Nanotechnology market analysis in Poland
Nanotechnology is one of today's fastest-developing interdisciplinary fields. It combines physics, chemistry, biology, biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, computer science and engineering, among others. It is a special kind of technology that uses techniques and methods with atomic and molecular precision. These make it possible to manufacture exceptional products.
Advances in this field have led to new products, including very light structural materials with high mechanical strength, stain-resistant and antibacterial fabrics, self-cleaning anti-reflective coatings, low-temperature fuel cells, supercapacitors and devices implanted in the body to monitor health.
Because nanotechnologies can be, and are, used in many industries and segments, new scientific fields have emerged, such as nanomedicine, spintronics, nanoelectronics, nanobiology and nanobiotechnology.
How many companies in Poland use nanotechnology?
According to Statistics Poland (GUS), in 2019 86 enterprises used nanotechnology to produce intermediate and final goods and/or conducted research and development activity in nanotechnology. Of these, 21 enterprises used nanotechnology only in production. There were 43 companies using it only in research and development (R&D) activity, and 24 using it both in R&D and in production.
| Type of activity | Number of enterprises |
|---|---|
| Total (production and/or R&D) | 86 |
| Production only | 21 |
| R&D only | 43 |
| Both R&D and production | 24 |
For 62 of these enterprises, the dominant area of nanotechnology application was nanomaterials. Four enterprises were engaged in nanomedicine. Two companies each were engaged in modelling and simulation software, nanobiotechnology, nanoelectronics and nano-optics. One enterprise each operated in the areas of filtration and membranes and of nanoscale tools. Nine enterprises used nanotechnology in other areas.
In 2019, 3,137 people were involved in nanotechnology activity (both in scientific units and in enterprises). Of these, 1,039 worked in enterprises. Research and development activity involved 2,527 people, including 1,009 women.
| Category | Number of people |
|---|---|
| Total (scientific units and enterprises) | 3,137 |
| In enterprises | 1,039 |
| In research and development activity | 2,527 |
| of whom women (R&D) | 1,009 |
Research and development activity in nanotechnology was conducted by 147 entities, of which the business enterprise sector accounted for the largest share (55.8%). Enterprises most often cooperate on nanotechnology with universities and other enterprises. In 2019, 32.6% of enterprises had a research cooperation agreement in R&D activity with foreign enterprises, universities or institutions.
How is nanotechnology activity in Poland financed?
In 2019, PLN 282.8 m was allocated to nanotechnology activity, of which 87.6% came from enterprises' own funds. Compared with the previous year, expenditure on nanotechnology activity increased by 3.1%.
PLN 61.5 m was spent on R&D activity, which accounted for 21.7% of total expenditure on nanotechnology. In 2018, the figure was 16.3%. The higher education sector had the largest share in intramural expenditure on research and development in nanotechnology (65.3%). The shares of the business enterprise sector and of the government sector together with the private non-profit sector were 32.9% and 1.8% respectively.
| Sector | Share of expenditure (%) |
|---|---|
| Higher education | 65.3 |
| Business enterprise | 32.9 |
| Government and private non-profit | 1.8 |
In 2019, 26 enterprises tried to raise funds for nanotechnology projects, of which 11 entities obtained such funds. Six enterprises obtained the full amount they had applied for, while 5 companies received lower amounts. Companies mainly use their own infrastructure and equipment (75% of them do so).
The value of product sales in the enterprises analysed amounted to PLN 7,307.4 m in 2019. Of this, PLN 861.3 m (11.8%) came from sales of nanotechnology products. Year on year, the value of sales of nanotechnology products increased by 13.1%.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Expenditure on nanotechnology activity | PLN 282.8 m |
| Share of enterprises' own funds in expenditure | 87.6% |
| Increase in expenditure y/y | 3.1% |
| Expenditure on R&D activity | PLN 61.5 m |
| R&D share of total expenditure (2018: 16.3%) | 21.7% |
| Enterprises that tried to raise funds for projects | 26 |
| Enterprises that obtained funds | 11 |
| Value of product sales in the enterprises analysed | PLN 7,307.4 m |
| Sales of nanotechnology products | PLN 861.3 m (11.8%) |
| Increase in sales of nanotechnology products y/y | 13.1% |
The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) provides information on existing nanomaterials in the EU market. Its database contains 340 unique substances/articles. Since 1 January 2020, companies manufacturing or importing nanoforms have been subject to specific legal requirements.
Author: Marta Dzienkiewicz
Sources:
This text is not a full market analysis of the kind we carry out for our clients. This publication contains only selected information about the market, which we can explore in more depth and expand on as a custom project.
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