NANOTECHNOLOGY AND COMMERCIAL BENEFITS

By sreeremya.sAsst professor,sree narayana guru

college,cbe

• The term nanotechnology describes a range of• technologies performed on a nanometer scale with• widespread applications as an enabling technology in• various industries. Nanotechnology encompasses the• production and application of physical, chemical, and• biological systems at scales ranging from individual• atoms or molecules to around 100 nanometers, as• well as the integration of the resulting nanostructures• into larger systems.

• Investments in nanotechnology• The financial sector will have a key role in transferring• technology knowledge from the research centres to• the industry and the markets. For the development• of new products and processes and also for the• penetration of new markets, sizeable investments are• needed, especially in the seed phase.

• By the end of 2004 venture capitalists had already

• invested $1 billion in nano companies, nearly half of

• that alone in 2003 and 2004. It is expected that most

• of these nanotechnology companies will be sold• through trade sales.

• From an insurance perspective, several basic points• define possible risk scenarios from nanoparticles:• • an increasingly high number of persons will be• exposed,• • potential harmful effects are expected to evolve• over longer periods of many years,• • in individual cases it will be difficult to establish a• causal relationship between actions of a company• and the resulting injury or damage,• • occupational exposure is a main concern,• • a certain closeness to major liability losses from the• past will be evident.

• Given the fact that nanotechnologies have an enabling• character and will penetrate almost every industry over• the coming years, we expect that nanotechnology risks• will be part of the industrial insurance portfolio.• However, we will closely watch changes in the field.• Where doubts arise, we would, where appropriate,• talk with clients.