Enabling
technology futures:
a survey of the Australian technology
landscape
Executive report
September 2012
This executive report summarises Enabling technology futures: a survey of the Australian
technology landscape, a report commissioned by the Australian Government Department of
Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education on behalf of the National
Enabling Technologies Strategy Expert Forum.
Enabling technology futures: a survey of the Australian technology landscape.
Executive report. September 2012
Disclaimer
This report provides insight into the future of enabling technologies and areas of convergence.
The Commonwealth, its officers and employees do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability
whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance of
the material contained in this report. This report is not meant to constitute professional advice
and any persons should seek competent professional advice. The Australian Government accepts
no liability whatsoever for any loss to any person resulting from the use of this material.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2012
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part
may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth.
Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the
Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, GPO Box 9839,
Canberra ACT 2601.
ISBN 978-1-922125-60-6
Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (2012). Enabling
technology futures: a survey of the Australian technology landscape—Executive report.
DIISTRE, Canberra.
Written and designed by Biotext, Canberra
Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
Level 10, Industry House, 10 Binara Street, Canberra City
GPO Box 9839, Canberra, ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6213 6548
Website: www.innovation.gov.au
Contents
Summary ............................................................................................................................ 1
Enabling technologies have broad applications ...................................................... 1
Enabling technologies are rapidly developing ........................................................ 1
Enabling technologies may help to address some of Australia’s national
challenges.................................................................................................... 1
Enabling technologies bring a range of potential risks that must be managed ....... 2
Background ........................................................................................................................ 3
What are enabling technologies? ............................................................................. 3
What are the key trends and drivers that influence enabling technologies?............ 3
The technologies ................................................................................................................. 5
What is nanotechnology and what can it do? .......................................................... 5
What is biotechnology and what can it do? ............................................................. 7
What is synthetic biology and what can it do? ...................................................... 10
Summary of enabling technology developments .................................................. 12
The impact and uptake of enabling technologies .......................................................... 14
How might enabling technologies help meet our national challenges? ................ 14
How might enabling technologies disrupt existing industry? ............................... 15
What are the key factors affecting the development and uptake of enabling
technologies? ............................................................................................ 16
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 18
Glossary ............................................................................................................................ 19
References ......................................................................................................................... 20
Summary
Enabling technologies have broad applications
Enabling technologies have the potential to underpin an increasing number of breakthrough
innovations in products, services and processes, and to help address major global and national
challenges. Enabling technologies are being applied across many areas such as manufacturing,
energy production, agriculture, health, consumer products, computing and communication.
They have the potential to dramatically change these areas through rapid and often radical
development.
There are key global trends that influence the development of enabling technologies and their
applications. These include population and economic growth and change, and subsequent
environmental pressures.
Enabling technologies are rapidly developing
Key enabling technologies include nanotechnology, biotechnology and synthetic biology.
Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale (from 1 to
100 nanometres), which provides opportunities for the development of entirely new materials
and technologies. Biotechnology is the use and manipulation of living systems and organisms to
develop new products. Synthetic biology combines engineering principles and biotechnology to
design and construct new biological components and systems that are not found in nature.
Billions of dollars worldwide have already been invested in these high-potential technologies.
We are seeing rapid advances and new applications in all areas, supported by the development
of new research tools and platforms.
In addressing population growth and change, enabling technologies are delivering crops,
livestock care and farming practices to increase food supplies; ways to improve the nutrition and
safety of our food; and ways to diagnose, prevent and treat human and animal disease.
In addressing economic growth and change, enabling technologies are delivering new materials
with new properties for a wide range of products; raw materials from nonpetroleum sources;
methods to improve mining productivity; and new manufacturing systems.
In addressing growth in environmental pressures, enabling technologies are delivering systems
to produce, store and transmit energy; biofuels to supplement or replace fossil fuels; methods to
treat and recycle water; methods to reduce water use in farming, industry and the home; and
methods for environmental remediation.
Enabling technologies may help to address some of Australia’s national
challenges
Enabling technologies have the potential to make a significant contribution to addressing the
national and global challenges we face. However, a number of key factors will affect the
development and uptake of the technologies.
In research and development, Australia has world-class strengths in enabling technology.
Australia will need to continue its research and target it to best effect to remain globally
competitive. In addition, enabling technologies will only reach their potential if they are
successfully translated into the market, requiring sound commercialisation structures and good
collaboration between research and industry. A robust regulatory framework is also important to
1
ensure Australia gets maximum benefit from the new technologies (ie to prevent market failure,
support the industry, encourage responsible uptake and use, and encourage investment and
commercialisation).
Enabling technologies bring a range of potential risks that must be managed
The new technologies may present risks to human and environmental health and safety, and
many people are concerned about their potential broader ethical and societal impacts. The new
technologies may disrupt or displace existing technologies and processes. Research into possible
risks; regulation of the technologies and their applications; and open engagement with the
community on these issues will be needed.
2
Background
What are enabling technologies?
An enabling technology is a technology that can drive radical change in the capabilities of a user
or culture, enabling radically new products or services, or more efficient processes. Enabling
technologies are characterised by rapid development of derivative technologies and applications,
often across a wide range of areas such as manufacturing, communication, energy production,
health and agriculture.
This executive report aims to increase understanding of enabling technologies and the role they
might play in addressing Australia’s current and future national challenges. It focuses on the
enabling technologies of nanotechnology, biotechnology and synthetic biology. These can be
interconnected and many developments and applications draw on a combination of these new
technologies.
What are the key trends and drivers that influence enabling technologies?
Changes to industry and society will influence the development of enabling technologies and,
most importantly, what they are used for. The key trends influencing enabling technologies are
population and economic growth and change, and growth in environmental pressures. This
report provides details of how enabling technologies might address these areas.
Population growth and change
Australia’s population is growing. Over the next 40 years the rate of growth is projected to be
1.2 per cent annually, with the population reaching more than 35 million in 2050.1 A growing
Australian and global population will drive a need for more resources of all kinds, including
food, fuel, building and consumer products. Satisfying the need for food will require new
farming and production processes. Satisfying the need for raw materials will require new use
and recycling processes.
Australia’s population is also ageing. The proportion of the population aged 65 or over is
expected to rise from 13.5 per cent in 2010 to 22.7 per cent in 2050.2 Change in the age structure
of the population is likely to affect the use of resources, since different age groups have different
needs (eg an ageing population is likely to increase demand for health and related support
services).
Economic growth and change
The last 20 years have seen the development of a global economy, supported by digital
information networks and communication. Businesses increasingly work across national borders
and rapid knowledge transfer has changed many areas of society and industry. We are also
seeing increasing demand for commodities and products in developing countries, which are
being satisfied by the exports of developed countries such as Australia.
Globalisation also means that research and development occurs in an international context, and
it is important to understand where Australia can leverage its expertise in enabling technologies
to best effect in the world market.
3
Growth in environmental pressures
Population and economic growth and the associated increase in the need for resources place
pressure on the environment. Increased waste from population and economic growth will require
new methods for reducing, managing, treating and recycling waste. Fossil fuels will continue to
diminish in supply and increase in cost, with a subsequent increased demand for alternative and
sustainable energy sources, and for energy-efficient systems and devices. There is also a demand
for lower carbon emissions to reduce the impact of climate change.
4
The technologies
What is nanotechnology and what can it do?
Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale—
approximately 1 to 100 nanometres. At this scale the laws of physics do not operate in
conventional ways. This provides opportunities for the development of entirely new materials
and technologies. Opportunities enabled by nanotechnologies are vast and span multiple
industries. Nanotechnology is a key technology for the future and governments around the world
have invested billions of dollars in its development.3 The global nanotechnology market was
valued at approximately US$15.7 billion in 2010 and is forecast to reach US$26.7 billion by
2015.4
Nanotechnology encompasses the development of:
•
nanotools and platforms, which enable researchers to visualise, engineer and manipulate
matter at the atomic level
•
nanomaterials and components, which include materials that have an external dimension,
internal structure or surface structure in the nanoscale; nanomaterials include metals,
ceramics and semiconductors
•
nanodevices and systems, which include a range of devices made using nanostructures.
This executive report examines how enabling technologies may assist in addressing population
growth and change, economic growth and change, and growth in environmental pressures.
However, it is difficult to categorise nanotechnology developments because many have
applications across a wide spectrum of industries and endeavours. The developments detailed
below are likely to also have applications in other fields.
Addressing population growth and change
Nanomedicine: Nanomedicine covers a very wide range of applications, including diagnostics
and imaging, therapeutics and drug delivery systems, manufactured nanomaterials and
nanodevices, and nanodentistry. Nanodevices are already being used in cancer therapy.5 There is
currently research into ‘smart’ nanodevices that are capable of detecting and terminating tumour
cells inside the body. Other nanotechnologies being developed for health applications include
regenerative nanoparticles, nanoengineered blood, biocompatible nanomaterials, and
supramagnetic nanoparticles for use in magnetic resonance imaging.6
Nanotechnology is significantly influencing the area of drug delivery. Nanodevices are being
developed for oral, implantable, topical, pulmonary and other routes of drug delivery,7 including
new technologies such as needle-free injectors. Manufactured nanomaterials are emerging that
may enable novel therapeutic delivery systems, including: 8
•
nanobombs: modified spheres of carbon used for targeted cell destruction—for example, by
delivering drugs within cancer cells
•
nanoshells: hollow spheres of carbon, coated with a metallic layer (usually gold), used as
platforms for delivery, diagnostics and medical devices
•
nanotubes: graphite cylinders, only a few nanometres in diameter, used for drug delivery.
Agriculture: Emerging applications of nanotechnologies for the agricultural and food production
industry include nanoformulated agrochemicals (eg fertilisers, pesticides, biocides, veterinary
medicines, slow-release pesticides) for improved efficacy; safer and more nutritious animal
5
feeds (eg fortified with nanosupplements, antimicrobial additives, detoxifying nanomaterials);
and nanobiosensors for animal disease diagnostics.
Food: The potential applications of nanotechnology in the food industry may lead to improved
absorption of nutrients and supplements; preservation of quality and freshness; and a reduction
in the dietary intake of fat, salt and other food additives. Nanotechnologies are already being
used in food packaging.9
Nanosensors: Nanosensors are fabricated using nanomaterials, nanosized structures or
composites, and are potentially more sensitive than conventional sensors because they detect
chemicals at concentrations of only a few molecules. Nanosensors are another area with a wide
range of applications, including in:
•
health care, to monitor the health of patients and consumers
•
agriculture, to monitor the health of crops and livestock and to manage water resources by
adjusting input to crop and animal needs
•
food, to monitor the levels of bacteria and other important indicators.
Addressing economic growth and change
Nanotubes: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the most rapidly developing areas of
nanostructure development. CNTs exhibit properties unequalled by conventional materials or
other nanomaterials. These properties include exceptional mechanical strength and flexibility,
and high electrical and thermal conductivity. Some of the potential applications include:
•
aeronautical and automotive applications, with lightweight CNT structures reducing fuel
needs
•
electronic applications for devices with greater strength and performance
•
flame-retardant applications, including in aircraft, building materials, electronic packaging,
and fibre-optic cable cladding.
Nanopolymers: Nanopolymers are engineered to create different structural and functional
applications, ranging from polymers with improved biodegradability to new adhesives and novel
electrical conductors.
Nanocoatings: Nanocoatings can improve the performance and durability of a range of
materials and devices. Many industries already use nanocoatings, including the transportation,
textiles, energy, military and security, health care, construction, food and beverages, and
electronics industries.10
Nanoelectronics: Nanomaterials can be used in the manufacture of electronic and computer
components and devices such as transistors, sensors, memories and display devices. The rapid
increase in market demand for portable computing devices is driving significant research and
development in this area.
The field of computer and data storage is also looking to nanotechnology to improve
performance. Nonvolatile random access memory, a technology that uses carbon nanotubes, is
expected to be commercialised before 2015.11 Micro-electromechanical systems are expected to
impact a wide range of data storage technologies,12 and other new memory technologies include
magnetic random access memory or ferroelectric memory.13
Spintronics, an aspect of nanotechnology that uses the spin of electrons to transfer information
(rather than the electron charge, as in conventional devices), could also significantly reduce
device size and power needs.
6
Nanosensors: Nanosensors for industry include those for:
•
safety and security, to sense toxic or flammable gas, chemicals or biological threats in a
range of locations including mines, heavy industry or homes
•
the automotive industry, to enhance performance, minimise cost, improve reliability and
reduce environmental impact when designing new vehicles.
Smart materials: Smart materials sense and respond to changes in external environments such as
magnetic or electric fields, temperature, pressure or chemical conditions. Their response can be
used as a sensor or as a trigger. Potential applications for smart materials include coatings,
composite materials, energy-related materials, nanoelectronics, sensors, catalysts and fuel cells.
Addressing growth in environmental pressures
Energy: Nanotechnology can be applied to new and existing energy systems. These include
energy conversion (hydrogen fuel cells, thin film and organic solar cells), energy storage
(batteries, hydrogen storage and supercapacitors) and energy transmission (superconducting
systems). For example, Australian researchers are significantly improving the performance of
thin photovoltaic cells by using ‘nanoantennas’ to transmit the light directly inside the cell.14
Water: Nanotechnologies can be used in water supply, including treatment and remediation,
sensing and detection, and pollution prevention. In Australia, the water industry already uses
nanotechnologies to detect and treat contaminated water.15 Nanotechnologies are expected to
also play a role in water resource management. In agriculture, water management systems using
wireless nanosensor technologies will provide rapid and accurate responses to environmental
changes, with the advantages of being robust and very small.
Environmental protection and remediation: Nanotechnologies can be applied to prevent, reduce
or contain pollutants. Applications include containment or breakdown of toxic compound spills,
and effective recycling and green technologies.
Nanosensors: Environmental nanosensors include those to detect environmental pollution in the
air, soil or water.
Geoengineering: Geoengineering is an intentional, large-scale intervention in the Earth’s
oceans, soils or atmosphere, with the aim of combating climate change. Nanotechnology may
replace or supplement existing technologies aimed at carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation
management. Geoengineering is mostly at the conceptual and research stages.
What is biotechnology and what can it do?
Biotechnology is the use and manipulation of living systems and organisms to develop useful
products. It has a long history, beginning in plant cultivation and hybridisation, and is usually
seen in agriculture, food production and medicine. Recent advances in molecular biology and
genomics research are driving rapid growth in the biotechnology industry. These include new
DNA sequencing techniques that can sequence genomes faster and at a lower cost; advances in
computational biology to support the analysis of large and complex data sets including gene
sequences; and new techniques in stem cell, recombinant DNA and RNA interference
technologies that are used in genetic therapies.
Biotechnology and nanotechnology are also converging in ‘nanobiotechnology’. Many of the
applications described below, particularly those in health and medicine, include aspects of
nanotechnology in their development.
The global biotechnology market was valued at approximately US$219 billion in 2010 and is
forecast to reach US$318 billion by 2014.16
7
Addressing population growth and change
Genomic medicine: Genomics is the study of all the genes of a cell. Genomics is providing a
better understanding of human biology and disease, and is supporting the development of novel
diagnostic and therapeutic products. Genomics also means that prescription of therapeutic
products may be increasingly guided by the patient’s individual genetic makeup. 17 This practice
is already common for the prescription of abacavir, an antiretroviral drug, and may soon be used
for tamoxifen (a breast cancer drug), clopidogrel (a blood clot inhibitor), and warfarin (a blood
thinning agent).
RNA-based therapeutics: RNA interference (RNAi) is a molecular mechanism that controls the
activity of genes in living cells. RNAi technology harnesses this mechanism to silence or knock
down specific genes. RNAi is being used to create new therapeutics, and to improve disease
resistance and reduce undesirable qualities in plants and animals. A number of RNA-based
therapeutics are undergoing clinical trials.18 RNA therapeutics is predicted to become one of the
fastest growing therapeutic classes in the global pharmaceutical market by 2020.19
Gene therapy: Gene therapy is the insertion of genetic material into an individual’s cells and
tissues as a treatment for disease. To date, gene therapy has had some success and, as of 2007,
more than 1340 gene therapy clinical trials have been completed, with the majority targeting
cancer treatment.20 Recent high-profile clinical studies in gene therapy have reported success in
correcting inherited forms of retinal degeneration, severe combined immunodeficiency and
adrenoleukodystrophy.21
Stem cell therapies: Stem cell therapies use embryonic and reprogrammable adult stem cells to
restore function for people with degenerative diseases. Stem cells from bone marrow have been
used for more than 30 years to treat cancer patients with conditions such as leukaemia and
lymphoma, and other cell-based therapies have been launched more recently, mainly in
dermatology and orthopaedics. There is currently significant investment in the development of
new regenerative therapies for diseases including cardiac disease, autoimmune disorders,
endocrine and metabolic disorders, central nervous system pathology, diabetes, degenerative
liver diseases, degenerative neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, and others. Stem
cell therapies might also be used to repair spinal cord injury.
Regenerative medicine: Stem cells may be used to regenerate cells or organs. So far, proof-of-
concept studies have been successful in regenerating bladders, tracheas and vasculature. 22
Biotechnology companies in the United States are currently in a Phase I clinical trial of a
bladder regeneration platform,23 and Phase II clinical trials for use of stem-cell-derived retinal
cells for patients with Stargardt macular dystrophy.
Genetically modified crops: Genetically modified (GM) crops are widely used. In 2011,
160 million hectares of GM crops were planted in 29 countries.24 Many new GM crops are being
developed. GM crops are generally designed to improve yield or nutrition, increase resistance to
diseases or pests, or deal with adverse conditions such as low water availability, high acidity or
salinity. For example, rice crops have been engineered to synthesise vitamin A;25 virus-resistant
squash and papaya are being cultivated in the United States;26 and drought-tolerant maize is
expected to be released in 2012.27 GM crops may help to meet the increased food needs of a
larger population, and to cope with changing conditions brought about by climate change. They
may also address environmental concerns—for example, by reducing the need for irrigation or
artificial fertilisers. Researchers have produced a GM rice variety that uses nitrogen efficiently
to reduce fertiliser use.28
Livestock production: Biotechnology is already used in a range of ways to improve the
production of livestock, including in aquaculture. These include artificial insemination, disease
8
diagnosis and treatment, and the improvement of nutrient utilisation. Research into genomics
will allow animals and plants to be selected for breeding on their genetic basis.
Research into the development of transgenic animals is not widely supported at present, with a
lack of both public research funding in the area and public acceptance of the technology.
However, transgenic livestock may offer human health and environmental benefits. For
example, research is examining the development of dairy cows with modified milk properties;
and transgenic poultry that are resistant to avian influenza have been developed, reducing the
risk of a global bird flu pandemic.
Addressing economic growth and change
Raw materials: Organic material (‘biomass’) can be used by industry as a source of carbon to
supplement or partially replace fossil carbons (ie oil, coal and gas). Industrial sectors that are
beginning to use biomass include energy, chemicals, plastics, food, textiles, pharmaceuticals,
paper products and building supplies.
Biomining: Biomining processes metal-containing ores using microbiological technology. It is
currently used commercially to extract gold and copper, and to a lesser extent to leach base
metals from ores and concentrates.29 Biomining technologies, including bioleaching, can reduce
the capital costs and environmental pollution associated with metal extraction.
Biohydrometallurgy: Research is finding new ways to use microbes in the mining and water
treatment industries to process ores and concentrates, recover and recycle metals, and remediate
wastewater. The techniques have several advantages over traditional methods, including
improved recovery rates, and low capital and energy costs. Biotechnology can also be used in oil
extraction—microbial enhanced oil recovery uses microorganisms to increase the amount of oil
recoverable from wells.
Reagents: Biotechnology could enable the design of safer chemicals and products for industry.
Biocatalysts would replace existing reagents, providing safer solvents and reaction conditions.30
Addressing growth in environmental pressures
Biofuels: Biofuels are liquid and gaseous fuels derived from organic matter, and they have the
potential to supplement or eventually replace petroleum-based fuels. Falling fuel supplies has
led to increased research and production of biofuels. In 2010, more than 100 billion litres of
biofuels were produced worldwide.31
One area of research aims to improve the speed and efficiency of converting biomass into
biofuels with cleaner and more efficient energy-use profiles. One approach is to create ‘superfermenting’ yeast and bacteria; another is to develop new biomass sources that are more
efficient, reliable, low cost and scalable than current sources. These include byproducts of forest
and agriculture, grasses, algae, oilseeds, and potentially sewage.32
Currently, the biomass needed to produce biofuels comes mostly from purpose-grown crops.
Biotechnology is being used to develop crops that are optimised for the production of biofuel
(see Genetically modified crops, above). New production technologies and sources of biomass
are helping to ensure that biofuel crops do not compete with food crops for growing space.
‘Biorefineries’ are already being used to convert biomass resources into energy (biofuels, power
or heat) and value-added products (chemicals and materials; see Raw materials, above).33
Bioplastics: Bioplastics are derived from renewable biological materials rather than
petrochemicals. Research is developing new plastics with novel properties and improved
9
functionality34 such as flame retardance. Unlike petrochemical-derived plastics, bioplastics may
also be able to decompose to reduce landfill.
What is synthetic biology and what can it do?
Synthetic biology is a new area of research and development that combines engineering
principles and biotechnology to design and construct new biological components and systems
not found in nature. Sales in the global synthetic biology market were valued at approximately
US$0.6 billion in 2010 and are forecast to reach US$4.5 billion by 2015.35
As well as technical applications, synthetic biology is helping to advance scientific knowledge
and understanding. For example, synthetic biology is being used to investigate and explain
complex biological processes such as the functioning of DNA, cells and organisms.
Addressing population growth and change
Medical treatments: Synthetic biology can be used to engineer molecules and cells to produce
novel products or augment the production of current pharmaceuticals. It can also be used to
develop ‘personalised medicine’, which means developing individually tailored, and thereby
more effective, approaches to disease prevention and health care. Synthetic biology could also
develop artificial regulatory circuits to sense and correct metabolic disturbances, such as
those found in diabetes.
Vaccines: The first step in the development of a vaccine is the identification of the microbe
strain, including its unique genetic code, against which the vaccine will be used. Synthetic
biology tools, including rapid, inexpensive DNA sequencing combined with computer
modelling, may decrease production time by accelerating this initial step. For example, one
industry group is developing a database of synthetically created seed viruses for influenza
vaccines to enable more rapid vaccine production by reducing virus identification time.36
Health biosensors: Biosensors can be used to collect quantitative dynamic data about diseases
and conditions in minimally invasive ways. Biosensors also have other applications such as
detecting viruses, bacteria, hormones, drugs, DNA sequences, toxins and warfare agents.37
Synthetic biology and nanotechnology are also converging in developments such as biochips
to monitor health.
Food: Synthetic biology is being used to develop new food plants with desired characteristics.
For example, researchers are developing plants that can produce glycyrrhizin—a compound
found in liquorice root that is 150–300 times sweeter than table sugar. Australian researchers
are also developing high-yield and disease-resistant plant feedstock that can be supplemented
with efficient and environmentally friendly microorganisms to minimise water use and replace
chemical fertilisers.
Addressing economic growth and change
Raw materials: Synthetically manufactured microorganisms in fermentation vats may be
capable of transforming biomass into a wide range of custom chemicals, plastics, fuels,
pharmaceuticals and other high-value compounds.38
Biohydrometallurgy: Synthetic biology has the potential to allow the harvest of coal bed
methane through synthetic microbial digestion.
10
Addressing growth in environmental pressures
Biofuels: Synthetic biology offers the opportunity to greatly increase efficiency and yields of the
production of biofuels; many predict that biofuel products will be the first synthetic biology
products to market.
One approach is using synthetic or modified organisms to generate ethanol from plant matter.
Several Australian companies are developing industrial processes to produce biofuels using
bioengineered organisms. They speculate that fuels from these processes could be on the market
within five years.39
Another area of research is the production of hydrogen. Hydrogen is highly desirable as a fuel
source because it only produces water as a byproduct. Researchers are investigating the
manipulation of bacteria (Escherichia coli) to produce hydrogen in addition to other biofuels.
Researchers are also investigating ways to produce high yields of hydrogen using starch and
water with a synthetic enzymatic pathway.
Palm oil: The proliferation of palm oil plantations at the expense of forest in some countries is
of international concern. The oil palm genome is being decoded and researchers are
investigating synthetic biology methods to produce a replacement oil.40
Bioremediation: Bioremediation is the use of biological systems to treat environmental
contaminants. Microorganisms are being engineered so that they accumulate or degrade
substances such as heavy metals and pesticides.41 The design of biological ‘wetting agents’ or
biosurfactants could also increase the efficiency of bioremediation efforts and minimise the
extent of damage from pollutants.
Environmental biosensors: Laboratory-constructed synthetic biofilms are being developed for
use as environmental biosensors. These sensors could be used, for example, to monitor soil for
nutrient quality or signs of environmental degradation.
11
Summary of enabling technology developments
Enabling technologies and their applications can be at horizon 1 (already being
commercialised), horizon 2 (in development) and horizon 3 (blue sky). Some examples are
shown in Table 1.
12
Table 1
Developments and applications in nanotechnology, biotechnology and synthetic biology
Development
area
Tools and
platforms
Horizon 1: being
commercialised (now)
Atomic force microscopy
Biological detection and
analysis tools
Silica modelling and
simulation tools
Components,
materials and
reagents
Agrosensors
Nanomaterials
Nanopowders
Nanoscale components
Nanowires
Thermoelectric devices
Structures,
devices and
applications
Biological detection devices
Food packaging
Marker-assisted selection
Nanostructured organic
photovoltaics
Passive nanoscale
structures
Pest resistance and
herbicide tolerance
Smart glazing
Somatic cell nuclear transfer
in livestock
Stem cell therapies
Systems
integration and
intelligence
Bioinformatics
Integrated energy storage
systems
Solid-state lighting
Horizon 2: in development
(2012–20)
Molecular and genomic
engineering
Nanofabrication tools
Nanolithography
Regenerative medicine
Techniques to knock out
specific genes (RNA
interference)
Whole genome selection
Advanced stem cell
technology
Biocatalysts
Biomaterials
Biohydrometallurgy
Nanomaterials
Nanomotors
Organs and organ
components
Advanced semiconductors
Bioremediation
Biosensors
Composite structures
Crops with durable disease
resistance
High-efficiency solar cells
Holographic memory
Nanoarrays
Nanoscaffolds
Re-engineered metabolic
pathways
Smart implants
Smart medical devices
Synthesis of active
nanostructures
Biofuels
Biological electronic
interfaces
Bioplastics
Cell-based therapies
Drug delivery systems
Fuel cells
Medical diagnostics
Nanohydrogen production
and storage
Personalised medicine and
therapeutics
Pharmocogenomics
Synthetic tissues
Source: Australian Institute for Commercialisation42
13
Horizon 3: blue sky
(beyond 2020)
Biomolecular engineering
and design tools
Genomic engineering
Advanced enzymes
Biocompatible nanomaterials
Engineered functional
genomes
Metamaterials
Advanced composite
ceramics
Disease-resistant transgenic
livestock
Functional biological
nanostructures
Crops with increased yield
potential
Microbial enhanced oil
recovery
Nanobased semiconductors
Nanojoining
Nanomachines
Nanorobots
Nanosensors
Nanotribology
Self-powered devices
Biofabrication templates
Biomimetic design
processes
Cognitive science integration
Directed self-assembly
systems
Geoengineering
Hydrogen production
Metabolic pathway
engineering
Nanobiotechnology
Nanocomputing
Nanoinformatics
Tissue engineering systems
The impact and uptake of enabling
technologies
How might enabling technologies help meet our national challenges?
Nanotechnology, biotechnology and synthetic biology are delivering a wide range of new
technologies and applications. As has been shown above, these can be used to help meet the
challenges triggered by growth in our population, economy and environmental pressures.
In Australia, there are particular issues in each of these trends that may be aided by enabling
technologies.
Population growth and change
Ageing of the population: Australia’s ageing population profile will mean increased health care
needs, particularly for chronic diseases such as diabetes. It is projected that Australia’s health
expenditure will increase from 4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2009–10 to
7.1 per cent by 2049–50.43 Health care may be an area of particular strength and growth for
enabling technologies. These technologies may deliver new treatments for disease including
implants and replacements for defective genes. Enabling technologies may also provide new
protective foods, and personalised nutritional and lifestyle approaches to disease prevention.
In the area of devices, better electronics could supplement an expanded e-health system to
provide telemedicine and telecare to support the needs of people who are remote from medical
centres. New assistive technologies such as biorobotics, brain–machine interaction or mobility
systems may restore function to incapacitated people.
Food security: While Australia does not have problems in feeding its population, population
growth will place pressure on Australia’s agricultural sector to produce sufficient food.
Currently, agricultural productivity growth is slowing. Enabling technologies may provide
healthier, higher yield crops and healthier, more productive livestock. Enabling technologies
may also make farming practices more sustainable by reducing water and fertiliser use and
improving soil health.
Biosecurity: Biosecurity involves preventive measures to reduce the risk of transmission of
infectious diseases or pathogens, quarantined pests or invasive alien species. As an island,
Australia enjoys many advantages in biosecurity and is vigilant in trying to keep out unwanted
organisms. Enabling technologies may assist in these efforts, particularly in the area of detecting
and treating infectious diseases.
RNAi and transgenic technologies could be applied to treat significant biosecurity risks. For
example, the generation of transgenic cattle that are resistant to the foot-and-mouth disease virus
would eliminate one of Australia’s biggest biosecurity threats: foot-and-mouth disease is exotic
to Australia and it is estimated that a single outbreak would cost $8–16 billion in lost trade and
tourism.44
National defence: Defence and national security involve a combination of food, energy,
biosecurity and other forms of security, as well as military, counter-terrorism and defence
operations. Enabling technologies may contribute to all of these areas. The United States is
investing in enabling technology for military applications, such as nanoelectronics for
information warfare and unmanned combat vehicles; high-performance nanomaterials for
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armour and vehicles; and nanobiotechnology for detection or destruction of chemical and
biological agents.
Economic growth and change
Mining boom: Australia is currently experiencing a mining boom. However, Australia’s share of
global investment in mineral exploration is declining. Enabling technologies may have the
potential to improve mining productivity in Australia to address this downturn through new
extraction processing such as biomining. Biomining can be used to process low-grade deposits,
especially small or remote deposits that could not be cost-effectively treated by existing
technologies.
Enabling technologies may also reduce the environmental impact of mining through new
processes and better remediation. Transgenic microalgae have already been used for the removal
and recovery of heavy metals from industrial wastewater, and other transgenic microbes have
been used to biodegrade heavy metals in soil.45
Global competitiveness: The Australian manufacturing sector is a significant contributor to the
Australian economy. It produces around 12 per cent of GDP and almost 40 per cent of exports.
However, the Australian manufacturing industry is facing increasing competition from regional
trading partners and the rise of low-cost, low-wage manufacturing economies.
To meet these challenges, Australian manufacturers will need to increase productivity and
decrease costs. They may also need new products to attract market share of new technologies.
Enabling technologies may be able to provide these.
Growth in environmental pressures
Climate change: A changing climate in Australia will deliver more frequent and more extreme
weather events including heatwaves, storms, cyclones and bushfires, and a continued decline in
rainfall in southern Australia.46 Addressing these issues might require changing the way
buildings and infrastructure are designed, diversifying water supplies and improving Australian
water use, rethinking the way in which vulnerable coastal areas are developed, and planting
more drought-tolerant crops. Enabling technologies can play a role in many of these areas to
mitigate the effects of climate change (eg by providing biofuels to supplement or replace
carbon-intensive fossil fuels; or genetically modified crops to adapt to increasing aridity).
Energy efficiency and sustainability: There is an increasing drive towards clean, renewable
energy and lower carbon emissions in Australia. Enabling technologies may provide new energy
sources and more efficient technologies to reduce energy use.
Sustainable use of water: Australia is one of the driest countries in the world. A changing
climate, together with a growing population and economy, will place additional pressure on
Australia’s water reserves. Enabling technologies may help us to grow more food with less
water; use less water in industry and homes through water-saving systems; and use
stormwater, desalination and recycling to reduce reliance on rainfall for water supplies.
How might enabling technologies disrupt existing industry?
The revolutionary nature of enabling technologies and many of their applications means that
they are likely to have a disruptive effect on current industries. Enabling technologies may assist
in generating paradigm shifts in many industry sectors, including the following examples:
•
In energy production, new technologies may provide cheaper, more effective energy
sources. These may displace older technologies and business enterprises that rely on them.
15
•
In health care, new technologies may change current practices in prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of disease.
•
In electronics, new applications may improve the processing and storage capacity of
computers and mobile devices and rapidly change global computing capabilities and
practices.
In all industry sectors, enabling technologies may improve the manufacturing systems
themselves. This would require significant investment in new plants and equipment, and training
of employees in new processes. Enabling technologies may also assist in making existing
industries more efficient and environmentally sustainable.
What are the key factors affecting the development and uptake of enabling
technologies?
While enabling technologies may help us address national challenges, they may also bring their
own unintended problems and risks. There are a number of potential barriers and influences to
the successful development and uptake of enabling technologies and their applications.
Research
Research and development: Enabling technologies are a cutting-edge area of research. This
means that researchers have great challenges in developing the understanding needed to
advance, and there is a high cost in this area of research. Researchers also have great
opportunities in developing and commercialising breakthrough products and systems. The
increased convergence of disciplines and technologies will drive innovation.
Government support: Government support for research and development is essential. This can
include funding for research projects, funding of research facilities and equipment, funding for
training the next generation of researchers, and incentives for researchers to collaborate
nationally and internationally. Research is supported in different ways at different stages: basic
research is usually wholly government funded, and development and commercialisation are
usually partly funded by industry. Funding at all stages of research is needed for the
development of enabling technologies.
Collaboration: The interdisciplinary nature of enabling technologies means that successful
collaboration between researchers will be important to the progress of research and
development. Successful technology transfer will also need effective collaboration between
research, industry, regulators and end-users.
Safety and impact
Risks: The development of new technologies encompasses a range of potential risks.
Nanotechnology can create new materials and devices. However, there are concerns about the
possible toxicity and environmental impact of certain types of nanomaterials under specific
conditions. Biotechnology and synthetic biology have the potential to affect human life and
health, and raise concerns about biosecurity and the use of technology to enhance human
performance.
Along with research and development of enabling technologies, it is important that research is
also conducted to evaluate the impact of the new technologies on health, human society and
ethics, the economy, and the environment.
Public concern: The risks involved in enabling technologies have already triggered community
concern, which will undoubtedly continue as these technologies are further developed. Causes
of risk concern are complex and are shown to be best addressed by addressing the causes of
16
concerns, such as trust, failure to adequately consult, regulation and consumer choices. If done
properly, in line with responsible innovation principles, this can allow for both development of
new technologies in line with public values and allow for investment in research and
development of the technologies.
It is important that the community is kept fully informed and engaged about the technologies
and their impacts throughout the research and development process. Research into the potential
impact of the technologies will also be an important component in addressing public concern.
Regulation: The potential of the new technologies to affect human health and wellbeing, and the
environment, means that appropriate regulation is needed. This should prevent or minimise any
unwanted effects, and take account of public concern. Conversely, such regulation may
constrain or prohibit technological development in particular areas. For example, regulatory
requirements such as long-term clinical trials increase the cost of research and development and
the time to market.
Social impact: Enabling technologies may provide new solutions for developing countries in the
areas of clean water, reliable energy and health care. However, there is concern that the benefits
of enabling technologies may only reach affluent nations. Developments in enabling
technologies could also result in changes to industry sectors and skills needs and to concerns
around privacy.
Commercialisation
Market pull: The breakthrough nature of these technologies means that they may be ‘pushed’
onto the market, rather than ‘pulled’. However, these technologies are likely to be able to assist
in delivering solutions to a range of current challenges. In order to develop a market pull,
research and development will need to target particular challenges in areas of high need and
commercial interest.
In addition, it is important that industry, community and government understand both the risks
as well as the benefits of the technologies, and are able to make informed choices about the use
of the new technologies.
Intellectual property: Intellectual property rights (eg patents) protect the rights of developers.
Some researchers advocate openness and minimal patenting to drive innovation, while others
indicate that having strong intellectual property protection is the best way to protect openness
and innovation. Patents that are very broad (covering a fundamental technique or process) can
stifle innovation in the area, but can also provide other researchers with information that can
assist their research. Industry may be unwilling to invest in research and development without
patent protection, though they will need the financial capacity to contest any patent
infringement.
Technology transfer: Developments that are successful in the laboratory may not be successful
on a large scale or may be difficult to scale up to production levels. The cost of commercialising
completely new technology may be prohibitive. Breakthrough technologies may require
additional infrastructure and market innovation to be successful.
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Conclusion
Enabling technologies—including nanotechnology, biotechnology and synthetic biology—have
broad applications and have the potential to dramatically change many areas.
Enabling technologies are developing rapidly and billions of dollars are being invested
worldwide. Enabling technologies could help to address national and global challenges
including population and economic growth and change, and the subsequent growth in
environmental pressures.
However, a number of key factors will affect the development and uptake of the technologies,
including support for research, effective regulation and effective research–industry
collaboration. Enabling technologies also bring a range of potential risks that must be managed
to ensure Australia gets the maximum benefit from the new technologies.
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Glossary
Biofuels
Biomass
Bioremediation
Biotechnology
DNA
Enabling
technology
Gene
Horizon 1
Horizon 2
Horizon 3
Nanotechnology
RNA
Synthetic biology
Technology
transfer
Fuels derived from organic matter, which may supplement or replace petroleum-based fuels
Organic material from living or recently living organisms
The use of microorganisms to remove pollutants from the environment
The use and manipulation of living systems and organisms to develop useful products
Deoxyribonucleic acid; a chemical structure containing the genetic instructions used in the
development and functioning of living organisms
An invention or innovation that can drive radical change in the capabilities of a user or culture; a
technology supporting the development of other technologies
The basic physical unit of heredity; a unit within the genome containing instructions for a
particular part of the development and functioning of living organisms (eg eye colour)
Technologies currently available
Technologies currently under development with commercialisation expected within the next
10 years
‘Blue sky’ technologies to be developed in the long term (greater than 20 years from now)
The manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale: from 1 to 100 nanometres; ‘nano’
means 10–9 or one billionth
Nanotechnology can produce nanotools, nanomaterials, nano-objects, etc
Ribonucleic acid; one of the chemical structures essential for the development and functioning
of living organisms
The design and construction of new biological components and systems that are not found in
nature
The commercialisation and uptake of technology into the marketplace, industry and community
19
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