Nanotechnology is a vast interdisciplinary field of research and development. In early 1959, the distinguished Nobel Prize winner, physical scientist Richard Feynman predicted that small machine can be used to create machine which is smaller than itself, which turn into that man could create product by sequencing atoms one by one on basis of human desire. This is the earliest dream of nanotechnology.

In the 70s of 20 century, scientists began looking at all aspects of the situation on nanotechnology.

In 1974, scientist Taniguchi was the first one using word "nanotechnology" to describe the precise machine work.

In 1974, Professor E. Drexler of MIT, the student of Feynman, had once advocated the research of nanotechnology. However, this opinion was skeptical to most of the scientists in mainstream.

In 1982, scientist invented an important research instrument of nanotechnology --scanning tunneling microscope, which opened out a visible world of atom and molecule and positively accelerated the development of nanotechnology. Japanese physical scientist UETA RYOUNI discovered material of nanometer when researching the electron microscope, which indicated the systematic research on variability of nanomaterial by human being.

In 1984, a German scientist pressed 6 nm metal powder into nanoparticle, which is the first nanomaterial in the world.

In 1986, E.Drexler presented the concept of Molecular Nanotechnology in his book"Engines of Creation" for the first time.

In 1988, the study on "Laser-induced autofluorescence diagnosis system for early colorectal cancer" was launched by Prof. Zhang Yangde. The transmission materials, which was for collecting the transmitted autofluorescence, which was adopted by microfabrication, Pro. Zhang has initially given the view to use the nanofibromaterials to transmit autofluorescence to reduce its loss during transmission. This technique will improve the early diagnosis rate of colorectal cancer.

In July 1990, the first international conference of nanotechnology was held at Baltimore of USA, the same time with the 5th international conference of scanning tunneling microscope. Meanwhile, two international journals on "Nanotechnology" and "Nanobiotechnology" came out in succession. Recently, a technological journal named "Nanoscience" which is founded by Prof. Zhang Yangde, etc. will be published in U.S.A. This brand-new science with high-technology-nanotechnology gained worldwide attention since then.

In 1991, the international directing committee of nanotechnology divided nanotechnology into six subdisciplines: nanoelectronics, nanophysics, nanochemistry, nanoprocessing, nanobiology, nanometrology. Carbon nanotube was discovered whose quality is six times as steel with same volume, and the intensity is ten times as steel. This discovery became the hotspot in the research of nanotechnology. The chemistry winner of Nobel Prize Prof. RESmally regarded the carbon nanotube as the best choice for future fiber material, as well as the application of ultramicro lead, ultramicro switch, electronic nanocircuit, and so on.

In 1993, since Stanford University wrote the English name of itself by atom group, and the IBM corporate use 36 Xe sequenced "IBM"by nickel in 1990, the Beijng Vacuum Physic Laboratory from Chinese Academy of Science successfully wrote the tow Chinese character of "China" by control atom, which signed our country had stood a position of prestige in the field of nanotechnology.

In 1994, Prof. Zhang Yangde studied on the albumin doxorubicin treatment on terminal stages of liver cancer and the study the carrier of nanodrug, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine of nanodrug(nano-TCM) started in 1997 and rapid diagnosis system. The research process is on clinical stage and is applying for the patent of USA, Russia and China.

In 1997, American scientist successfully moved the single electron by single electron. This technology was expected to be adopted in the research of thousands quantum computer whose speed and storage capacity was of greater advantages.

In 1999, scientists from Brazil and America invented the smallest "steelyard" in the world when doing the experiment of carbon nanotube. This tiny steelyard can measure weight of one billionth, which means the weight of a virus. Not long after that, a German scientist invented a steelyard which is able to weigh a single atom, which broke the record built by the Brazil and American scientists.

Till the year of 2000, the globally annul production value of nanotechnology had reached to 50 billion dollars. It is predicated that the number will be over 300 billion dollars in 2010.
In March of 2000, the president of America Clinton released the plan of promoting nanotechnology in his country, the headline is "Nanotechnology-- solicitation of the next industrial revolution", and this report had sent shock waves all around world. China, Japan, European countries began with its disposal in succession, and other developing countries also considered nanotechnology as the strategical decision to be carried out. Japan had established a research center of nanomaterial, and nanotechnology was listed in the key project plan of R&D in the coming five years; Germany had built a CeNTech of nanotechnology; America treat nanotechnology as core of the next industrial revolution, and the basic research investment on this field funded by the government increased from 116 million 1997 in to 925 million in 2005.

In 2002, European Union officially pushed out The Sixth Framework Programme(2002-2006)enhancing itself into the international standard in field of nanotechnology, putting its scientific pay-off into competitive advantage in industry. From 2002 to 2006, the European Union had appropriated fund 1.3 billion Eurodollars on the research and development of nanotechnology. Meanwhile, Japanese government started carrying out the "Development Plan of Nanotechnological Medical Appliance", this plan focused on developing endoscope at millimeter level as well as various miniature medical appliance,  which shooting its aim at clinic use during 5~10 years. Specific items in this plan mainly embodies: 1 millimeters diameter of miniature endoscope,  miniature medical appliance that can deeply reach into in vivo, hyperfine cell imagery device for inspecting activity of protein, drug supply system which can give the drug effeciently to pathogen cells, etc.

During the period of the "10th Five year" project, the Chinese government imbursed the research of nanotechnology in fields such as the high-tech plan of "863", the basic research plan of "973", the national science and technology plan to tackle key problem.

In 2000, when he met Bai Chunli, Standing Vice President of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Premier Zhu Rongji said that China will invest 0.5 billion Renminbi and 2.5 billion altogether within 5 years to develop nanotechnology. National Nanotechnology Coordinate and Supervisory Committee was founded on January 18, 2001 and organized the experts to draft out the Outline of Chinese Nanotechnology Development. Outline proposes that these works should be carried on: in addition to the support of ongoing projects, carrying out some special nano research, establishing two technical platforms and some key labs, layout of some nanoproject demonstrative center, establishing some demonstrative industries and eradiating some related industries.

In 2001, nano artificial bone has been successfully developed by Li Yubao, Doctor Tutor in Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, and has been checked and accepted by the committee of 863 project.

In Dec. 2002, the National Key Laboratory of Nanobiological Technology was held, and ahead of the national Ministry and committees, it focused on the combination of scientific research, education and clinical on nanobiotechnology. The director and Prof. Zhang Yangde had studied on the albumin doxorubicin treatment on terminal stages of liver cancer from 1994, along with the research process on clinical stage.

In March 22nd, 2003, China established "National Center for Nanoscience and Technology" in order to lead the Chinese integration of strategical planning on all areas of nanotechnology. Its director is academician Bai Chunli.

In 2003, a self-setting injectable nano bone putty was co-developed by National Hepatobiliary and Enteric Surgery Center, Ministry of Health, P.R. China and Berkeley Advanced Biomaterials Limited. USA. The product has already been applied in clinical experiments in China and USA for many years. This material is highly biocompatible and non-pyrogenic. From the 6th week to 8th week after transplantation, regeneration of bone can be noticed in the radiography. And at the same time, the putty can be absorbed by human body.

In 2003, France started to carry out the national 3-year-plan of nanotechnology: from 2003 to 2005, 50 million Eurodollars would be appropriated for basic research funds of nanotechnology; 5 research center of nanotechnology and project of national research net for macron and nanotech would be set up; the center of electronic nanotechnology of France, the "Union-Krol 2" which is the biggest industrial investment project in France were started up at Feb 27th , 2003.

In 2003, the global research fund on nanotechnology research amounted to 3 billion dollars.

In 2004, the annul finance budget of America for research of nanotechnology was nearly 850 million dollars, which was 10% higher than the previous year; president Bush subscribed the " Act on research of nanotechnology in 21st century" in Dec 3rd. 2003, in which it sanctioned a?4-year investment of 3.7 billion dollars started from 2005.

In April 12th~14th, 2005, the Sino-German International Conference on Nanobiotechnology and the establishment of Sino-German Association of Nanobiotechnology were held in Changsha, China. This conference was originated from the 6th governmental meeting by both sides, and was ratified to hold in either country decided after the investigation and research by Ministry of Science from both sides. The National Key Laboratory of Nanobiological Technology, Ministry of Health, was finally directed as the sponsor. During this conference, both sides had signed the protocol of mutual cooperation and communication, and 6 items of mutual collaboration were signed which will be started one by one from Jun. 2005.

In 2007, Korea will appropriate 100 billion (Korean money) on the set-up of " Research Center of Nanotechnology", it will realize the collaboration between universities and companies, which will promote the integration of current project and research facilities of nanotechnology which are separated between universities and companies before. Furthermore, the investment on nanotechnology will rise to 2.04 trillion (Korean money) in 2007.

Nanotechnology is the commanding point of science and technology in 21st century, and it leads the major technology in innovative industrial revolution. The first 20 years in 21st century is the critical period for nanotechnology, which would push the high speed of development and social economic in various fields for the 5th time. Nowadays, nanotechnology becomes an objective principle independent of man's will that replace micro-electronics by nano-electronics, micro-processing by nano-processing, micromaterial by nanomaterial and microbiotechnology by nanobiotechnology, from which we would hold the perch in future pattern of economic competition.