Emerging Technologies Can Revive Manufacture
Emerging New Technologies Help Develop Knowledge-Based Industries
Feb 25, 2009
Traditional resource-based manufacturing industries are moving from high-cost developed countries to low-cost developing countries. In fact, one criteria for development is the dominance of service industries such as banking,insurance and distribution services over the manufacturing sector. As we are seeing now, dependence on service industries alone can lead to very serious problems.
Knowledge Based Industries and Developed Nations
Developed countries have a much better infrastructure for education, training and research, all of which are key inputs to develop an environment for knowledge-based innovation. By building on this advantage, they can rebuild a strong manufacturing sector. It is manufacturing that adds solid wealth in the economy, unlike excessive speculation and extremely complicated financial instruments.
European Union's MANUFUTURE High Level Group of experts have arleady begun discussions to "transform manufacturing from a resource-based to a knowledge-based activity delivering products of higher added value". One of their main responsibilities is to "improve the public image of manufacturing in order to attract and retain future talent capable of generating and applying the new knowledge".
In this article, we look at the top emerging technologies.
NBIC - the Emerging Technologies
NBIC stands for Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology and Cognitive science.
Nanotechnology: "Nano-technology mainly consists of the processing of, separation, consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or by one molecule." - Norio Taniguchi, 1974. It seeks to develop materials or devices of 100 nanometers or smaller. At nano levels, the properties of materials change (often with unpredictable side effects such a toxicity). These changed properties can come in useful in electronics, medicine and solar panels, for example. Nanotechnology is more a promise than reality now, however.
Biotechnology: "Any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use." - United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. It started with modifications of native plants into improved food crops through artificial selection and hybridization. Phama products, crops with improved yields and resistance to environment, and food with increased nutrition, taste, texture and appearanceare are some of the areas where biotechnology is used now.
Information Technology: IT is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." Information Technology Association of America. It is practiced through computer hardware engineering, designing software and databases, networking, data management, and management and administration of information systems. Applications are numerous, and include Internet business, MIS, cellular hardware, 3G networks, electronic products, IT services, gaming and security.
Cognitive Science: It is defined as the study of the nature of intelligence, and draws upon varied disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, computer science, sociology and biology. Cognitive science helps with such human issues as attention, learning and development, memory, perception and language processing, as well as issues like artificial intelligence.
Emerging technologies promise a manufacturing scenario where knowledge is more important than raw materials and labor. This has the potential of providing a solution to the problem of job losses in developed countries caused by movement of traditional manufacturing to low cost developing countries.
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