纳米技术与发展中国家

作者将“nano*”与世界银行确定的每个经济类主题词组合检索，结果发现发展中国家普遍在从事
纳米技术研发。进一步研究表明，尽管发展中国家纳米技术的研发能力随着合作和信息利用的加强而提高，
但是这些国家已经偏离了纳米技术的“社会开发”这一通常被认为是最适于发展中国家的研究宗旨。另外，
对卫生保健相关专利的分析证实，各国实力严重不平衡，存在所谓的“纳米鸿沟”现象。在发展中国家中，
中国拥有的专利权所占份额很高，因此“纳米鸿沟”不仅存在于发展中国家和发达国家之间，在发展中国
家也同样存在。发展中国家的研发水平较低，纳米技术有可能走向以往导致全球技术大分裂的技术老路。

Nanotechnology and Developing Countries

Drawing on search-engine data gained from combining the term 'nano*' with the title of every
economy recognised by the World Bank, the research to be described here highlights a widespread developing
country engagement with nanotechnology research and development. Subsequent investigation reveals that the
orientation of developing country engagement is distant from nanotechnology's 'social development' applications,
often cited as most applicable to developing countries. The ability of less-developed countries to engage with
nanotechnology R&D is explored along with current mechanisms to facilitate partnerships and access to
information. The additional analysis of health-related patents confirms that the 'nano-divide' is already here.
With China constituting the bulk of patents from the South, the divide is not just between the developed and
developing world, it extends to within the developing world. An assessment of participation in international
nanotechnology policy and dialogue highlights low levels of developing country representation, supporting the
overall argument that nanotechnology may be set to follow the path of past technologies in creating a greater
global technological divide.