Abstract:
All available evidence points to the conclusion that it is not a matter of if, but when and how and by whom exponential general-purpose molecular manufacturing will be developed. Desktop manufacturing is on its way; we can detect an increasing number of routes to get there; the major gating factor at this time is conceptual, not financial or technical. Someone somewhere sometime will decide to invest a suitable amount of time and money to reach the goal. It will not be easy, but it will be achieved.