See the complete list of trends that we analyze.

1) Introduction to Nanotechnology & MEMS

Nanotechnology will soon become a household word. It is a cutting-edge technology that will revolutionize many sectors of manufacturing over the long-term. The situation is somewhat analogous to that of biotechnology and genetic engineering-a field that, 20 years ago, few people could define. Even fewer could envision how the biotechnology industry would fundamentally change the development of drugs and diagnostics. Likewise, few consumers or business executives realize the extent to which nanotech, over the mid-term, is going to change the materials they use everyday.

Investment in nanotechnology research and the market for nanotech products is expanding rapidly. Globally, governments, corporations and investors are pouring about $12 billion annually into research and development of nanotechnology projects, according to Lux Research. The U.S. government alone budgeted nearly $1.5 billion in nanotech research grants and projects for 2008, up from $464 million in 2001. The National Science Foundation in America estimates that the global market for products containing nanotechnology will reach $1 trillion yearly by 2015. Lux Research estimates that $50 billion in products containing some nanotech component were sold globally in 2006.

In the international market, the Japanese government is investing about $1 billion yearly in nanotech research. The European Nanotechnology Trade Alliance (ENTA) boosts the nanotech industry in Europe, where funding is very substantial.

Nanotechnology is generally defined as the science of designing, building or utilizing unique structures that are smaller than 100 nanometers in size (a nanometer is one billionth of a meter). This involves microscopic structures that are no larger than the width of some cell membranes. In particular, nanotech may involve the manipulation of materials on the atomic level so that they take on new characteristics, such as increased strength or resistance.

MEMS refers to the very exciting field of the miniaturization of electronics. Specifically, we define MEMS as "Micro Electro Mechanical Systems," micron-scale structures that transduce signals between electronic and mechanical forms. Both MEMS and nanotech are today's leaders in the long-term trend of greater and greater miniaturization of electronics and other systems. Analysts at Lyon, France-based Yole Developpement (www.yole.fr) estimate the global market for MEMS devices at $5.26 billion in 2006, growing to $9.86 billion by 2010.

Nanotechnology has applications in fields such as semiconductors, biotechnology, solar power, chemistry, automotive systems, apparel, coatings, robotics and aerospace. The result will be new ways to solve problems and create products, based on the use of micro components.

Over the next few years, the fastest-growing commercialized uses of nanotechnology will most likely be in coatings, including advanced paints used in demanding environments; specialty chemicals; and textiles. As the technology matures, many more uses will be commercialized.

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (www.nanotechproject.org ) lists 609 items in its March 2008 inventory of consumer products that have a nanotech component, up from 475 in 2007 and 209 products listed in their initial March 2006 inventory. The new list included 281 health and fitness items (such as cosmetics, sunscreens and sporting goods), 61 food and beverage products, 58 home and garden items and 42 electronics and computer products.

Fortunately, MEMS technology is presently available and widely utilized. A contemporary use of MEMS technology affecting consumers is the micro switch used in passenger-side airbags. These MEMS switches must be accurate enough to determine when, and at what level of strength, a collision occurs, and then set off the inflation of the air bag quickly enough to protect passengers before the collision's impact reaches them.