National Nanotechnology Initiative
From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative was an American federal nanoscale science, nanoscale engineering, and nanoscale technology research and development program. Initiative participants claimed (as cited in "References") its four goals were to
- conduct research and development "to realize the full potential of this revolutionary technology";
- "develop the skilled workforce and supporting infrastructure needed to advance" research and development;
- "better understand the social, ethical, health, and environmental implications of the technology"; and
- "facilitate transfer of the new technologies into commercial products".
Participants
- Department of Commerce
- 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 Treasury
- Department of Homeland Security (which includes Transportation Security Administration)
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Justice
Clinton's influence
People have commonly credited 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."
