Nanotechnology development is changing products, services, and how organisations envision their future. Within recent years, the science of actively and intentionally altering molecules and structures on a nanometre scale has ramped up due to the possibilities it provides for producing positive benefits.
The reduced size of nanotechnology can potentially enable the automation of tasks in areas considered physically inaccessible at one time. This automation can decrease maintenance demands on humans and reduce the size of the area needed for processes.
Potential Benefits & Drawbacks
Sectors already enjoying some of the benefits of nanotechnology include medicine, energy, transportation, environmental and materials science, construction, food safety, device engineering, and IT.
Nanotechnology development has already resulted in outstanding outcomes such as purifying wastewater. Industrial organisations also benefit from more effective manufacturing processes and more efficient energy systems. Sovereign entities are also exploring agri-food nanotechnology to boost production, feed the masses, and prevent animal and crop disease.
Nonetheless, like any other disruptive innovation, nanotechnology may have drawbacks too. Potential health, environmental, and safety issues often lead to extensive testing and failures. The displacement of human resources as nanotechnology gains dominance may not align with an organisation vision either. Of course, privacy rights are always a major concern for healthcare nanotechnology too.
Additionally, regulatory bodies may also enact legislation to limit the potential risks of nanoparticles in certain items in response to consumer or science-based concerns. This has already occurred in the UK, Australia, and Canada with regards to the exclusion of engineered nanoparticles in certified organic food products.
Barriers Slowing Nanotechnology Development
A 2021 study in NanoImpact discusses the 5 key barriers found in nanotechnology development in agrifoods. These barriers may apply to any industry, if not addressed.
- Lack of data – almost three-quarters of study participants do not have the information they need to make informed decisions.
- Lack of product oversight – most organisations do not have the internal processes, procedures, functions and strategies in place to bring new products to market quickly, and to review them over their life cycle.
- No way to respond to market – no ability to trial innovative nanotechnology quickly to ensure products are suitable for use.
- Lack of collaboration – organisations often make fragmented attempts at innovation without involving necessary stakeholders.
- Scientific & technical workforce shortages – organisations do not have sufficient in-house talent to manage the scope of work.
Overcoming Nanotechnology Barriers
Fortunately, organisations can overcome these and other nanotechnology development barriers by partnering with EarlyBirds.
We offer four pathways towards successful innovation and the following benefits:
- Reduced cost of innovation
- Quick increases in innovation capability, when required
- Connections to the best Subject Matter Experts and innovators available
- Simple process
EarlyBirds Innovation Ecosystem
Our award-winning Innovation Ecosystem earned us the title of Global Open Innovation Platform of the Year 2023. It allows both innovation and strategic thinking in all areas of a business, whatever the technical or business challenge or potential opportunity your organisation wants to explore.
We unite Innovators, Early Adopters, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to fuel rapid innovative adoption and business evolution. Early Adopters are leaders eager to identify new and disruptive technologies. They want to seize opportunities, solve business challenges, or create new products and services.
The Ecosystem has a data pool of over 4.9 million global innovations across many industries with solutions that may already address your organisation’s challenges. Alternatively, organisations can list their challenges and request solutions from innovators.
EarlyBirds Innovation Ecosystem Maps
EarlyBirds has also developed innovation ecosystem maps for both business or technical themes across the entire value chain, at a regional level or by specialisation. These maps are an ideal solution for strategic thinkers who desire to know what is currently available and the level of maturity.
These maps can provide a solution to challenges or they can identify potential innovators for beneficial partnerships. They are individualized for each organisation and specifically designed with organisational goals in mind.
EarlyBirds Explorer Program
The Explorer Program is tailored towards those who need innovation as a service to supplement existing innovation programs, or to conduct innovation projects when required. It is designed to speed up the process of technological innovation for the organisation as a service.
The Explorer program includes several features including quarterly and monthly innovation days; regular webinars to help stimulate innovation in the organisation; a focus on types of innovations; a platform enterprise license; and a nominated SME for the business.
EarlyBirds Challenger Program
The Challenger Program focuses on a single organisational or technical challenge. It looks for the most relevant innovators that meet your organisational, technical, and risk requirements.
The program is run by an EarlyBirds Subject Matter Expert who identifies your key issues. The SME then searches the data pool to identify and curate options for further evaluation. The most suitable option is chosen and the SME drafts a roadmap of next steps, POC, trial, or implementation.
*****
EarlyBirds offers efficient, organized, and automated innovation processes. Let us help you streamline workflows and enable cross-functional teams to ensure your organisation can discover, assess, and implement new technologies, quickly and effectively.
Organisations can register independently at https://earlybirds.io/. If unsure of which option is best suited to your needs, please reach out to schedule a consultation. We use an individualized approach to ensure you find the best possible solution.
We’ve helped the Public Sector, Food Industry, Retail, Healthcare, Operations & Maintenance, Manufacturing, Finance & Insurance, Energy, Education, Cybersecurity, and many others. Let us help you accelerate your organisation’s nanotechnology development by connecting you to the resources you need.