers Economic disruption from an abundance of cheap products Economic oppression from artificially inflated prices Personal risk from criminal or terrorist use Constant intrusive surveillance Oppression from abusive restrictions Social disruption from new products/lifestyles Unstable arms race leading to war Collective environmental damage from unregulated products Black market in molecular manufacturing increases other risks Competing nanotechnology programs increases other risks . . . and many more What is Needed Now Awareness of the issues Technical research Policy research www.Wise-N ? 2004 First Revolution 1780–1840 Based in United Kingdom Steam Engine Textile Industry Mechanical Engineering Second Revolution 1840–1900 Based in Europe – England, France, Germany Railways Steel Industry Third Revolution 1900–1950 Based in United States Electric Engine Heavy Chemicals Automobiles Consumer Durables Fourth Revolution 1950–Present Based in Pacific Basin – California, Japan Synthetics Organic Chemicals Oil Computers Fifth Revolution 2010? – Based in Developing World? China? India? Brazil? Nanotechnology Molecula