In 2001, the federal government launched the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative, (NNI), with an initial investment of $500 million. Now, nearly a decade and $12 billion later, the NNI continues to be allotted a significant portion of the federal research and development budget. The NNI has had a catalytic and substantial impact on U.S. advances in the field of nanotechnology. As the field has matured in various areas, commercial ventures have also gained momentum. Through this initiative and associated activities, the U.S. has achieved a leadership position in nanotechnology R&D and commercialization; but that lead may be transient. Economic competition from other countries has dramatically increased. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, (PCAST), warned in their March 12, 2010, Report to the President and Congress on the Third Assessment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative that “U.S. leadership in nanotechnology is threatened by several aggressively investing competitors such as China, South Korea, and the European Union.” In a previous column,¹ I discussed the details of this year’s budget and the current focus on three signature initiatives:

1. Nanotechnology Applications for Solar Energy: $51 million
2. Sustainable Nanomanufacturing–Creating Industries of the Future: $23 million
3. Nanoelectronics for 2020 and Beyond: $55 million

The NNI’s recommendations focus on increasing funding for research, including nanomanufacturing; strengthening standards and metrics development to incorporate environmental health and safety strategies; and retaining U.S. leadership. In this column, Dr. Clayton Teague, director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), shares his perspective on the past decade of activities and discusses the current potential and future challenges facing nanotechnology research and development.