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August 29th, 2007

Nanotech Trade Associations? Really?

Abstract:
A nanotech expert at a very large, German chemical company once commented to me, "Nanotechnology? There is no technology. It's a Zoo of technologies and materials summarized under the umbrella ‘nanotechnology'".

I think of that quote when I see all the nanotechnology "trade associations" that have formed now and in the past. The latest news I see is that one of them has created a "code of conduct" for organizations involved in nanotech.

I am always puzzled as to what these organizations are supposed to be "associating". Is it individual members, who presumably would call themselves "nanotechnologists", or is it member companies? I'm not quite sure but I suspect they would accept any Tom, Dick or Harry that would sign a check to be a member.

There is of course the grand daddy of these associations the NanoBusiness Alliance . I can't reproduce the history of this organization, except that I remember it appearing on the landscape in about 2002.

Source:
blogs.spectrum.ieee.org

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