Standards for nanotechnology: what's important

In the September 2008 issue of IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine, I wrote an article discussing why we might not achieve a nanotechnology gold rush without the development of standards. My message was very simple: standards are needed to achieve a high degree of interoperability, create order in the marketplace, simplify production requirements, manage the potential for adverse environmental impacts, and above all, ensure for the safety and health of those of us who will be developing and using the next generation of materials and devices. Since that article was published, numerous questions were raised as to where our efforts and resources are most needed in the development of standards. The IEEE and other organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have worked together in the area of electronics. However, electronics is only a small piece of the pie.