Nanotechnology is almost sure to become the definitive technology of the 21st century, penetrating all areas of society and changing our everyday lives.

But what exactly are we expecting of nanotechnology? This is by no means an easy question to answer, since we still don't have a full picture of all of the possibilities opened up by nanotechnology. As such, the first thing that needs to be done is for research facilities and researchers in diverse areas of physics, chemistry and other relevant sciences to team up on integrated research programs to develop our understanding of the atoms and molecules that comprise the building blocks of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology is, of course, already producing results in various fields, but mainly because it has been able to better address existing needs than other technologies.

Needs that have been generated by nanotechnology itself have yet to emerge. For example, when we become able to apply special phenomena occurring in the nano world to the ordinary-sized world, what new needs are likely to be born as a result of such capabilities? Similarly, how will the elucidation of as yet unknown principles behind self-assembly and other mechanisms on which our world is built impact on our lives? We may well discover the means of doing things that have up to now been no more than wild dreams, the stuff of science fiction novels. Even without going so far, nanotechnology undoubtedly has the potential to change human society, our everyday lives and the way we view and interact with the world. Nanotechnology is that powerful.