Jan. 26, 2006 — Cientifica, a London-based supplier of nanotechnology research and technology information, published a report exploring why nanotechnology has had limited commercial impact during the past decade.

The report, titled “Where Has My Money Gone?” was based on interviews with government funding agencies and researchers. Key findings of the report include:

• Global government spending on nanotechnologies totalled $4.8 billion in 2005.

• Japan spends three times as much as a proportion of its gross domestic product as the United States.

• Government nanotechnology funding takes an average of two to three years before it reaches the lab.

• Much government spending is concentrated on research areas with little immediate commercial impact.

The report maintains that the true impact of nanotechnology will only start to be felt from 2007 onwards.