A History of the Commercial Exploitation of Miniaturisation Technologies and Their Products

A History of the Commercial Exploitation of Miniaturisation Technologies and their Products is a record of the development of these technologies and their products from the early 1990s to 2024. Being, a prominent part of the so-called twenty-first century’s Fourth Industrial Revolution, they produced a transformative impact across various industries. Advances were based on innovative manufacturing methodologies in micro and nanotechnologies, some examples of which are laptop computers and tablets, smart mobile phones, high resolution flat screen televisions, airbag sensors, inkjet printer heads and diagnostic tools for use in medicine.

The book highlights why and how new international organisations were established with a mission to specifically foster and accelerate the commercialisation of these technologies and their products by bringing together academic researchers, relevant companies, government representatives and funding agencies to share knowledge and experiences at a series of unique annual international conferences, workshops, and networking events. The author, David Tolfree, details these in the book together with chapters on the paths to commercialisation and a forward look on how such emerging technologies will continue to change the way people work and live in the future.