The world is transitioning from a computer revolution to a technology revolution driven by nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing.  This technology transition was the topic of McDermott Will & Emery’s 2012 White Paper entitled “Nanotechnology: Who will be the leaders in the fifth technology revolution?”.  McDermott’s analysis of the 2011 nanotechnology patent literature found the United States is poised to be a global leader in nanotechnology, given its high levels of research, development and diversification of sectors affected, but also begged the question of whether the United States would be surpassed by other countries, such as China and India.  This year’s analyses of the 2012 nanotechnology patent literature reveal that the United States has maintained the lead.  This report also highlights an increase in nanotechnology patent literature in the past year, and strong growth in nanotechnology patent literature over the last decade in Eastern Asia, particularly China and South Korea.

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