The limitations of the technology roadmap and importance of new management tools in science-based innovation: the case of nanotechnology in japan

Since 2000, nanotechnology has become a remarkable technology field and has been largely expected to create science-based innovation. This field, however, has such characteristics as high complexity and uncertainty of the feasibility of technological realizations, most private firms would not be able to take on enormous risks by themselves against a large amount of investigation required to commercialize nanotechnology. Consequently, public-private interaction becomes necessity, and national and local governments need an effective technology management tool to build a long-term strategy for nanotech realization and commercialization. This report indicates although a technology roadmap has been noted as a tool in building a long-team strategy, there would be problems and limitations because of the technological and market uncertainties of this new research field.