Immense progress on the miniaturization of devices has been made over the last 25 years, with the microelectronics-industry predicted to represent 10% of world trade by the year 2000. Questions are raised as to whether such small devices can operate increasingly more effectively and at ever reducing manufacturing cost. The implications of the present rate of progress, the limitations of the materials currently being used, and the potential of radically new routes for manufacturing mesoscopic systems are discussed.