New report: Nano-solutions for the 21st century

It's been a fantastic journey to write this report with Eric. I consider it an honor to have worked with him in this project. After all he is the father of nanotechnology and I was 16-17 when I first read "Engines of Creation".

I hope that our report is the start of a process where we can move the question of atomically precise manufacturing (APM) into a more mainstream discussion. I found it fascinating when I think about the fact that out there somewhere is probably some intelligent (young?) entrepreneurs that will be part of this revolution and who probably will change the world forever.  If this report can inspire/inform more people to look into this area I would be very happy.  After all it is an area that is so important that all decision makers should be required ot spend a few hours to orientated themselves.

As with all truly disruptive technologies there are no simple answers or ten-steps towards a better future. The challenges are enormous but so are the opportunities. Perhaps it is this complexity, combined with the lack of capacity for long-term thinking) that have kept nanotechnology out in the cold for so long.

Below is the introduction to the report.

The world faces unprecedented global challenges related to depleting natural resources, pollution, climate change, clean water, and poverty. These problems are directly linked to the physical characteristics of our current technology base for producing energy and material products. Deep and pervasive changes in this technology base can address these global problems at their most fundamental, physical level,by changing both the products and the means of production used by 21st century civilization. The key development is advanced, atomically precise manufacturing (APM).

This report examines the potential for nanotechnology to enable deeply transformative production technologies that can be developed through a series of advances that build on current nanotechnology research. The report has five sections:

1. Nanotechnology and global challenges

The first section discusses the basics of advanced, atomically precise nanotechnology and explains how current and future solutions can help address global challenges. Key concepts are presented and different kinds of nanotechnology are discussed and compared.

2. The birth of Nanotechnology

The second section discusses the development of nanotechnology, from the first vision fifty years ago, expanding via a scientific approach to atomically precise manufacturing thirty years ago, initial demonstrations of principle twenty years ago, to the last decade of of accelerating success in developing key enabling technologies. The important role of emerging countries is discussed, with China as a leading example, together with an overview of the contrast between the promise and the results to date.

3. Delivery of transformative nanotechnologies

Here the different aspects of APM that are needed to enable breakthrough advances in productive technologies are discussed. The necessary technology base can be developed through a series of coordinated advances along strategically chosen lines of research.

4. Accelerating progress toward advanced nanotechnologies

This section discusses research initiatives that can enable and support advanced nanotechnology, on paths leading to APM, including integrated cross-disciplinary research and Identification of high-value applications and their requirements.

5. Possible next steps

The final section provides a short summary of the opportunities and the possibilities to address institutional challenges of planning, resource allocation, evaluation, transparency, and collaboration as nanotechnology moves into its next phase of development: nanosystems engineering.

The report in its entirety provides a comprehensive overview of the current global condition, as well as notable opportunities and challenges. This content is divided into five independent sections that can be read and understood individually, allowing those with specific interests to access desired information more directly and easily. With all five sections taken together, the report as a whole describes low-cost actions that can help solve critical problems, create opportunities, reduce security risks, and help countries join and accelerate cooperative development of this global technological revolution. Of particular importance, several considerations are highlighted that strongly favor a policy of transparent, international, collaborative development.