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The
emerging fields of nanoscale science,
engineering, and technology —the ability to work at the molecular level,
atom by atom, to create large structures with fundamentally new properties
and functions—are leading to unprecedented understanding and control over
the basic building blocks and properties of all natural and man-made things.
The FY 2006 budget for nanoscale science, engineering and technology
(in brief, nanotechnology) research and development
(R&D) in 11 federal departments and independent agencies is summarized in Table I-9. This investment
is known as the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). Another 11 agencies and departments (listed in Table
I-9) participate in kind and as partners. The vision of the
NNI is a future in which the ability to understand and control matter
on the nanoscale leads to a revolution in technology and industry. The
four goals of the NNI are: 1/ Maintain a world-class research and development
program aimed at realizing the full potential of nanotechnology; 2/Facilitate
transfer of new technologies into products for economic growth, jobs,
and other public benefit; 3/ Develop educational resources, a skilled
workforce, and the supporting infrastructure and tools to advance nanotechnology;
and 4/ Support responsible development of nanotechnology.
The supported R&D is grouped in seven program component
areas (PCAs): (1) Fundamental nanoscale phenomena and processes; (2) Nanomaterials;
(3) Nanoscale devices and systems; (4) Instrumentation research, metrology,
and standards for nanotechnology; (5) Nanomanufacturing; (6) Major research
facilities and instrumentation acquisition; and (7) Societal dimensions
(including: environmental, health, and safety implications of nanotechnology
development and risk assessment of such impacts; education; and research
on the ethical, legal, and social implications of nanotechnology.)
Funding is provided on competitive basis with other
programs and within NNI. In December 2004, President Bush signed into
law the 21st Century Nanotechnology R&D Act (Public Law
108-153) with funding recommendations for five agencies (NSF, DOE, NASA,
NIST and EPA) for fiscal years 2004-2008 and beyond. The National Science
and Technology Council’s (NSTC) Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology
(NSET) Subcommittee coordinates the plans, budgets, programs, and reviews
for NNI. NSET coordinates 22 federal departments and independent agencies
in FY 2006, up from six at the beginning of the initiative in FY 2001.
The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)
was designated the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel (NNAP) based
on the Act. NSET published its long-term strategic plan in December 2004.
Summary
for All Agencies
Priorities in FY 2006: The
FY 2006 request of $1.05 billion for NNI would be a 6.3 percent increase
over the corresponding FY 2005 request of $988 million, but lower than
FY 2005 appropriated amounts. One may note that the actual budget expenditures
for nanotechnology have exceeded the President’s requests every year since
FY 2001. The FY 2006 increases would be at NSF, NIH, and USDA. The proposed
cuts at DOD, DOE, and NASA may be explained by the reassignment of applied
nanotechnology projects to the respective areas of relevance (DOD and
NASA), by rescheduling several projects (DOE), and congressionally-directed
funding in 2004 and 2005 (at DOD), as well as by the overall budget constraints
in FY 2006. Roughly 65 percent of the funding proposed under the NNI supports
academic research, about 25 percent to government R&D laboratories,
and 10 percent to industry.
The initiative focuses on long-term
research on understanding the manipulation of matter at the atomic and
molecular levels, leading to an unprecedented ability to create nanostructured
materials and systems for advanced products such as new classes of devices
as small as molecules and machines as small as human cells. Applications
areas include continued improvement in electronics for information technology;
higher-performance, lower-maintenance materials and design for manufacturing,
defense, transportation, space, and environment; accelerated, biotechnical
applications in medicine, health care, and agriculture; and extending
the limits of sustainable development. FY 2006 NNI priorities are: (1) advance the knowledge frontiers of nanoscale phenomena
and processes to an extend that systematic control over matter at the
nanoscale could be achieved; (2) research to enable design of hierarchically
structured materials and efficient nanomanufacturing from the molecular
scale; (3) increased research focus on active nanostructures and complex
nanosystems; (4) nano-biosystems and medicine; (5) silicon nanoelectronics
and beyond; (6) development of instrumentation, metrology and standards;
(7) environmental, health and safety issues, including development of
instrumentation for environmental and toxicity studies; (8) the education
and training of the new generation or workers for the future industries;
(9) addressing ethical and other social issues raised by the development
of nanotechnology; (10) establish and operate major scientific user
facilities with advanced instrumentation; and (11) partnerships to enhance
industrial participation in the nanotechnology revolution. The priorities are under evaluation following NSET
sponsored workshops.
Collaborative activities: The
NSTC NSET Subcommittee will coordinate joint activities that create synergies
between the individual agencies in a variety of topics and modalities
of collaboration. The coordination
also will address NNI management issues, interaction with nanotechnology
regional alliances, and international activities. The National Nanotechnology
Coordinating office (NNCO) is the secretarial office of NSET for this
purpose. Examples of specific coordination efforts are: nanomanufacturing
(main partners NSF, DOD and NIST); environmental issues (EPA, NIOSH, NSF,
and USDA); infrastructure development (such as among R&D centers,
and centers and networks with DOE, DOD, NASA, NIH, and NIST); standards
development (NIST, all other agencies); modeling and simulation and nanoelectronics
(DOD, NASA and NSF); and interdisciplinary research at the intersection
of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
The
FY 2006 request is about $344 million, $6 million over the FY 2005 congressional
appropriation (see Table 1).
Table
1. NSF Directorate Budgets for Nanoscale Science and Engineering
(in millions of dollars)
NSF supports fundamental knowledge creation across all disciplinary
principles at the nanoscale. Three new networks to be announced at the end
of FY 2005 will establish their operation next year: the Center for Hierarchical
Nanomanufacturing, the Center for Nanotechnology in Society, and the Center
for Nanotechnology Informal Science Education. These networks, together with the existing ones
(NNIN, NCN and Nanoscale Center for Learning and Teaching; see Table 2)
will establish a research and education platform for nanotechnology at
the national level, including open and remote access based on merit review,
open access, and serve as clearinghouses for information. Research
experience for undergraduates will be expanded at the Nanoscale Science
and Engineering Centers.
NSF’s planned investment for
Nanoscale Science and Engineering in FY 2006 will contribute to all NNI
program component areas. The largest contribution will be to “Fundamental
nanoscale phenomena and processes” ($95 million). The investment on projects
with primary purpose focus on societal dimensions of nanotechnology is
about $60 million. The education and training activities will be extended to undergraduate
and K-12 education. The National
Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network and the Network for Computational
Nanotechnology will serve about 6,300 academic and industry users at their
facilities (see Table 2 for key NNI R&D user facilities).
Department
of Defense (DOD)
The FY 2006 request is $230 million, which is less
than the FY 2005 request and the current plan (see Table
I-9). The principal DOD participants in the NNI are the Directorate
for Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E), the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Air Force, the Army and the Navy.
DOD supports nanoscale science and technology in order to meet the national
security mission. The DOD structures its S&T investment into basic
research (“6.1”), applied research (“6.2”) and advanced technology development
(“6.3”); the latter two focus on transitioning science discovery into
innovative technology.
Army, Navy and Air Force investment in “6.2” and “6.3”
programs will grow in an effort to accelerate the transition of nanoscience
research into mature nanotechnologies for use in military systems. Navy
investment in “6.1” programs will be distributed though discovery and
invention programs, and will vary based on the potential impact of nanotechnology
within a given science and technology topical area.
New DARPA programs exploiting nanotechnologies are
expected in 2006; specific topics have yet to be identified, but those
under development will continue to emphasize the application of nanotechnology
in applications important to national defense, such as quantum computation
and nanoelectronic devices. There
has been significant growth in congressionally directed funding for nanotechnology
in the DOD budget. The historical progression has been approximately $80
million in 2003, approximately $103 million in 2004, and approximately
$150 million in 2005. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the
U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command are evaluating nanotechnology
as a possible investment area.
Nanoscience shows great promise
for arrays of inexpensive, integrated, miniaturized sensors for chemical
/ biological / radiological / explosive (CBRE) agents, for nanostructures
enabling protection against agents, and for nanostructures that neutralize
agents. The recent terrorist events motivate accelerated insertion of
innovative technologies to improve the national security posture relative
to CBRE. DOD will play a major role in this multiagency effort.
Department of Energy (DOE)
In FY 2006, the DOE NNI request
is $207 million (see Table I-9). This is a slight
decrease of $3 million from FY 2005. Fundamental research to understand
the properties of materials at the nanoscale would be increased in three
areas: synthesis and processing of materials at the nanoscale, condensed
matter physics, and catalysis. In addition, the FY 2006 request includes
a larger investment for all five centers (Nanoscale Science Research Centers, NSRC).
All of the NSRCs are user facilities that are available to the entire
R&D community, with time and staff support allocated on the basis
of merit-reviewed proposals (see Table 2 for a list of the DOE and NSF
centers). Throughout 2006, NSRC investment emphasis will transition from
the construction and development phase to operations. The first NSRC,
the Center for Nanophase Materials Science at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
will commence full operations, and three other NSRCs will formally begin
initial user operations as their dedicated buildings are completed.
Basic research on nanoscale phenomena and processes,
and on nanomaterials, in support of the hydrogen economy will be increased.
Funding levels for fundamental scientific research into nanoscale phenomena,
nanomaterials, and other aspects of nanotechnology through grants to universities
in 2006 request remain similar to those in 2005.
HHS:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH)
The NIH FY 2006 request is $144 million, up $2 million.
NIH would receive nanoscience and nanotechnology grant applications under
existing and renewed programs. These programs are managed individually
by the Institutes and Centers, with peer review conducted for the most
part by the NIH Center for Scientific Review. Overall nanotechnology program
coordination occurs through the NIH Bioengineering Consortium (BECON).
NIH’s priority for nanotechnology research continues
to be to create novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and devices,
and new research capabilities to understand fundamental biomedical mechanisms,
leading to improved health of the population and to reduce suffering from
disease and disability.
Studies of biocompatibility are integral to many NIH-supported
studies. For example, research to develop new nanotechnology-based imaging
agents or restorative implants routinely include animal studies on the
distribution, processing and excretion of these materials, and monitor
for adverse effects that may occur during and after treatment. The NIH-wide
Nanomedicine Roadmap, with planned initial funding of $6 million in 2005
would expand to $12 million in 2006. Programs of Excellence in Nanotechnology
at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) would expand from
a planned $6 million in 2005 to $12 million next year. And the National
Cancer Institute’s (NCI) NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer would
go from $32 million in 2005 to a request of $40 million in 2006.
The NIOSH FY 2006 request is $3 million, unchanged
from the previous year. The Institute will finalize the establishment
of a Center of Excellence for Nanotechnology Research,
with the role of coordinating nanotechnology-related activities across
the Institute and addressing critical occupational health issues. NIOSH
will continue to develop partnerships with stakeholders and other organizations
to enable the translation of agency activities into appropriate workplace
practices.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA)
The FY 2006 NASA NNI request is
approximately $32 million, $13 million below 2005 (see Table
I-9). In addition to both Basic Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research,
NASA plans to invest in various application areas. The Basic NASA Nanoscience
Program comprises Bio-Molecular Systems Research, which is a joint NASA/NCI
Initiative. The OAT Program integrates nanotechnology development in three
areas: (1) Materials and Structures, (2) Nanoelectronics and Computing,
and (3) Sensors and Spacecraft Components. A major focus at NASA is to
advance and exploit the zone of convergence between nanotechnology, biotechnology,
and information technology. Areas to be emphasized include: ultrahigh strength
and multi-functional materials; high density, low power electronics; ultra-small
and sensitive sensors; and highly miniaturized spacecraft systems (from
MEMS to NEMS, nanoelectromechanical systems). The NASA programs
have been revised in the past year as result of the revised mission of
the agency.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
The FY 2006 request is $75 million, unchanged from
this year (see Table I-9). Projects
in the following areas will be funded: molecular electronics; quantum
computing; nanomagnetodynamics; nanotribology; and autonomous atom assembly.
Approximately half of the total allocated funds will be used to continue
current internal efforts in several of these areas and half will be used
to leverage existing efforts with external partners. The funds are distributed,
using a competitive process, across the NIST Laboratories for enabling
infrastructural measurement, standards, and data for nanomagnetics, nanocharacterization,
and new information technologies.
New nanomanufacturing and
nanofabrication programs are inaugurated this year to support, at an enhanced level, research into nanoimprint lithography,
particle metrology and other manufacturing metrology techniques. These
programs also support development and delivery of measurement
and infrastructural technologies to provide traceable metrology, process-control,
and quality assurance for nanoscale manufacturing. Funding was also increased
for research on measurements of nanomechanical properties and on nanotube/nanoparticle
metrology, and for efforts to produce nanoelectronics and nanophotonics
devices.
The National Nanomanufacturing
and Nanometrology Facility (N3F) opened in Gaithersburg, MD, in 2005. The N3F was developed at NIST to support the development of new infrastructural
metrology and standards for U.S.
nanotechnology efforts through centralized access to NIST’s unique nanometrology
and nanofabrication resources, including the facilities of the Advanced
Measurement Laboratory and NIST’s nanometrology experts.
NIST plans to direct half of the new nanotechnology
funding to these external organizations to conduct much of the specific
work required to meet the goals of this initiative and avoid developing
costly, complex in-house capabilities that may only be used once. NIST
has a large range of collaborations with industry.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
EPA’s research is
organized around the risk assessment/risk management paradigm. Research
on human health and environmental effects, exposure, and risk assessment
is combined to inform decisions on risk management. Research on environmental
applications and implications of nanotechnology can be addressed within
this framework. Nanotechnology may offer the promise of improved characterization
of environmental problems, significantly reduced environmental impacts
from “cleaner” manufacturing approaches, and reduced material and energy
use. The potential impacts of nanoparticles from different applications
on human health and the environment will be a focus area.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The FY 2006 request is approximately $11 million, about
$8 million over the FY 2005 current plan. USDA conducts its research both
extramurally through the partnership between the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), the Land Grant Universities
(LGUs), and in-house at Agriculture Research Service (ARS) laboratories.
CSREES also provides leadership and financial supports in education and
outreach in all the states and territories of the U.S. through the LGUs. The USDA
nanotechnology program will further expand in 2006 through its Nanotechnology
Research Initiative for extramural competitive research and education
grants. R&D efforts will contribute to the NNI
program component areas, with a central theme of exploiting the novel
properties of nanoscale biological structures derived from important agricultural
materials. The development of nanotechnology-based sensors for application
in the food industry and agriculture is also a priority, and will similarly
expand.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The FY 2006 research request
remains unchanged, at approximately $1 million, for the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) to address one of the agency’s most critical
missions today: ensuring the security of our nation’s air transportation
system by improving the detection of explosives and chemical/biological
weapons. R&D programs aim to detect explosives and hazardous chemicals
at the nanometer level and to characterize the interactions of explosives
on material surfaces at this scale. Further research will yield sensor
technologies that are cheaper and lighter yet far more sensitive, selective,
and reliable than current systems.
Department of Justice (DOJ)
In FY 2006 the budget request is steady at $2 million.
The DOJ National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has two separate projects
areas that incorporate nanotechnology—DNA Research ($1.0 million) and
Development and Chemical and Biological Defense ($1 million). The DNA Research and Development
program will continue basic research as well as the demonstration of chip-based
or micro-device technologies to analyze DNA in forensic applications.
The Chemical and Biological Defense program is developing a wearable,
low-cost device to provide warning of exposure to unanticipated chemical
and biological hazards in sufficient time for its wearer to take effective
protective measures. Evolving nanotechnology may be used to address limitations
of the current enzymatic approach.
Table 2. Key NNI R&D user facilities
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Center Name
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Institution
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NSF
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National Nanofabrication Infrastructure
Network (NNIN) – 13 nodes
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Cornell University –central node
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Network
for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) – 7 nodes
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Purdue University – central node
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DOE
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Center
for Functional Nanomaterials
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Brookhaven National Laboratory
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Center
for Integrated Nanotechnologies
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Sandia NL and Los Almos NL
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Center
for Nanophase Materials Sciences
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Center
for Nanoscale Materials
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Argonne National Laboratory
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Molecular
Foundry
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Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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Senior Advisor to the National Science Foundation, and Chair of NSTC’s
Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET). The views
expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of NSF or NSET.
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