Nanotechnology is the study and application of the smallest particles of matter observable to man.
Nanotechnology holds amazing promise for American businesses because elements at the nano-scale exhibit unique and heretofore unknown properties. This gives companies like RAND Innovations the opportunity to develop products with super-powerful applications for specific business needs.
It is for this reason that many scientists believe that nanotechnology will be the doorway to the next Industrial Revolution.
To understand nanotechnology, one must first grasp the size of nano-particles. If the earth was the size of a normal particle of matter, a nano-particle would be the size of a marble.
Nano-particles are measured by what are called nano-meters. A nano-meter is one billionth of a meter. The edge of a piece of paper is 100,000 nano-meters wide. By definition, a nano-particle cannot be more than 100 nano-meters wide (1/1,000 of the width of the edge of a piece of paper).
In 2000 the National Nano-Tech Initiative (NNI) was established by President George Bush. The purpose of NNI is to insure that the United States maintains a position of leadership in the development of nano-tech products.
“We see nanotechnology as having virtually unlimited potential to transform the way we produce, deliver, and use energy.” Spencer Abraham, U.S. Secretary of Energy (2001 – 2005)
