The transfer and commercialisation of nanotechnology: a comparative analysis of university and company researchers (journal article)
by Christopher Palmberg
from Journal of Technology Transfer Volume 33, Number 6 / December, 2008 pp. 631-652
Nanotechnology has been proposed as the next general purpose technology and engine for growth for the 21th century. Increasing public R&D investments are foremost reflected in the growth of scientific publications, while nanotechnology still is in an uncertain phase of development with various directions of commercialization pending. This paper focuses on the challenges, modes and outcomes of nanotechnology as an emerging science-based field in Finland. The paper contributes by interrogating how challenges and modes of nanotechnology transfer differ across universities and companies and determine outcomes broadly defined. The results of a survey show significant differences in the perceptions of researchers across these organisations, and highlight specific challenges and modes as determinants of outcomes.