It may come as a surprise, but nanotechnology has been with us since ancient times. For example, the Romans mixed nanoparticles of silver and gold with glass to create something like pearlescent paint.
Nanotechnology has come a long way since ancient Rome, though. Now we use nanoparticles for a wide variety of purposes, from medicine to electronics. The list of insightful nanotechnology statistics can teach you more about this fascinating topic.
The stats therein will give you a good idea of how much we’ve progressed with this technology since the Ancient Romans.
Top Nanotechnology Statistics: Editor’s Choice
- On average, nanotechnology engineers in the US earn $99,040 annually.
- The worldwide nanotechnology market value will reach $306.1 billion by 2025.
- The size of a water molecule is roughly 1.5 nanometers.
- 70% of the global nanotechnology market share belongs to electronic, biomedical, and energy applications.
- The FDA got 55 drug product submissions containing nanomaterials in 2019.
- Nanoparticles make up over 85% of the global nanomaterials market share.
- The National Institute of Health invested around $445 million in nanomedicine in 2020.
Nanotechnology Industry Statistics
1. By 2026, the medical nanotechnology market is projected to reach $461,252 million.
Furthermore, the estimated CAGR for this market between 2021 and 2026 is around 11.9%.
The intersection between nanotech and medicine promises really exciting possibilities. This is because it can help cure dangerous diseases humanity struggles with the most.
For example, nanotechnology in healthcare can help fight illnesses such as Parkison’s, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, to name a few.
2. The nanomaterials market will be worth $98.9 billion by 2025.
According to the nanotechnology industry revenue statistics, the nanomaterial market should increase at a CAGR of 13.9% by 2025.
Much of this market value will come from Japan. Japan’s share of the nanomaterial market value will be $6.9 by 2025.
3. The global nanotechnology market value will be $306.1 billion by 2025.
In comparison, the market value was $160.8 billion in 2018. Experts predict that the CAGR for the 2018–2025 period will be 9.6%.
Stats on the Current State of Nanotechnology
4. In 2019, the FDA received 55 submissions for drugs containing nanomaterials.
Although nanotech sounds like a sci-fi concept, it’s a lot more widespread than you might think. For example, the FDA got over 50 submissions for drug nanotechnology products in 2019.
Between 1970 and 2019, the agency received around 600 such submissions, though half of them were between 2009 and 2019.
5. Carbon nanotubes can have a mechanical tensile strength 400 times greater than regular steel.
Perhaps the most exciting innovation in the history of nanotechnology is the carbon nanotube. These cylindrical graphene structures have fascinating properties, useful in all sorts of applications.
One of these properties is amazing mechanical tensile strength (i.e., the ability to tolerate external forces without breaking). Carbon nanotubes can have 400 times greater tensility than steel.
6. Europe has published 68 papers on nanomaterials for regulatory environmental research.
When it comes to the uses of nanotechnology for environmental research, Europe seems to lead the way. Meanwhile, North America has contributed 37 papers.
7. 55% of people believe nanotechnology positively impacts the world.
Though few people understand it deeply, most have at least heard of nanotechnology. The data shows that over 60% know something about it.
That said, the majority believe the benefits of nanotechnology have a positive impact on society. It’s interesting, though, that so many (42.4%) feel neutral about nanotech.
8. 22% of research articles about nanotechnology were published in the area of engineering.
The bulk of the fascinating nanotechnology facts we hear about come from the engineering sector. In fact, over a fifth of all nanotech research takes place in engineering.
Environmental and material sciences also have a fair share of nanotechnology research — 10%.
9. 32% of nanotechnology research comes from the United States.
The United States is responsible for a considerable portion of research into nanotechnology. Around a third of research comes from this country.
However, the US isn’t the leader in this field. Europe has a slight edge in that regard, as it is responsible for 36% of all nanotechnology research.
10. A single water molecule is about 1.5 nanometers.
We’ve been discussing nanotechnology for a while now, but some readers might be unaware of nanoscale objects’ size. One of the most fascinating facts about nanotechnology reveals how small a nanometer actually is.
To put it in a more understandable perspective, we will tell you that a single strand of hair is between 80,000 and 100,000 nanometers wide.
11. 88% of US citizens support nanotechnology research for providing artificial sight to the blind.
Out of all the advantages of nanotechnology, giving sight to the blind seems the most compelling.
The vast majority of people in the US approve of nanotech research into video-to-brain transmissions to create artificial vision.
So, in that regard, people feel positive about nanotechnology’s benefits. However, 55% of people feel wary about nanotechnology, stating that we “shouldn’t play god with new tech.”
12. Approximately 2 million Americans are exposed to large amounts of nanoparticles.
Health hazards currently present one of the biggest problems with nanotechnology. Minute particles can easily enter the body (especially the lungs) and cause all sorts of health issues, cancer being a particularly dangerous one.
Working with such materials or in places where they spread can be dangerous for one’s health. That’s why nanotechnology safety is such an important topic.
Even worse, a concerning number of people in the United States get exposed to nanoparticles, and some experts believe this number will grow to 4 million in the near future.
13. Nanoparticles make up 85% of the nanotech market.
Given how many different applications the field has, the impacts of nanotechnology on society are many and diverse.
As our research shows, the largest nanotech market share goes to nanoparticles. On the other hand, nanodevices have the least share of the global nanotechnology market.
Nanotechnology Statistics: Salaries, Jobs, and More
14. Nanotechnology engineers in the US earn around $99,040 a year.
The annual salary of nanotechnology engineers in the US ranges from $53,730 to $158,830. The data suggest that nanotechnologists’ wages are 54% above the national average.
15. The US nanotechnology engineer job market is predicted to rise by 6.4% between 2016 and 2026.
Right now, 132,500 nanotechnology engineers work in the United States.
Nanotechnology employment statistics vary depending on the state. For example, 17,820 nanotechnology engineers work in California, while only 390 are employed in Nevada.
16. Electronic, energy, and biomedical applications account for over 70% share of the worldwide nanotechnology market.
Nanotechnology can now be applied to a wide variety of fields. However, data reveals a few sectors that see more nanotech research and application than others.
In fact, just three of them comprise more than half of the entire nanotech market.
Statistics of nanotechnology show that the top three nanotechnology applications — energy, electronics, and biomedical — account for more than two-thirds of the nanotechnology market globally.
17. Automotive applications account for 5% of the nanotechnology market share.
The impact of nanotechnology on society is reflected in many innovations across industries. Not all have adopted nanotech to a large degree. The car industry is a good example of such a sector.
Nanotech in the automotive industry is relatively small. According to nanotechnology statistics, automotive applications currently capture a very small percentage of the nanotechnology market in the world.
18. In 2020, the NIH invested around $445 million in nanomedicine.
Thus far, studies have shown that the cost of nanotechnology is well worth the price tag. This is why some countries have decided to invest heavily in this tech.
For example, Europe invested $509 million in 84 research projects across more than 1000 labs and 250 SMEs.
19. The US President’s 2021 budget plan allocated more than $1.7 billion for the National Nanotechnology Initiative.
When looking at the latest advancement in nanotechnology, it’s hard not to feel like this industry deserves more investment. From medicine to environmental tech, the possibilities seem endless at this point.
The United States, well aware of nanotechnology’s benefits, decided to invest heavily. These investments totaled more than $31 billion since the NNI’s inception in 2001.
Key Takeaways
From medical nanotechnology to nanoparticles in environmental research, this scientific field has tremendous potential. It’s far from being the norm around the world, though.
While far from reach for many, some countries lead the advancement of nanotechnology, making it more affordable, available, and helpful to society.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, nanotechnology and nanomaterials can be applied to all sorts of industrial sectors. They are generally found in the following areas: textile, electronics, energy, biomedicine, food, and the environment.
Nanotechnology can also be used for purification and environmental cleanup, including water filtration and desalination, groundwater strategy, and wastewater treatment. Furthermore, this technology can prevent health problems and help handle illnesses.
In developing countries, people leverage nanotechnology to help handle disease and prevent health problems. This use of nanotechnology is called nanomedicine.
Today, one can find nanotechnology in a variety of manufacturing and cleaning processes. Experts use nanotech when creating chemical coats, high-resolution cinema screens, medical equipment, and novel foods.
Like most other powerful pieces of tech, nanotechnology can do both good and bad. The key lies in its application.
For instance, because of their capacity to break apart toxic molecules, nanoparticles can clean up contamination and decrease the global energy market because of the effectiveness they bring to electronics.
On the other hand, we know little about how nanoparticles communicate with the living system. Also, we still don’t really understand how to detect nanoparticles properly.
Firstly, nanoparticles may harm the respiratory system. Ultrafine particles from energy factories and diesel-powered devices can cause significant damage to the human lungs.
Secondly, nanoparticles can get inside the human body through the skin, digestive system, and lungs, generating cell damage and damage to the DNA.
Nanotechnology in medicine could transform how we identify and treat damage to the human body and illness in the future. It can also improve biosensors, drug distribution systems, nanoscale therapeutics, imaging technologies, and implantable tools, to name a few.
In 2019, China did the most research in nanotechnology, with 74,000 published articles. The US is in second place with nearly 24,000 nanoscience articles, followed by Iran, South Korea, and India. What’s more, the US, Germany, and Brazil are likely to lead the nanotechnology industry in 2024.
Yes, nanotechnology can cure many diseases. For example, nanoscience could potentially help us identify and treat cancer at the molecular level.
Nanotechnologies will most likely enable us to sequence DNA more quickly. This is useful for doctors wanting to find someone’s genetic predisposition for a disease.
Yes, nanotechnology can extend human life. By investing in more research, it could significantly boost the average lifespan of human beings.
Most nanotechnology statistics point to a variety of ways for nanotech to let people live longer. For example, it can destroy life-threatening diseases, such as cancer. Secondly, it could fix damage to our bodies at the biological level.