Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that has influenced a large number of industrial segments and is set to play a pivotal role in various industry segments in the 21st century. Nanotechnology offers immense promise for developing new technologies that are more sustainable than current technologies. All major industrial sectors have felt nanotechnology's impact, mainly from the incorporation of nanomaterials into their products. For example, nanotechnology has improved the design and performance of products in areas as diverse as medicine and medical devices, materials, coating, electronics, food and agriculture, cosmetics, chemicals, energy, as well as many others.

The global nanotechnology market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 16.5% during 2014-2020. According to one projection it was estimated that Global Market for Nanotechnology-Enabled Products to Reach US$2.41 Trillion by 2015. Nanotech Drug Delivery will be 15% of global nanotechnology market by 2021.

Nanotechnology is emerging as an important enabling technology, capable of impacting almost all sectors of the industry and will be an engine for growth in the 21st century. This prospective growth will be largely driven by massive investment in nanotechnology R&D and commercialization by both governments and corporate worldwide. Even, developing markets such as India, Brazil, China and Taiwan have proposed plans to draft regulations for the nanotechnology industry.

In India, the field of nanotechnology is considered to be still in the developing stage. A steady increase in awareness and substantial efforts in research and development focused on nanotechnology appear to enhance the future prospects of nanotechnology on India. The applications that could be conceived by employing nanotechnology are unlimited. The engineering carried out at molecular level of materials would not only yield superior properties but also has the potential to generate new materials.

In this conclave, role of nanotechnology in different industrial sectors including healthcare, food, agriculture as well as use of advanced nanomaterials for the different industrial Coating applications would be discussed. Nanotechnologies hold enormous potential to revolutionize the field of medicine through manifold applications:

Improved, cost-effective tissue engineering and creation of bespoke implants are realized through the combination of nanomaterials’ size and physical properties in 3D printing, resulting in biomimetic solutions:   

Therapeutic efficacy is enhanced through both the improved targeting and bioavailability of existing medicinal substances, as well as the discovery of entirely new substances and nanomaterials, which introduces a range of advantages over classical drug-delivery methods.   

Diagnostics are improved by nanotechnology-based innovations ranging from the introduction of increased sensitivity and specificity, to advanced rapid screening processes enabled by lab-on-a-chip devise.

Medical and life-Science applications may prove to be the most lucrative markets for nanotechnologies, with ”lab-on-a-chip” devices already being manufactured and animal testing and early clinical trials starting on nano techniques for drug delivery.

Cancer research illustrates many of the medical potentials of nanotechnologies in the longer term. It is hoped that nanoscale devices and processes will help to develop Imaging agents and diagnostics that will allow clinicians to detect cancer in its earliest stages.

Nanotechnology can produce smart, functional materials, including lubricants and barrier coatings, ultra-hard and super-strong materials, electro and photo-chromic materials with applications in all manufacturing sectors. Nanoparticles can also improve a wide range of properties shown by engineering plastics, such as bio-degradability and improved thermal, mechanical and electrical properties. Nanotechnology is predicted to be a main driver of technology and business in this century and holds the promise of higher performance materials, intelligent systems and new production methods with significant impact for all aspects of society.