Nanotechnology and business opportunities: scenarios as awareness instrument

Erik Knol

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: For a few years now, nanotechnology has been recognised as a promising new growth innovator. This leads to a shift from the exploration of nanotechnology knowledge towards a phase of exploitation. The coming years this commercialisation of nanotechnology will be extended. Nanotechnology is a disruptive technology phenomenon, which leads to more difficulties in overseeing business opportunities. Additionally, the fact that high-tech small firms, especially those dealing with nanotechnology, are highly interested in developments in science and technology, begs the question how to stimulate the awareness for (new) business opportunities in nanotechnology within these firms. A promising strategy to stimulate learning and awareness of business opportunities in nanotechnology is the use of scenarios. These projections focused on uncertainty stretch the mental model of entrepreneurs and/or managers and have the ability to activate learning processes. This paper presents the (theoretical) fundaments of scenario usage in relation to the recognition of business opportunities in nanotechnology.

Keywords: scenarios; business planning; high-tech small firms; nanotechnology; entrepreneurship (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L2 L21 L26 M1 M13 O14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004-05-25
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in Proceedings of 12th International Conference High-Tech Small Firms, Enschede (the Netherlands) (2004): pp. 609-621

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