Dynamics of Nanosciences and Technologies: Policy Implication

Whatever the country, nanotechnology features as a key priority of most national research and innovation policies. This focus on nanotechnology is due to the promises of this general purpose technology, this new technological wave. As 'one size does not fit all', policies supporting its development cannot just adopt the 'best practices' of the preceding wave. We argue that specific on-going dynamics of nanoscience and technology production justifies the existence of dedicated nanotechnology policies. It also questions the portfolio of instruments mobilized and their balance. In this article, we discuss policies developed for the preceding technological waves and, based on the characteristics of nanosciences and technologies, propose five dimensions of policies to be taken into consideration for their governance at the country and cluster levels.