The term “nano” derives from the Greek “nanos” and means “dwarf” i.e. a person with microsomia. Nano refers to the size unit “one billionth”. Nanotechnology deals with the research, production and application of structures in nanometer range (<100 nm). A nanometer is a billionth of a meter, or a millionth of a millimetre which is approximately about a hundred-thousandth of the diameter of a human hair.


The systematic production of materials at the atomic level as well as the use of particular phenomena that occurs in nanometer scale makes a vast range of new applications possible. Whether surface- and coating technology, solar technology, energy systems or electronics; the list can be extended as desired. The applicability of nano in other areas of life is still in the process of research and development; substantial success has already been achieved. Thus, nanotechnology is used for e.g. in health care, in cancer therapy, food technologies or to improve environmental protection.  

The aim of nanotechnology is to fuse the laws of physics, chemistry and biology at the atomic level and consequently, to render interdisciplinary developments possible. Materials are to be divided into their tiniest elements (atoms) and then to be “organized” i.e. “arranged” anew. New materials and new properties of materials can be created in this way, since there are effects that function in these tiny areas and that wouldn’t play any role at all over a size scale of 100 nm. Nanotechnology will be groundbreaking for the next decades and will open up new market potentials – it is regarded as the technology of the future per excellence. Experts and media classify nanotechnology as the key technology of the 21 st century.

Nanotechnology pools knowledge from all sciences together. Nanoscientist build machines and create materials in the way life does: atom by atom. Prospects predict that nanotechnology will change our life at least just as much as the introduction of information Technologies, personal computers and the Internet did in the last century.