In this paper, we compared the efficiencies of national R&D investments between NT (Nanotechnology) areas in terms of papers, patents, and commercializations, and found ways to improve the efficiencies of national R&D investments for each NT area. This is in response to huge R&D investments government has made recently in NT areas.Here, we collected data on investments, papers, patents, and commercializations for the R&D projects in NT areas through National Science & Technology Information Service. Based on the data, we analyzed the investment and performances (papers, patents, and commercializations) for each NT area, calculated the efficiency for each NT area, and compared the efficiencies between NT areas. Next, using cluster analysis, we identified several NT areas with similar characteristics in terms of paper efficiency, patent efficiency and commercialization efficiency. Finally, we derived implications for the efficiency enhancement for each grouping.The cluster analysis showed that there could be two groups, one being low in terms of technological outcome (papers and patents) efficiencies and high in terms of commercialization efficiencies, while the other being high in terms of technological outcome (papers and patents) efficiencies and low in terms of commercialization efficiencies. Therefore, the strategy for one group calls for support for technology transfer or technology introduction from other R&D performers and grant of guidance for improving R&D performers’ commercialization ability to other R&D performers while the strategy for the other group calls for R&D support for transfer of technology to other R&D performers, activation of technology transfer and support for commercialization of R&D performers.