Physorg.com:

Current market size = 580 Million - Expected to grow to 750 Million USD IN 2010. Lux research predictions : In general, Lux predicts the nanotechnology-tools market will see a compound annual growth rate of 11 percent to nearly $1.1 billion in 2010. However, growth will not prove even across each of its market segments

Nanotechnologists use three kinds of instruments to experiment with matter on the nanometer scale. Inspection tools such as atomic force microscopes and electron microscopes visualize nanometer-sized objects and represent the most mature and widely used category of tools for emerging nanotechnology. Fabrication tools such as nano-imprint lithography and dip-pen nanolithography create structures at the nanometer scale. Modeling tools are programs that predict nano-structure properties to circumvent the costs and time associated with experiments.

The current market for nanotechnology tools is dominated by inspection tools, which accounted for 95 percent of the 2004 revenues. The inspection-tools market saw dramatic growth during the early 2000s nanotech explosion. Lux Research sees nano-imprint lithography as the favorite, which acts much like a miniaturized rubber stamp to lay out features as fine as tens of nanometers on surfaces.

Modeling tools claimed less than $10 million in 2004 in the face of entrenched skepticism from potential customers. In five years Lux Research expected that market to expand to only roughly $40 million, a small fraction of the total nanotechnology-tools market. Still, in a decade the analysts predicted it could break $100 million as power, accuracy and ease of use of modeling tools continues to improve and more customer success stories emerge.

Whats in it for me ?
In the near future the emergence of standards for nanotechnology components and devices could also help drive the nanotechnology tools market “with tools created specifically to match those standards