development and intensify cooperation in frontier areas such as digital economy, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology"- President Xi JinpingIn the past decade, Chinas investments in nano R&D have increased by over 20% each year. The Chinese government created an extra stimulus package in 2009, with over 12bn reserved for R&D due to an understanding that a boost in sciences is critical for future competitiveness. While, the recognition that nanotechnology is a key enabler technology for many sectors, providing for tremendous growth opportunities led Russia, Korea and Singapore to launch the Asia Nanotechnology Fund.For developing countries, debates concerning the possible consequences of nanotechnology have tended to be polarised. Nanotechnology certainly has potential to provide developing countries with sustainable development opportunities, but some fear it could intensify exploitation of the developing world and concentration of power among corporate elites. Surprising levels of developing country research and development (R&D) in nanotechnology have been found by some studies to have occurred, although there is no clear assessment of nanotechnology engagement amongst all developing countries.Seven state capabilitiesAs Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan outlined in his 2015 World Economic Forum op-ed on nanotechnology, the correlation between nanotech and national security is often limited to applications of nanotech in the military but that it is crucial to understand that the repercussions of nanotechnology on geopolitics and national power are more far-reaching. Prof Al-Rodhan suggested that national power is best described in terms of seven key state capabilities:Social and health Nanotechnology can have enormous implications in medicine and therapeutic procedures by improving diagnostics and providing better and faster cell repair. Nanorobots injected to fight cancerous cells can provide targeted drug delivery and make repairs at the cellular level (and potentially even correct failing organs). The DNA nanocage, designed from the bodys own molecules, is developed to trap diseases at the molecular level. Nanosponges, tiny polymer nanoparticles, could absorb toxins while removing them from the bloodstream. Gold nanoparticles could be used to detect early-stage Alzheimers disease. The breakthroughs in nanomedicine will provide us with unprecedented control over the human body and will simultaneously raise social and ethical debates.Domestic politics Nanotechnology could offer both new platforms for better (and more intrusive) surveillance as well as more efficient technologies for domestic security and emergency response. For example, certain nanomaterials could be employed for creating better sensors that detect hazardous materials and nanorobots could be used to deactivate bombs.Economy Nanotech is relevant for fields such as agriculture, where nanosensors could monitor crop growth or detect plant pathogens. It has already been in use for many electronics and it provides smaller, faster and more energy-efficient systems. Nanoscale transistors, for instance, are not only smaller, but also faster and more powerful than their conventional counterparts. To boost their oil industries, states are now considering the potential of using nanoparticles of silica to make oil extraction faster and cheaper.Environment Some of the hype around nanotech has focused on its potential to reverse environmental degradation: nanostructured filters and smart nano-materials could purify water or detect contamination. Furthermore, nanotech could have beneficial applications for battery-recycling processes, provide solutions for oil spills and