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According
to NNCO Director Clayton Teague, periodic reexamination
of the NNI Strategic Plan is essential, given
the dynamic nature of the field. The 21st Century
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act
of 2003 calls for the NNI Strategic Plan to
be updated every third year; the plan just released
updates and replaces the December 2004 plan.
“This strategic plan presents an overview of
the NNI for the public and will facilitate achievement
of the NNI vision by offering guidance for agency
leaders, program managers, and the research
community in their nanotechnology R&D investments
and activities,” said Dr. Teague. He noted that
the new plan reflects the consensus of the 25
NNI participating agencies as to the goals and
priorities of the NNI and provides a framework
within which each agency will carry out its
own mission-related nanotechnology programs,
as well as a path that will sustain coordination
of interagency activities. In addition to specifying
high-level goals, the plan identifies activities
aimed at accomplishing those goals. The plan
also identifies major subject areas, or program
component areas (PCAs), in which investments
are needed to ensure the success of the initiative.
Finally, the plan identifies a number of representative
high-impact application opportunities that cut
across the NNI program component areas and that
align with the competencies and missions of
participating agencies.
A number of inputs guided the Strategic Plan
update, Dr. Teague noted. Among them were independent
reviews of the NNI by the President’s Council
of Advisors on Science and Technology and the
National Research Council of the National Academies,
both of which have been strongly supportive
of the NNI and have offered specific recommendations
for improving NNI strategies and operations.
Additional input has come from topical workshops
sponsored by the NNI, in which academic, government,
and industry experts developed research recommendations
for a variety of application areas, considered
societal implications of nanotechnology, and
addressed economic development strategies.
In reviewing the basic elements of the existing
strategic plan, the NSET Subcommittee found
many aspects still relevant and appropriate.
However, a number of modifications have been
made to reflect progress that has taken place
since 2004 and to emphasize and clarify the
significance that nanotechnology advances will
have for the nation.
Among the changes in the new strategic plan
is the division of the 2004 Societal Dimensions
PCA into two PCAs in the updated plan, one titled
Environment, Health and Safety and one titled
Education and Societal Dimensions. This change
aligns with budget reporting practices since
2006, according to Dr. Teague. A second major
change to the strategic plan is the addition
of a number of exemplary, high-impact application
opportunities and critical research needs. “The
opportunities and needs are visionary, yet realistic,”
Dr. Teague said, cutting across the NNI program
component areas, and aligning with the competencies
and missions of multiple participating agencies.
These illustrative examples highlight the range
of cutting-edge research and the variety of
areas in which nanotechnology will transform
industrial sectors and society.
Commenting on the achievements of the NNI and
growth of the field, Dr. Teague noted that although
the NNI and nanotechnology itself are still
young— and translating an emerging technology
into economically viable products usually takes
decades—nanotechnology innovation and product
development are under way. As evidence, he cited
the more than 4800 patents identified to date
under the nanotechnology classification created
by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, many
of which draw upon NNI-supported research.
“The NNI has created a thriving nanoscale science
and engineering R&D environment within the United
States,” Dr. Teague said, noting the 70 research
and user facilities established and supported
by the NNI since its beginning. “As a result,
scientific understanding of nanometer-scale
phenomena has expanded enormously. An extensive
network of R&D centers is already established.”
Building on this progress, Dr. Teague noted
that “exploiting the full value that nanotechnology
offers depends on sustained R&D. Barriers to
innovation and technology transfer need to be
lowered. Researchers, educators, and technicians
with new skills are required. Furthermore, nanotechnology
must be developed responsibly. “
The National Nanotechnology Initiative is the
program established in Fiscal Year 2001 to coordinate
Federal nanotechnology R&D. The NNI provides
a vision of the long-term opportunities and
benefits of nanotechnology. By serving as a
central locus for communication, cooperation,
and collaboration for all Federal agencies that
wish to participate, the NNI brings together
the expertise needed to guide and support the
advancement of this broad and complex field.
The NNI creates a framework for a comprehensive
nanotechnology R&D program by establishing shared
goals, priorities, and strategies, and it provides
avenues for each individual agency to leverage
the resources of all participating agencies.
About the
National Science and Technology Council and
the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology
Subcommittee.
The Federal Government’s nanotechnology research
programs, in general, fall under the National
Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). Coordination
of research in the field takes place through
the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology
(NSET) Subcommittee of the National Science
and Technology Council. The National Nanotechnology
Coordination Office supports the interagency
coordination activities of the NSET.
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