Roadmapping in Regional Technology Foresight: A Contribution to Nanotechnology Development Strategy

In the article, the authors describe their approach to creating regional nanotechnology development roadmaps. Original visualization and roadmaps for selected nanotechnologies are showcased. The creation of roadmaps was preceded by technology mapping and the selection of priority technologies, for which technology characteristics sheets were developed. Human resources (skills), financial resources, and tangible assets were a basis for the creation of the roadmaps specifying the development of priority nanotechnologies in the studied region (Podlaskie, Poland). The development of the technologies described in the roadmaps is stimulated by the R&D domain, which constitutes one of the roadmap layers. Potential technology application areas form the background for the "market" layer of the roadmaps. Segments related to the general development of a particular technology in time are additional elements enriching the roadmaps. All layers were presented in three-time perspectives. The conducted analysis served as a basis for the integration of the selected priority nanotechnologies into four nanotechnology development scenarios of the region. The obtained results contributed to the formulation of the Regional Nanotechnology Development Strategy. The research was conducted in a framework of the "Technological foresight 'NT FOR Podlaskie 2020' Regional strategy of nanotechnology development" project.