A Matter of Size Triennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (2006) / Chapter Skim
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1 A Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative
1 A Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative
Pages 15-44
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. This interagency dialog culminated in the establishment in 2000 of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)
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For purposes of federal R&D, nanotechnology is defined by the National Nanotechnology Initiative as comprising the following three factors:1 1. Research and technology development at the atomic, molecular, or macromolecular levels, at a length scale of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers (a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, too small to be seen with a conventional laboratory microscope)
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.1,2 In March 1999, IWGN representatives proposed a nano technology initiative with a budget of half a billion dollars for fiscal year (FY) 2001.3 In January 2000, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)
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The NRDA also directed the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) to arrange with the National Research Council (NRC)
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Bush announced that the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) would serve as the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel (NNAP)
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During the course of the present NRC study the Committee to Review the National Nanotechnology Initiative gave considerable thought to the effective ness of the current NNI management and advisory structures outlined above. The committee's conclusions, based on its assessment of the overall effectiveness of the NNI in carrying out its coordination mission as described in the following sections, can be found at the end of this chapter in the section titled "Conclusions and Recommendations." Federal Support for NNI R&D Eleven NNI-participating agencies currently report investments in nanotech nology.
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2005. The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Research and Development Leading to a Revolution in Technology and Industry.
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These difficulties notwithstanding, the com mittee did make some broad measurements of the value of the scientific endeavor under the NNI in its benchmarking assessment as reported in Chapter 2 -- for instance, by analyzing data on papers published and patents awarded. A workshop organized by the committee to obtain information on aspects of the science output of the NNI provided some perspectives of leading nanoscale science and technol ogy researchers.10 The strong consensus at that workshop, in the interviews held as part of this study with representatives of private industry, and in other materials submitted to the committee was that NNI-related R&D is world-class and in many instances world-leading, and that it is making invaluable contributions to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in the United States.
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that coordination and the resultant deliverables are critical measures of the NNI's impact. In carrying out this review, the committee compiled information on NNI strategic planning and management that have involved broad participation by federal agencies and extensive coordination within each agency.
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. The PCAs provide a framework that allows the NSET Subcommittee, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Office of Management and Budget, and Congress to be informed of NNI-related activities in a consistent fashion and that facilitates the management of investments in each PCA and the coordination and direction of activities within the participating agencies.
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Not only has the establishment of a strategic plan for the NNI had a positive impact in itself, but it has also led to several programmatic impacts at the participating agencies and to the establishment of new structures as described below. Establishment of Working Groups and Other Mechanisms for Coordination, Communication, and Outreach In pursuit of NNI goals the initiative has been a catalyst for a significant increase in interagency communication and coordination spearheaded primarily by the NSET Subcommittee.
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It provides for exchange of information among agencies that support nanotechnology research and those responsible for regula tions and guidelines related to nanoproducts (defined as engineered nanoscale materials, nanostructured materials or nanotechnology-based devices, and their byproducts) ; facilitates the identification, prioritization, and implementation of research and other activities required for responsible R&D on, and utilization and oversight of, nanotechnology, including research methods for life cycle analysis; and promotes communication of information related to research on environ mental and health implications of nanotechnology to government agencies and nongovernment parties.
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One of the established NNI-ChI CBAN working groups is addressing environmental safety and health issues for nanotechnology.17 The NSET Subcommittee has utilized the Small Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology Transfer program to support earlystage nanotechnology developments and to accelerate the transfer of newly developed nanotechnologies to practical commercial applications and public use. In addition, in November 2003, NSF and the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC)
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, a collaboration of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the NIH, the National Insti tute for Occupational Safety and Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Center for Toxicological Research of the FDA. Under the NTP's broad-based research program to address potential human health hazards from unintentional exposure associated with the manufac ture and use of new chemicals, an effort has been initiated to investigate the toxicology of nanoscale materials of current or projected commercial importance.
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DOD · Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Center for Nanoscience Innovation for Defense -- University of California Santa Barbara · Institute for Nanoscience, Naval Research Laboratory DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers · Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory · Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory · Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories · Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory · Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory continued
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- Cornell University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California Santa Barbara, Delft University, University of Basel, University of Tokyo · Center for Nanoscience in Biological & Environmental Engineering -- Rice University, University of Texas · Integrated Nanopatterning and Detection (NSEC) -- Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Harold Washington College · Electron Transport in Molecular Nanostructures (NSEC)
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· Cornell University, Cornell Nanoscale Science and Fabrication Facility · Howard University, Keck Center for the Design of Nanoscale Materials for Molecular Recognition · Pennsylvania State University, Nanofabrication Facility · Stanford University, Stanford NanoFabrication Facility · University of California Santa Barbara, Nanotech Fabrication Facility · Georgia Institute of Technology, Microelectronics Research Laboratory · Harvard University, Center for Imaging and Mesoscale Systems · North Carolina State University, Triangle National Lithography Center · University of Michigan, Solid State Electronics Laboratory · University of Minnesota, Minnesota Nanotechnology Cluster · University of New Mexico, Nanoscience at the University of New Mexico · University of Texas at Austin, Microelectronics Research Center · University of Washington, Center for Nanotechnology NSF's Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) for Nanoelectronics, Nanoelectromechanics, Nanobioelectronics · Purdue University, University of Illinois, Stanford University, University of Florida, University of Texas El Paso, Northwestern University, Morgan State University SOURCE: National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)
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Department of Energy Five nanoscale science research centers (NSRCs) are under development by DOE and will be collocated with existing major facilities at DOE laboratories across the country.
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Its activities are focused on provision of neutron measurement capabilities to researchers in the United States. It is a national center for research using thermal and cold neutrons, offering advanced measurement capabilities for use by all qualified applicants.23 National Science Foundation The NSF's National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN)
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Two centers for nanotechnology in society are being created through NSF funding and, through a network of social scientists, economists, and nanotechnology researchers, will formulate a long-term vision for addressing societal, ethical, environmental, and education concerns; involve partners or affiliates to collaborate on topics related to responsiblenanotechnology;formulateplanstoinvolveawiderangeof stakeholders; and develop a clearinghouse for information on communicating about nanoscience and nanotechnology and engaging the public in meaningful dialog.24 EDUCATION, WORKFORCE, AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING During the course of this study the committee heard from several sources, and indeed it is the experience of many educators on the committee, that NNI-related science and technology R&D and the strong federal support for discovery-based research and interdisciplinary collaborations at university centers are attracting and exciting students. For example, new research opportunities are drawing the attention of students to research at the interface of the physical and biomedical sciences, a direct benefit of collaborative federal funding by agencies such as NIH, NSF, and DOE.
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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Revisiting the NNI's first three goals (see the subsection "Development of an Updated Strategic Plan" above in this chapter) provides a useful framework for summarizing the committee's conclusions about the impact of the NNI.
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The committee concluded that development of the goals articulated in the NNI's strategic plan and establishment of the related PCAs are an important out come of the NNI that has had a positive impact on allocation of federal support to the fields and disciplines that make up nanotechnology. In addition, the committee is convinced that the successful coordination driven by the NSET Subcommittee and the coordination framework it has established are at the heart of the NNI's advances toward achievement of its first goal.
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Two essential inputs to establishing balance in the NNI are the continued operation of the interagency coordination mechanisms and access to effective advice from members of the R&D community who have specific expertise to address technical areas and cross-disciplinary issues in nanoscale science and technology. The committee notes that sustaining the capacity for U.S.
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In view of the NNI's evident progress toward developing a frame work essential to maintaining and enhancing the nation's competitive position in nanoscale science and technology, the committee recommends that the federal govern ment sustain investments in a manner that balances the pursuit of shorter-term goals with support for longer-term R&D and that ensures a robust supporting infrastructure, broadly defined. Supporting long-term research effectively will require making new funds available that do not come at the expense of much-needed ongoing investment in U.S.
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Nanoscale science, engineering, and technology education can help to (1) produce the next generation of researchers and innovators, (2)
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students to undertake graduate studies that include course work in nanoscale science and technology and continue on to work at U.S. scientific institutions; · Stimulate dialog on undergraduate interdisciplinary education and the introduction of nanotechnology into current disciplinary curricula; · Broker a national dialog involving the nanotechnology centers and facilities that are engaged in educational programs on each center's strengths and on regional needs and thereby enable a sharing of experiences; · Leverage the public's interest in nanotechnology and broaden people's understanding, furthering the objective of encouraging minorities and women to take up careers as scientists and engineers; · Encourage a dialog with the public and policymakers, in partnership with the working group on public engagement, on nanoscale science, technology, and medicine and their economic potential and societal impacts; and · Initiate state and regional dialogs on nanoscale science and engineering education at precollege levels, engaging education professionals and com munity groups to define regional issues and support innovative initiatives.
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Specific activities of such a panel could include regular consultation with the leaders of federal agencies participating in the NNI to discuss and provide scientific and technical input and thus help ensure ongoing coordination of NNI program goals, budgets, and reporting. Such meetings could help to build additional new bridges among NNI-participating agencies and to proactively identify emerging societal implications of advances in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology -- the committee has not seen any evidence of PCAST doing this.
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2005. The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Research and Development Leading to a Revolution in Technology and Industry.
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5. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.2005.The National Nanotechnology Initiative at Five Years: Assessment and Recommendations of the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.
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2005. The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Research and Development Leading to a Revolution in Technology and Industry.
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