All about High Tech
One nanometer equals one billionth of a meter. Today's technology
can manipulate matter in the 20nm range, where molecules begin to take on different properties, creating fantastic possibilities for
high-tech sciences such as advanced materials. According to Lux Research, by 2015 consumer spending on nanotech-enabled
products could reach $2.6 trillion annually (right now it's about $132 billion).
"By 2020, the smallest features on a semiconductor chip will be about 10 nanometers," says Greenagel. "By that time, new
technologies will not be silicon-based and assembly methods will be quite different. Right now, the industry is exploring a variety
of nanotech ideas to see which ones have the most promise."
To accelerate this research, the Semiconductor Industry Association has launched its Nanoelectronics Research Initiative, which
will bring government, academia, and the private sector together to identify the best applications as quickly as possible and
expedite funding.
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