ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology—defined as the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications (NTSC, 2007: 5) is considered as the basis for a new industrial revolution. Yonas and Picraux (2001) depict nanotechnology as a disruptive technology, meaning that its establishment as a dominant technological trajectory will render obsolete other existing technologies and products. Nanotechnology is also described as an enabling or platform technology, able to be incorporated into almost all production sectors (Harper, 2003; Bowman and Hodge, 2006). Treder (2004) predicts that its development will be faster than previous technological revolutions and that it will take place on a global scale from the outset.
