Nanotechnology Research Services NAICS 541713
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Industry Summary
The 1,500 nanotechnology research services companies conduct research and experimental development on matter at the nanoscale (1 to 100 nanometers). Their work may evolve into the creation of new nanotechnology processes, materials, or products that may be reproduced, utilized, or implemented by different industries. Firms study the physical, chemical, biological, and optical properties of matter at the nanoscale that differ from the properties of bulk materials, single atoms, and molecules. Nanostructured materials may be stronger, more chemically reactive, or have different magnetic properties compared to the standard forms and sizes of the same material. The end goal of research is to develop technology or new applications of technology for commercialization.
Dependence on End Markets and Economic Conditions
The nanotechnology industry is dependent on the output of end markets, which are impacted by economic conditions.
Patents Decline
While the total number of patents granted for nanotechnology has fallen over time, certain categories experienced growth.
Recent Developments
Mar 5, 2026 - National Quantum and Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure Program Launched
- The National Science Foundation is investing up to $100 million to establish a nationwide network of open-access research facilities for quantum and nanoscale technologies, innovation, and workforce training. The new National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure program will support up to 16 sites over five years, providing students, researchers, and industry with access to state-of-the-art fabrication and characterization tools, instrumentation, and expertise. The sites will form a shared national resource serving regional innovation ecosystems, including community colleges and small businesses.
- Nanoparticles have long played a large part in nanotechnology research for drug delivery vehicles but there are still significant challenges for nanomedicine, especially related to therapeutics, according to Katsuhiko Ariga, a professor at the University of Tokyo Department of Advanced Materials Science/Nanotechnology. Our bodies can release molecules like neurotransmitters in response to a signal and nanoscience needs to copy this, Ariga says. Intelligent release of drugs via controlled nanostructures is the goal going forward. Such systems may include nanobots and other active materials that respond to stimuli like chemical gradients, magnetic fields, or sound waves, and can differentiate between different cell types for targeted drug delivery.
- Several academics have raised concerns about the misuse of generative artificial intelligence in nanomaterials synthesis papers. The authors show in a Nature.com article that with simple prompts and a few hours of training, an AI tool can produce atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy images of nanomaterials that are indistinguishable from the real ones. They also show AI-generated images of ‘fantasy nanomaterials’ (for example, ‘nanocheetos’). The authors note that while even a highly trained human may not recognize fake AI-generated images, AI tools should be able to identify them.
- Nanotechnology research service industry employment decreased significantly and average wages for nonsupervisory employees increased slightly during the first eight months of 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nanotechnology research service industry sales are forecast to increase at a 5.91% compounded annual rate from 2025 to 2029, faster than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc.
Industry Revenue
Nanotechnology Research Services
Industry Structure
Industry size & Structure
The average nanotechnology research and development company employs about 16 workers and generates $38.7 million annually.
- The nanotechnology research and development industry consists of about 1,500 firms that employ about 23,700 workers and generate $56.9 billion annually.
- The industry is concentrated with the top 50 companies account for about 65% of industry revenue.
- Estimated revenue for US products that incorporate nanotechnology totaled $3 trillion in 2020, according to the Congressional and National Science Foundation studies.
- Government-funded organizations that host nanotechnology research include Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Universities with major nanotechnology research centers (which receive government funding) include Cornell, Northwestern, Stanford, and the University of Minnesota.
Industry Forecast
Industry Forecast
Nanotechnology Research Services Industry Growth
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