nanoREV.

Are corporations a source of nanotechnology invention?

A recent speech by Peter N. Detkin of Intellectual Ventures alleges that large corporations are not a major source of invention and it is instead start-ups and individuals that are responsible for most major innovations. However, does this position stand up to scrutiny for nanotechnology innovations? Let’s take a look at some facts in regard to some of the major innovations related to nanotechnology:

1) Scanning probe microscopy Scanning probe microscopy uses an ultrasharp tip to probe and manipulate matter on the nanoscale and has been a major tool for enabling much of the nanomaterials research in the past few decades. Start-ups such as Nanoink have used scanning probe microscopes to achieve new application in nanolithography, mask repair, and nanoencryption. However, the basic innovations of scanning probe microscopes came from research conducted at IBM by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer. 2) Carbon Nanotubes Carbon nanotubes are probably the most well known nanomaterial with a variety of applications proposed by a variety of start-up companies in composites, electronics, sensors, photovoltaics, displays, etc. However, the original research into carbon nanotubes was conducted at NEC by Sumio Iijimathe first patent to single walled carbon nanotubes was based on research done at IBM by Donald Bethune. 3) Nanowires Nanowires are high aspect ratio metallic or semiconductive nanostructures. Start-up companies such as Nanosys are exploiting nanowires to achieve flexible and printible electronics and solar cells. However, a study of the history of the development of nanowires finds that many initial developments were achieved by researchers at large corporations such as Hitachi and Xerox. 4) Nanoelectronics Due to the increasing demand for better scalability and performance in electronics devices nanomaterials will likely play a large role in future developments and start-up companies such as Nantero are proposing the integration of nanomaterials into electronics. However, large companies have also tended to be first movers in nanoelectronics with Hitachi researchers being the first to develop single electron transistor logic, researchers at Infineon and Samsung being the first to incorporate carbon nanotubes and nanowires into practical field effect transistors, and Hewlett-Packard being the first to propose a practical molecular memory system. Based on the above it seems that the allegation that large corporations are not a major source of innovation is not supportable and most of the developments and application in nanotechnology being proposed today are ultimately due to the investment by large corporations such as IBM, NEC, Hitachi, Xerox, Infineon , Samsung, and Hewlett-Packard. However, the speech given by Mr. Detkin does have a point that it is ultimately individuals which are the necessary component for invention. Regardless of whether such individuals work in a corporate research lab, a university, or a start-up it is ultimately individual inventors such as Gerd Binnig, Heinrich Rohrer, Sumio Iijima, Donald Bethune that are the driving force behind nanotechnology innovation.