scope:

This Technical Report establishes core concepts for nanotechnology in a model taxonomic framework. It is intended to facilitate communication and promote common understanding.

Purpose of the framework development

Taxonomy is a hierarchical classification of the things in a subject domain. It places the domain's concepts into relevant categories and shows the relationships among concepts. A core concept is one of the central concepts that define a subject domain. In taxonomy, these concepts are found at the topmost levels of the hierarchy.

A taxonomic framework for core nanotechnology concepts would have several purposes. As a representation of the professional judgment of an international group of scientists, it is a depiction of current understanding of the subject, its structure and relationships. It is considered to be a snapshot of the subject domain at a particular time and is intended to be revisited and updated as the domain develops. As well, because it deals only with the top layers of the nanotechnology hierarchy, it is considered to be a model framework from which development of deeper layers in the hierarchy should begin. Finally, this framework can be used as the basis for the development of terms and definitions for nanotechnology vocabulary.