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U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative:Leading to a Technology Revolution

Celia I. MerzbacherOffice of Science and Technology Policy

2006 International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Product Industry

April 27, 2006 * Atlanta, GA

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National Nanotechnology InitiativeNational Nanotechnology Initiative

Established in FY 2001Over 20 Federal agencies (13 w/ R&D $)Invested over $5 billion in R&D since FY 2001

Over 4000 active research projects in 2005 at more than 500 research institutions in all 50 states. Over 50 research centers and user facilities with over 100 university partners

Providing educational & training resources for students, teachers, and a skilled workforcePromoting technology transferAddressing potential risks & concerns

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21st Century Nanotechnology 21st Century Nanotechnology Research & Development Act of 2003Research & Development Act of 2003

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“Because research at the nanoscale offers natural bridges to interdisciplinary collaboration, especially at the intersection of the life and physical sciences, the Administration encourages novel approaches to accelerating interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration. Activities such as joint programs utilizing shared resources, as well as support for interdisciplinary activities at centers and user facilities, are encouraged.”

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Vision 4 Goals7 Program Component

Areas

20+ Agencies

$ $

NNI Strategic Plan (Dec 2004)NNI Strategic Plan (Dec 2004)

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NNI Strategic Plan: VisionNNI Strategic Plan: Vision

A future in which the ability to understand and control matter on the nanoscale leads to a revolution in technology and industry.

Forest Products Industry Vision:… [Apply] nanotechnology sciences and engineering to efficiently and effectively capture the entire range of values that wood-based lignocellulosic materials are capable of providing.

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A future in which the ability to understand and control matter on the nanoscale leads to a revolution in technology and industry.Expedite discovery, development, and deployment of nanotechnology for:

Economic benefitNational & homeland securityImproved quality of life

NNI Strategic Plan: VisionNNI Strategic Plan: Vision

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Sustain world class R&D

Facilitate technology transfer

Develop infrastructure: education; workforce preparation; facilities & instrumentation

Support responsible development of nanotechnology

NNI Strategic Plan: GoalsNNI Strategic Plan: Goals

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Areas of investmentAreas of investment(aka Program Component Areas)(aka Program Component Areas)

1. Fundamental Nanoscale Phenomena and Processes

2. Nanomaterials3. Nanoscale Devices and Systems4. Instrumentation Research, Metrology, and

Standards for Nanotechnology5. Nanomanufacturing6. Major Research Facilities and Instrumentation

Acquisition7. Societal Dimensions (EHS, ELSI, Educ.)

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Relationship between PCAs and NNI Agency Missions

PrimarySecondaryAgencies w/nano R&D $$

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NNI FY 2007 Budget RequestNNI FY 2007 Budget RequestTotal = $1,277 millionTotal = $1,277 million

NSF

DODDOE

NIH

NISTDHS & DOJEPANASA USDA

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NNI activities supporting TTNNI activities supporting TT

Agency-specific programs (DOD, NASA, NIH, etc.)SBIR/STTR solicitationsIndustry liaison groupsStandards development (Clayton Teague chairs the ANSI-accredited ISO Technical Advisory Group)

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NNI activities supporting TT (cont.)NNI activities supporting TT (cont.)

Sept 30-Oct 1, 2003Nov 3-4, 2005

NNI-funded multi-disciplinary research centers that include industry partnersBroad availability of NNI user facilities

Regional, State, and Local Initiatives in Nanotechnology Workshops

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National Nanotechnology National Nanotechnology Infrastructure NetworkInfrastructure Network

Harvard

Michigan

Minnesota

UW

Cornell

PSU HowardStanford

UCSBUNM

UT-AustinGeorgiaTech

NCSU/Triangle

Courtesy of S. Tiwari, Cornell U.

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User Facilities (NSFUser Facilities (NSF--funded):funded):Network for Computational NanotechnologyNetwork for Computational Nanotechnology

UTEP

Northwestern

IllinoisStanfordMorgan St.

U. Florida

Purdue

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DOE Nanoscale Science Research CentersDOE Nanoscale Science Research CentersStateState--ofof--thethe--art facilitiesart facilities

Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences

MolecularFoundry

Center for Nanoscale Materials

Center for Functional

Nanomaterials

Argonne National Laboratory Brookhaven

National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National

Laboratory

Sandia National Laboratories & Los Alamos

National Laboratory

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Center for Integrated

Nanotechnologieshttp://www.science.doe.gov/bes/NNI.htm

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DOE Nanoscale Science Research CentersDOE Nanoscale Science Research CentersStateState--ofof--thethe--art facilitiesart facilities

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Responsible Development:Responsible Development:Environmental, Health & Safety ResearchEnvironmental, Health & Safety Research

~$40M/year for research primarily aimed at assessing EHS risks of nanotechnology

EPANational Toxicology ProgramNIOSHNSFNIH, DOD, USDA, NIST

Plus R&D funding for EHS applications, e.g. for remediation or pollution prevention, or development of tools for measurement and characterization.

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Responsible DevelopmentResponsible Development

Coordination among research and regulatory agencies

Public engagement

Discussion of societal and ethical aspects

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Nanotechnology: Hype, Hope, RealityNanotechnology: Hype, Hope, Reality

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