From FY2001 through FY2015, Congress appropriated approximately $20.9 billion for nanotechnology research and development (R&D). Overview

The economic and societal promise of nanotechnology has led to involvement and investments by governments and companies around the world. Since then, the United States has emerged as a global leader in nanotechnology. However, the competition for global leadership is intensifying as foreign investments in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology increase. President Obama has requested $1.5 billion in NNI funding for FY2016. Proponents of the NNI assert that nanotechnology is one of the most important emerging and enabling technologies and that U.S. competitiveness, technological leadership, national security, and societal interests require an aggressive approach to the development and commercialization of nanotechnology. Critics of the NNI hold a variety of competing views, asserting that government is not doing enough, is doing too much, or is moving too quickly. While many provisions of this act have no sunset provision, FY2008 was the last year of agency authorizations included in the act. Bills to amend and reauthorize the act were introduced in the 114 th , 113 th , 111 th , and 110 th Congresses. No comprehensive reauthorization legislation was introduced in 112 th Congress. In the 114 th Congress, as of the date of this report, one bill has been introduced that seeks to amend the 21 st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act. Incorporated as Subtitle B of Title 1 of the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015 ( H.R. No further action had been taken as of the date of this report. 108-153 ). U.S. However, these assessments have recognized that the NNI faces a variety of challenges in ensuring that the full promise of nanotechnology is realized and that the United States remains the global leader in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. 1898, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, was introduced on April 21, 2015, and referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. In August 2015, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology referred the bill to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology. S. 3187 / P.L. 554 (111 th Congress) —National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2009 " below). Authorizes appropriations to (1) NIST for the development of nanotechnology standards; and (2) NSF, for use by the NNCO, to develop and maintain a public information database of NNP projects in EHS; education; public outreach; ethical, legal, and other societal issues; and of nanotechnology facilities accessible for use by individuals from academia and industry;ma de the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel (NNAP) a distinct entity, and requires the NNAP to establish a subpanel to enable it to assess whether societal, ethical, legal, environmental, and workforce concerns are adequately addressed by the NNP ; r evise d provisions for triennial external review of the NNP ; required the designation of a "coordinator for societal dimensions of nanotechnology," within OSTP, to convene a panel to develop a research plan, and requires the coordinator to enter into an arrangement with the National Science Board to create a report that identifies the broad goals and needs of EHS researchers;d irected the NSTC to establish an interagency Education Working Group to coordinate, prioritize, and plan formal and informal educational activities supported under the NNP , including activities to help participants understand the EHS implications of nanotechnology ;provide d for one or more grants to establish Nanotechnology Education Partnerships to recruit and help prepare secondary school students to pursue postsecondary l evel courses in nanotechnology;r equire d agencies supporting nanotechnology research facilities to provide access to representatives from industry and other stakeholders for the transfer of research results or assist in developing proof-of-concept prototypes of nanoscale p roducts, devices, or processes;directed NIST, in its Technology Innovation Program, and all agencies with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, to encourage the submission of nanotechnology related grant proposals; set, for the NNP, the objective of establishing industry liaison group s for all industry sectors that would benefit from nanotechnology applications;r equire d coordination and leveraging of federal investments with nanotechnology research, development, and tec hnology transition initiatives supported by state governments;required the NNP to support nanotechnology R&D in areas of national importance (e.g., economic competitiveness, energy production, water purification , agriculture, and health care; in environment al , health, and safety research on the risks of nanoparticles ) and in ethical, legal, and societal is sues related to nanotechnology;required the NNP to support a wide array of research in support of nanomanufacturing ;required the director of the NNCO to review and report on nanomanufacturing research and research facilities;required an NNAP review of the nanomanufacturing program com ponent area and the capabilities of nanotechnology research facilities supported by the NNP;set forth provisions regarding NNP nanoscale characterization and metrology research; andr equire d deliberative public input in the decision making processes affecting policies for the research, develop ment, and use of nanotechnology, and authorizes $2.0 million for the NNCO to carry out this responsibility.
Nanotechnology—a term encompassing the science, engineering, and applications of submicron materials—involves the harnessing of unique physical, chemical, and biological properties of nanoscale substances in fundamentally new and useful ways. The economic and societal promise of nanotechnology has led to investments by governments and companies around the world. In 2000, the United States launched the world's first national nanotechnology program. From FY2001 through FY2015, the federal government invested approximately $20.9 billion in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). President Obama has requested $1.5 billion in NNI funding for FY2016. U.S. companies and state governments have invested billions more. The United States has, in the view of many experts, emerged as a global leader in nanotechnology, though the competition for global leadership is intensifying as countries and companies around the world increase their investments.
Nanotechnology's complexity and intricacies, early stage of development (with commercial pay-off possibly years away for many potential applications), and broad scope of potential applications engender a wide range of public policy issues. Maintaining U.S. technological and commercial leadership in nanotechnology poses a variety of technical and policy challenges, including development of technologies that will enable commercial scale manufacturing of nanotechnology materials and products, as well as environmental, health, and safety concerns.
Congress established programs, assigned responsibilities, and initiated research and development related to these issues in the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-153). Although many provisions of this act have no sunset provision, FY2008 was the last year of agency authorizations included in the act. Bills to amend and reauthorize the act were introduced in the 110th, 111th, and 113th Congresses but were not enacted. No comprehensive reauthorization bill was introduced in the 112th Congress. In the 114th Congress, as of the date of this report, one bill has been introduced that seeks to amend the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act. The National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2015 is incorporated as Subtitle B of Title 1 of the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 1898). The bill was introduced April 21, 2015, and referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. In August 2015, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology referred the bill to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology. No further action had been taken as of the date of this report.
Proponents of the NNI assert that nanotechnology is one of the most important emerging and enabling technologies and that U.S. competitiveness, technological leadership, national security, and societal interests require an aggressive approach to its development and commercialization. Critics of the NNI voice concerns that reflect disparate underlying beliefs. Some critics assert that the government is not doing enough to move technology from the laboratory into the marketplace. Others argue that the magnitude of the public investment may skew what should be market-based decisions in research, development, and commercialization. Still other critics say that the inherent risks of nanotechnology are not being addressed in a timely or effective manner.