Management Of Materials Research: Protection And Commercialisation Of Nanotechnology

Of the total number of nanotechnology-related patents published in Australia, there has been a steady increase since 2004 in the percentage of patents resulting from Australian research. This trend is likely to continue in view of the recent increases in government funding for nanotechnology research. The effective design of research projects will be important to maximise the likelihood of successful commercialisation of intellectual property arising from that research. The nature of nanotechnology as an emerging field with potential applications in a wide range of existing technologies, gives rise to special considerations for its effective protection and commercialisation.