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The National Nanotechnology Initiative is an American federal nanoscale science, engineering, and technology research and development program. Initiative participants (cited below) state that its four goals are to
- maintain a world-class research and development (R&D) program;
- facilitate technology transfer;
- develop educational resources, a skilled workforce, and supporting research infrastructure and tools; and
- support responsible development of nanotechnology.
Participants
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Extension, and Education Service
- Department of Agriculture Forest Service
- Department of Commerce Technology Administration
- Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security
- Department of Education
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Intelligence Community
- Department of Defense
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences Office of Industrial Technologies
- National Science Foundation
- Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Food and Drug Administration Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of State
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Homeland Security (which includes Transportation Security Administration)
- Department of Justice
- Department of Labor
- Department of Transportation
- International Trade Commission
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Clinton and Bush's influence
Some Clinton supporters credit William Jefferson Clinton as being responsible for the existence of the Initiative. Indeed, Clinton advocated nanotechnology development. Howard Lovy, a nanotechnology writer, said the Initiative may "turn out to be one of Clinton's most-important legacies". In a 21 January 2000 speech at the California Institute of Technology, Clinton said (as cited in "References"), "Some of our research goals may take twenty or more years to achieve, but that is precisely why there is an important role for the federal government." President Bush further increased funding for nanotechnology and has transformed the issue into his own. In 2003 Bush signed into law the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (Public Law 108-153 which authorizes expenditures for five of the participating agencies totalling $3.63 billion over four years.*). In December 2004 the National Nanotechnology Initiative released a new Strategic Plan outlining updated goals and "program component areas" *," as required under the terms of the Act.
References
"National Nanotechnology Initiative"