Introduction
Literature Review
Future-Oriented Studies of NBICs
Technology field | Researchers | Aim and method | Case | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
Biotechnology | You et al. (2014) [21] | Patent analysis with convergence index (CI) and market index (MI) for nanobiosensors | --- | Most promising convergence fields: electronics/communication-measurement, electronics/communication-chemical, machinery-material, machinery-chemical, and machinery-measurement |
Nanotechnology | Nazarko et al. (2022) [31] | Creation of roadmaps, technology mapping, prioritization of technologies, and development of technology characteristics sheets | Podlaskie, Poland | Key technologies: (1) nanomaterials and nanocoating in medical equipment; (2) nanotechnologies for cutting tools and wood processing; (3) composite materials for permanent dental fillings; (4) topcoat nanotechnologies for biomedical applications; (5) nanotechnologies related to special fabrics; (6) powder technologies for use in plastics processing, paint, and varnish compositions; and (7) nano-structuring technologies for metals and light alloys. 4 scenario according to R&D intensity and the effectiveness of regional collaborations |
Masara et al. (2021) [32] | Scientometric review of the nanotechnology publications on the Web of Science Core Collection throughout 20 years | South Africa | Strategic research fields: Material science, photoluminance and optics, medicine, catalysis, electronics, energy, biotech, magnetism, sensors, water, and communicable diseases | |
Vishnevskiy and Yaroslavtsev (2017) [33] | Nanotechnology foresight using both traditional methods (priority-setting, future visioning, global challenges analysis) and relatively new approaches (weak signals, wild cards) | Russia | Nanotechnology priority directions toward Russia 2030: (1) construction and functional material; (2) hybrid materials, converging technologies, bio-mimetic materials, and medical materials; (3) computer modeling of materials and processes; and (4) diagnostics of materials | |
Su et al. (2010) [34] | Delphi-based foresight study with expert discussion | Taiwan | Field with the highest maturity: Nano Bio Medicine Technologies with the highest competitiveness: nanocomposite material technique, nano optoelectronic, and optical communication, and nano storage | |
Information Technology | Using key technology approach to identify the most important health information technologies (HIT) (phase 1: mind map of HIT based on literature review and expert panel; phase 2: identify key HIT for Iran using semi-structured interviews; phase 3: Delphi study to determine the importance, expected time frame, impact, and barriers of the key technologies) | Iran | Key technologies: (1) NHIN, (2) electronic health records, (3) national cloud-based service center, (4) personal health records, (5) interoperability standards for electronic data exchange, (6) infrastructure for information sharing, (7) telemonitoring technologies, (8) large-scale remote health services, (9) m-Health and its related technologies, (10) clinical decision support systems, (11) social networks in the healthcare environment, (12) electronic health insurance system, (13) business intelligence, (14) the integrated electronic monitoring system, (15) infrastructure for NHIN, and (16) infrastructure for m-health | |
Chen et al. (2012) [38] | Two-stage foresight approach (Stage 1: critical technologies identification and evaluation by nationwide experts through Delphi surveys; Stage 2: estimation of values impact on attainment of foresight goals using a system dynamics simulation model) | China | Top technologies ranked: (1) large-scale manufacturing of 10-nm linewidth semiconductor integrated circuit with a density of 1000 G transistors; (2) wide adoption and application of the 4G wireless telecommunication technology; (3) communication-wide adoption of mobile communication with a focus on the picture and video transmission service; (4) computer-wide application of grid computing; (5) network-wide application of wireless intelligent sensor network; (6) communication-wide application of personal wireless information terminals with multi-function and multi-mode; (7) microelectronics, optic electronics, and micromechanics Wide commercial application of LED lighting technology; (8) broadcast and television-wide adoption of high definition digital television broadcast; (9) information safety development of emergency management information system for societal safety; and (10) information safety development of large-scale network safety defending system | |
Bañuls and Salmeron (2008) [39] | Delphi–AHP approach | Spain | Relative ranking in the key groups: (1) e-business: Security & Electronic Payment Systems (EPS), Business-to-Business (B2B), and Customer Relationships Management (CRM) applications; (2) Internet and networking the extranets: Internet communication tools and Virtual Private Networks (VPN); (3) strategic and tactical: Business Intelligence, Executive Information Systems (EIS), and Decision Support Systems (DSS); (4) operational: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) industry solutions, ERP modules integration, and ERP downsizing; (5) IT infrastructure: data storage and server scalability. |
Iran’s Status Quo in NBICs Development
Pairs and Trios | Dominant convergence type | Examples |
---|---|---|
Nano-Bio | Materials | Graphene, fullerene, porphyrin, and dopamine |
Nano–Cogno–Bio | ||
Nano-Info | Tools | Sensors and lasers |
Techniques | Neural networks and free vibration analysis | |
Info–Cogno | Retrieval and suppression | |
Info–Bio | NBO analysis, decision tree, and DFT calculation |
Research Method
Keyword type 1 | Keyword type 2 | Keyword type 3 | Journals (top journals in the technology and innovation policy field) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Technology OR Innovation | AND | Analysis OR Assessment OR Forecast OR Foresight | AND | Framework OR Model OR Guidebook OR Guidance OR Method OR Methodology OR Pathway OR Toolkit OR Decision-making | IN | Futures OR Foresight OR International Journal of Forecasting OR Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy OR Technological Forecasting and Social Change OR Technology in Society OR Technology Analysis and Strategic Management OR International Journal of Technology Management OR Technovation OR International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management OR Journal of Technology Management and Innovation OR International Journal of Innovation Management OR Asian Journal of Technology Innovation OR The Journal of Technology Transfer OR The Journal of Product Innovation Management OR R and D Management OR Research Policy OR Journal of Cleaner Production OR Science and Public Policy |
Jones (1971) [70] | Coates (1976) [71] | Porter et al. (1980) [72] | Braun (1998) [73] | Coates (1998) [74] | Porter (2004) [75] | Koivisto et al. (2009) [76] | Kalbar et al. (2012) [77] | Robinson et al. (2013) [50] | Proposed model |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Determining the assessment framework and goal | Defining the problem Identifying the affected groups | Defining the problem | Determining the subject, scope, and time | Justifying the need for the assessment of the proposed technology | Determining policies, interests, consequences, and drivers | Describing the technology | Determining the appropriate technology | Defining the problem | 1- Defining the problem of converging technology assessment: 1–1- Identifying and defining the problem, scope, and methods |
Determining the scope, subject, and methodology | |||||||||
Describing relevant technologies | Identifying system alternatives Identifying macro system alternatives | Technology description Technology forecasting | Technology description | Technology description (technology forecasting in the institutional context) | Determining the measures and indicators (life cycle assessment, system resistance analysis, etc.) | Understanding the technology (determining the characteristics of the technology, and analyzing the contextual and organizational determinants of technology management) | 2- Determining the possible outcomes of converging technology development: 2–1- Identifying the achievements and goals of converging technology development 2–2- Identifying key barriers and challenges of converging technology development | ||
Describing alternative systems | |||||||||
Describing the society’s status | Identifying external variables or events | Society description Society forecasting | Determining the societal trends and scenarios | Future analysis of the technology by the main stakeholders | Determining the risks of technology (determination of the probability of risk occurrence and potential consequences) | Determining the methodology of data collection and analysis | 3- Forecasting the future of converging technologies: 3–1- Determining the potential applications of converging technologies 3–2- Analyzing the achievements of each CTDP 3–3- Analyzing the challenges of each CTDP | ||
Identifying the affected areas | Identifying possible impacts | Identifying the impacts | Determining outcomes and potential beneficiaries Determining adverse impacts | Identifying influential partners and stakeholders Identifying potential impacts Screening and evaluating potential impacts Identifying relevant decision-makers | Determining findings, recommendations, and policies Presenting the results to other stakeholders | Risk assessment | Analyzing the characteristics of actors and innovative activities Determining the characteristics of R&D Mapping the innovative activities | ||
Determining the corrective actions | Providing a list of potential applications | 4- Evaluating the future perspective of converging technologies: 4–1- Determining the future perspective of converging technologies by drawing a matrix of achievements—challenges 4–2- Clustering the CTDPs in 4 regions | |||||||
Preliminary impact analysis | Impact estimation | Impact analysis Impact estimation | Technology assessment Defining the components of innovation Illustration of the alternative innovation pathways | ||||||
Identifying possible options for action Completing the impact analysis | Identifying the decision-making tools Identifying possible options and tools for action | Analyzing the policies | Analyzing the alternative policies | Policy analysis | Determining the achievements and applications Analyzing the outcomes, impacts, and policy decisions | Decision-making with multi-criteria methodology | Delineating the promising innovation pathways Identifying the leverage points Determining policy options | 5- Analyzing and disseminating converging technology development policies: 5–1- Adopting a strategy based on scenarios designed for each cluster | |
Conclusion and suggestions | Transferring the results | Conclusion and suggestions | Risk control and reduction Presenting the results in the form of a scenario | Announcing the ranking of the alternatives | Presenting the innovation pathways Determining possible policies and managerial actions |
Case Study
Defining the Problem of Converging Technologies Assessment
Understanding the Dimensions of Converging Technologies
Achievements | References |
---|---|
Improving the quality of human life | |
Improving and developing positive social outcomes | |
Increasing economic growth | [12] |
Increasing security and defense power | |
Rapid scientific progress | |
Achieving sustainable development | |
Improving the country's innovation ranking | |
Better environmental protection |
Challenges | References |
---|---|
Lack of culture in technology application | |
Limitation of financial resources | |
Lack of proper rules for technology application | |
Ignoring stakeholders' opinions in the design and development of converging technologies | |
Low social perception and acceptance of converging technologies | |
Weakness in commercialization | |
Excessive emphasis on the widespread use of the title converging technologies |
Forecasting the Future of Converging Technologies
Row | Combination of converging technologies | Number of initial development pathways | Number of approved development pathways |
---|---|---|---|
1 | NB | 16 | 16 |
2 | NI | 14 | 13 |
3 | NC | 5 | 3 |
4 | BI | 9 | 8 |
5 | BC | 18 | 15 |
6 | IC | 13 | 13 |
7 | NBI | 3 | 3 |
8 | NBC | 2 | 2 |
9 | NIC | 4 | 3 |
10 | BIC | 1 | 1 |
Total | 85 | 77 |
Gender | Male: 22 | Female: 17 | Unknown: 6 | |
Education level | Ph.D.: 9 | Ph.D. student: 10 | M.Sc.: 20 | Below M.Sc.: 6 |
Number of specialized areas of each expert | Single specialty: 18 | Multiple specialties: 27 | ||
Number of answered specialized areas (overlapping) | Biotechnology: 42 | Nanotechnology: 34 | Information technology: 33 | Cognitive sciences: 36 |
Row | NI CTDPs | Test value = 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
t | df | Sig. (2-tailed) | Mean difference | 95% confidence interval of the difference | |||
Lower | Upper | ||||||
1 | Big data storage, management, and retrieving | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
2 | Ultra-thin electronic chips | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
3 | Ultrasensitive nanosensors for the detection of explosives | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
4 | Quantum cryptography | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
5 | Nanoelectronics | 5.196 | 3 | .014 | 1.5000 | .581 | 2.419 |
6 | Nanophotonics | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
7 | Detection of chemical agents based on photonic fibers or infrared nanoparticle quantum dot systems | 5.196 | 3 | .014 | 1.5000 | .581 | 2.419 |
8 | Internet-based distance analysis for modeling and simulation | 5.196 | 3 | .014 | 1.5000 | .581 | 2.419 |
9 | Computer simulation for modeling through nanostructure behavior | 2.611 | 3 | .080 | 1.2500 | − .273 | 2.773 |
10 | Faster data traffic in data centers with photonics technology | 5.196 | 3 | .014 | 1.5000 | .581 | 2.419 |
11 | Improvement of image quality and nanosensor systems | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
12 | Decoding with a complicated quantum computer simulator | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
13 | Network enhancement through the application of nanophotonics technologies in the construction of communication devices | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
14 | SERS, RERS, and SORS in Forensics | 7.000 | 3 | .006 | 1.7500 | .954 | 2.546 |
Short-term | Mid-term | Long-term | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nanoelectronics | Big data storage, management, and retrieving | Nanophotonics | Network enhancement through the application of nanophotonics technologies in the construction of communication devices | Improvement of image quality and nanosensor systems | Ultrasensitive nanosensors for the detection of explosives | Ultra-thin electronic chips |
Internet-based distance analysis for modeling and simulation | SERS, RERS, and SORS in Forensics | Detection of chemical agents based on photonic fibers or infrared nanoparticle quantum dot systems | Decoding with a complicated quantum computer simulator | Faster data traffic in data centers with photonics technology | Quantum cryptography |
Social achievements | Challenges | ||
---|---|---|---|
Description | No. of confirming experts | Description | No. of confirming experts |
Improving the quality of human life | 10 | Lack of culture in technology application | 6 |
Improving and developing positive social outcomes | 6 | Limitation of financial resources | 4 |
Increasing economic growth | 6 | Lack of proper rules for technology application | 5 |
Increasing security and defense power | 13 | Ignoring public/stakeholders’ opinions in the design and development of converging technologies | 2 |
Rapid scientific progress | 4 | Low social perception and acceptance of converging technologies | 1 |
Achieving sustainable development | 3 | Weakness in commercialization | 2 |
Improving the country’s innovation ranking | 5 | Excessive emphasis on the widespread use of the title converging technologies | 2 |
Better environmental protection | 5 | ||
Total votes of achievements | 52 | Total votes of challenges | 22 |
Average for achievements (No. of Questionnaires: 26) | 2 | Average for challenges (No. of Questionnaires: 26) | 0.85 |
Evaluating the Prospects of Converging Technologies
Analysis and Dissemination of Converging Technologies Development Policies
Scenario
|
Strategy
|
Area
|
CTDP
|
---|---|---|---|
Disregard
| Market Exit | 1 | Machine intelligence with MEMS and NEMS (NC) |
Flexible sensors for body control (BI) | |||
Thought-provoking opportunity
| Conditional Effort | 2 | Detection of chemical agents based on photonic fibers or infrared nanoparticle quantum dot systems (NI) |
Nanocapsules to generate portable energy sources for soldiers (NB) | |||
Lucky Benefit
| Conditional Exploitation | 3 | Improvement of learning capabilities through an artificial neural network (IC) |
Pioneering
| Investment | 4 | Bio-camouflage in biomimetic (BC) |
Scenario
|
Scenario 1:
Disregard
|
Scenario 3:
Lucky Benefit
| |||||||||||
Long-Term
|
2
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mid-Term
|
22
| 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Short-Term
|
1
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scenario
|
Scenario 2:
Thought-provoking opportunity
|
Scenario 4: Pioneering
| |||||||||||
Long-Term
|
5
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Mid-Term
|
37
| 13 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
Short-Term
|
1
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Paired Combination- Converging Technologies
|
NB
|
NI
|
NC
|
BI
|
BC
|
IC
|
NB
|
NI
|
NC
|
BI
|
BC
|
IC
| |
Total CTDPs for Paired Combinations
| 13 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
Scenario
|
Scenario 1: Disregard
|
Scenario 3: Lucky Benefit
| |||||||
Long-Term
|
0
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mid-Term
|
5
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Short-Term
|
0
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scenario
|
Scenario 2: Thought-provoking Opportunity
|
Scenario 4: Pioneering
| |||||||
Long-Term
|
1
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mid-Term
|
3
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Short-Term
|
0
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Triple Combination- Converging Technologies
|
NBC
|
NIC
|
NIB
|
BIC
|
NBC
|
NIC
|
NIB
|
BIC
| |
Total CTDPs for Triple Combinations
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Conclusion
Period of development | Strategy | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Pioneering | Lucky benefit | Thought-provoking opportunity | Disregard | |
Short-term | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Medium-term | 10 | 8 | 30 | 19 |
Long-term | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Technology | Strategy | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Pioneering | Lucky Benefit | Thought-provoking Opportunity | Disregard | |
Biotechnology (B) | 7 | 5 | 24 | 9 |
Nanotechnology (N) | 3 | 3 | 24 | 10 |
Information technology (I) | 6 | 6 | 14 | 14 |
Cognitive science (C) | 10 | 4 | 11 | 13 |