International Assessment of Research and Development in Catalysis by Nanostructured Materials

Catalyst technologies account for over US$1 trillion of revenue in the US economy alone. Their applications range from medicines and alternative energy fuel cell technologies to the development of new and innovative clothing fibers. In this book, a World Technology Evaluation Center (WTEC) panel of eight experts in the field assesses the current state of research and development in catalysis by nanostructured materials, its sources of funding, and discusses the state of the field with respect to productivity and leadership in various nations around the world. In addition to showing the numerous and highly advantageous practical applications of the field, the panel concludes that Western Europe is currently the most productive region, followed closely by the United States. Still, the research and development output of the People's Republic of China has recently surpassed that of Japan and is now poised to surpass that of the US as well.