- Research and development at molecular or atomic levels, with lengths ranging between about 1 to 100 nanometers.
- Creation and use of systems, devices, and structures which have special functions or properties because of their small size.
- Ability to control or manipulate matter on a molecular or atomic scale.
- Nanomaterials - physical substances with structural dimensions between 1 and 100 nm.
- Nanotools - devices that manipulate matter at the atomic or nano scale.
- Nanodevices - systems with nanostructured components that perform some assigned function other than manipulating nano or atomic scale matter.
Now that you know what nanotechnology is, how can investing in this small technology reap big rewards? Just like investing in anything, there are pitfalls when it comes to investing in nanotechnology. But there is also great potential.
How do you determine whether investing in a certain nanotechnology company will fall in the category of "pitfall" or "potential"? Well, the success of a company depends on three primary factors, and investors who pay attention to these fundamentals should have no problem separating good potential from bad. First of all, ask yourself whether the company you are considering has the ability to produce the technology. Second, is there a real need for the technology? And third, is anyone else using — or in the process of developing — a better manufacturing method? This doesn't mean that investors should only choose companies that are risk-free. In fact, investors who take calculated, well-thought out risks often fare better in the end than those investors who don't.
Many innovations in nanotechnology simply sound too "weird" for investors to consider: Technology for developing a cell phone so small that an insect or tiny implanted device could use it, for example, or molecular- sized "bombs" that can kill individual cancer cells. While strong markets for such products don't exist now, they certainly might exist in the future.
When all is said and done, investing in nanotechnology is just like investing in anything else. While nanotechnology can give some companies a real advantage, too many organizations are using the term loosely in order to woo investors. It's up to the individual investor to apply due diligence to determine whether the opportunity is worth investing in. The best investors, when all is said and done, investigate potential companies from a standard business perspective.
Private industry, academia, and government laboratories are working together to advance research in nanotechnology because its potential applications are many and varied. Business Week recently featured an informative article, entitled How to Invest in Nanotech, and this site offers convenient access to information about diverse nanotechnology investment opportunities.