By 2010, the value of nanotechnology-enabled products and processes exported by Irish enterprises could exceed 13 billion. That's according to the statement on nanotechnology issued by the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (ICSTI) last July.

Some international forecasts suggest that by 2010 the global market for nanotechnology-enabled products will grow to around $1 trillion. Information and communications technologies, healthcare, agriculture and food, polymers/plastics, and construction are among the Irish industrial sectors that could participate and benefit.

A nanometre is one thousandth millionth of a metre and a human hair is approximately 80,000 nanometres in diameter. Nanotechnology operates in the region up to 100 nanometres.

At the nano level, materials behave differently to those in the everyday world. Because of their novel properties, they may be assembled to yield nanomaterials and devices with new or improved properties, so there is potential for business advantage. Among the companies in Ireland active on the nanotechnology sphere are Elan, Intel, Deerac Fluidics, Gem Plastics, Nanosense and NTERA.