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The analysis of application and market prospects of nanotechnology in products and product groups described here is mainly based on a secondary analysis of relevant publications. The following sources have been used: ¼ market analyses and press releases of different market research institutes, partly with specialization in the field of nanotechnology, e.g. Business Communication Company (BCC), CMP Científica ¼ press releases and publications of enterprises ¼ publications in specialist journals, the daily press and on the internet.Apart from a qualitative description of the application potential, quantitative statements concerning the market potential of nanotechnology are also made here, albeit with the proviso that the field of nanotechnology shows the following characteristics that complicate a quantitative evaluation of the market potential: ¼ Nanotechnology cannot be assigned to classical lines of industry where the turnovers are recorded in business statistics. It is rather a cross-sectional discipline of different sectors of industry. ¼ Nanotechnology does not represent a uniform technological platform, but comprises a wide spectrum of various fields of technology and research (materials technology, coating technology, nanostructuring, analysis and surface treatment). ¼ Nanotechnological processes and products predominantly start at the beginning of the value-added chain and mainly refer to individual components only, whose functionality is enhanced by nanotechnology. The proportion of nanotechnology in the value added to marketable products cannot easily be assessed and can be recorded only vaguely.

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