About the National Science and Technology Council

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) was established by Executive Order on November 23, 1993. The Cabinetlevel council is the principal means by which the President coordinates science, space, and technology policies across the Federal 

Government. NSTC coordinates the diverse parts of the Federal research and development enterprise. An important objective of the 

NSTC is the establishment of clear national goals for Federal science and technology investments in areas ranging from 

nanotechnology and health research to improving transportation systems and strengthening fundamental research. The Council 

prepares research and development strategies that are coordinated across Federal agencies to form a comprehensive investment 

package aimed at accomplishing multiple national goals. To obtain additional information regarding the NSTC, visit the NSTC 

website at http://www.ostp.gov/cs/nstc.

About the Office of Science and Technology Policy

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) was established by the National Science and Technology Policy, 

Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976. OSTP’s responsibilities include advising the President in policy formulation and budget 

development on all questions in which science and technology (S&T) are important elements; articulating the President’s S&T 

policies and programs; and fostering strong partnerships among Federal, State, and local governments, and the scientific 

communities in industry and academia. The Director of OSTP also serves as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology 

and manages the NSTC for the President. For additional information regarding OSTP, visit the OSTP website at

http://www.ostp.gov/.

About this document

This document is a supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget Request submitted to Congress on May 7, 2009. It gives a 

description of the activities underway in 2009 and planned for 2010 by the Federal Government agencies participating in the 

National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), primarily from a programmatic and budgetary perspective. It is based on the NNI 

Strategic Plan released in December 2007 and reports estimated investments for 2009 and requested investments for 2010 by 

program component area (PCA), as called for under the provisions of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development 

Act (Public Law 108-153). Additional information regarding the NNI is available on the NNI website at http://www.nano.gov/.

About the cover

Central image: Atomically precise positioning of carbon monoxide molecules on a copper surface enables data storage with bits

smaller than atoms. A molecular hologram, shown as dark dimples in the yellow surface, is fashioned one molecule at a time using a 

scanning tunneling microscope. By analogy to optical holography where density variations in an optical media constitute an optical 

hologram, here molecular position (density) constitutes the molecular hologram. When illuminated by the resident two-dimensional 

electron gas confined to the surface of the copper, a holographic image is created in the density of states as a function of three 

dimensions—energy, x-position, and y-position. This image is localized in the 5 nm by 5 nm central purple region devoid of 

molecules. The density of states information has in the examples shown been synthesized by positioning the molecules to form 

simple letters. Once encoded in this region, the information may be read out by scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Here, two pages of 

information, shown schematically as pages in a data cube, are retrieved by reading the density of electron states at two energy levels, 

one energy level shown as red and one as blue. Due to the quantum nature of the electron states used, these electronic objects have 

features smaller than anything possible to construct directly with atoms. This experiment shows that information can be stored at 

unprecedented densities by using electrons to encode data below the level of individual atoms (work funded by DOE BES, NSF, and 

ONR; courtesy of Hari Manoharan, Stanford University, http://mota.stanford.edu). Greenish portions of background: False-color 

scanning tunneling microscopy image revealing the atomic-scale electronic perturbations caused by a lattice defect in bilayer 

graphene (courtesy of Joseph Stroscio, National Institute of Standards and Technology, http://cnst.nist.gov). 

Cover and book design

Cover design is by Kathy Tresnak of Koncept, Inc. Book design is by staff members of the National Nanotechnology Coordination 

Office (NNCO).

Copyright information

This document is a work of the U.S. Government and is in the public domain (see 17 USC §105). Subject to stipulations below, it 

may be distributed and copied, with acknowledgement to the NNCO. Copyrights to graphics included in this document are 

reserved by original copyright holders or their assignees and are used here under the Government’s license and by permission. 

Requests to use any images must be made to the provider identified in the image credits, or to the NNCO if no provider is 

identified.

Printed in the United States of America. 2009.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative

Research and Development Leading to a Revolution

in Technology and Industry

Supplement to the

President’s 2010 Budget

May 2009

Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology 

Committee on Technology

National Science and Technology Council
Department and Agency Representatives

Office of Science and Technology 

Policy (OSTP)

Travis M. Earles

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB)

Irene B. Kariampuzha

Bureau of Industry and Security 

(BIS/DOC)

Kelly Gardner

Consumer Product Safety 

Commission (CPSC)

Mary Ann Danello

Treye A. Thomas

Cooperative State Research, 

Education, and Extension Service 

(CSREES/USDA) 

Hongda Chen

Department of Defense (DOD) 

Lewis Sloter

David M. Stepp

Robert H. Cohn

Richard J. Colton

Mihal E. Gross

Gernot S. Pomrenke

Department of Education (DOEd)

Krishan Mathur

Department of Energy (DOE)

Patricia M. Dehmer

Altaf H. Carim

John C. Miller

Andrew R. Schwartz

Brian G. Valentine

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS)

Richard T. Lareau

Eric J. Houser

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Joseph Heaps

Department of Labor (DOL)

Brad Wiggins

Department of State (DOS)

Ken Hodgkins

Robert Rudnitsky

Chris Cannizzaro

Department of Transportation 

(DOT)

Kelly Leone

Jonathan R. Porter

Department of the Treasury 

(DOTreas)

John F. Bobalek

Director of National Intelligence 

(DNI)

Richard Ridgley

Susan E. Durham

Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA)

Jeff Morris

Nora F. Savage

Philip G. Sayre

Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA/DHHS)

Norris E. Alderson

Carlos Peña

Forest Service (FS/USDA) 

Christopher D. Risbrudt

Theodore H. Wegner

International Trade Commission 

(ITC)

Elizabeth R. Nesbitt

National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA) 

Minoo N. Dastoor

National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health 

(NIOSH/CDC/DHHS)

Vladimir V. Murashov

National Institutes of Health 

(NIH/DHHS)

Piotr Grodzinski

Lori Henderson

Jeffery A. Schloss

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST/DOC)

Lloyd J. Whitman

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Mihail C. Roco 

Zakya H. Kafafi

Charles Liarakos

T. James Rudd

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(NRC)

Richard P. Croteau

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Sarah Gerould

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 

(USPTO/DOC)

Charles Eloshway

Bruce Kisliuk

Report prepared by

NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY (CT)

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NANOSCALE SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, ANDTECHNOLOGY (NSET)

NSET Subcommittee Agency Co-Chair: National Nanotechnology Coordination Office Director: 

Sally Tinkle E. Clayton Teague 

NSET Subcommittee OSTP Co-Chair: NSET Subcommittee Executive Secretary: 

Travis M. Earles Geoffrey M. Holdridge
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

Washington, D.C. 20502

May 14, 2009

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS:

I am pleased to forward with this letter the annual report on the multi-agency National 

Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). This Supplement to the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 

2010 briefly describes the programs and coordinated activities taking place across all 25 of the 

agencies that are participating today in the NNI. Nanotechnology research and development 

(R&D) is inherently multidisciplinary and the rate of progress depends on the strong interagency 

coordination via the National Science and Technology Council to leverage expertise throughout 

the Federal Government and generate a whole greater than the sum of its parts. 

The proposed NNI budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 of $1.64 billion will bring the cumulative 

investment since the inception of the NNI in FY 2001 to nearly $12 billion. This sustained 

investment continues to advance our understanding of the unique phenomena and processes that 

occur at the nanometer scale and to expedite the responsible use of this knowledge to address 

national and global needs in high-impact opportunity areas such as energy, security, and public 

health. Participating agencies support this nanotechnology R&D consistent with the NNI

Strategic Plan.

Along with its investment in the development and application of nanotechnology, the NNI 

continues to expand its activities to assess and address the potential health and environmental

implications as well as societal and ethical concerns associated with this emerging technology. 

The requested budget increase for direct nanotechnology-related EHS research marks the initial 

impact of the NNI Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety 

Research released last year. 

Nanotechnology R&D has already generated significant new products, tools, and processes. But 

it is the enormous potential of nanotechnology to lead to revolutionary, paradigm-shifting 

advances that warrants continued public and private investments. Taken as whole, the budget and 

collective leveraging efforts of the NNI reflect a longstanding commitment to broad-based 

support of closely-coordinated applications and implications research to enable responsible 

nanotechnology innovation in the United States that continues to set the pace for the rest of the 

world. 

Thank you for your ongoing interest and support of this Federal initiative. 

Sincerely,

John P. Holdren

Director

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents.....................................................................................................................................1

1. Introduction and Overview..................................................................................................................3

Overview of National Nanotechnology Initiative................................................................................3

Purpose of this Report .........................................................................................................................4

2. NNI Investments..................................................................................................................................7

Budget Summary .................................................................................................................................7

Changes in Balance of Investments by Program Component Area (PCA)........................................11

3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities....................................................................13

NNI Contributions to Administration Goals for the Nation ..............................................................13

Activities Relating to the Four NNI Goals ........................................................................................14

External Reviews of the NNI.............................................................................................................26

Appendix A. Glossary ...........................................................................................................................27

Appendix B. Contact List ......................................................................................................................30
2 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget
The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2009 Budget 3

1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Overview of the National Nanotechnology Initiative

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) is the U.S. Government interagency cross-cut program that 

coordinates Federal research and development activities in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology 

and related efforts among various participating agencies. Established in 2001,1 the NNI is aimed at 

accelerating the discovery, development, and deployment of this technology. Currently the NNI involves

the nanotechnology-related activities of 25 Federal agencies, 13 of which have budgets for nanotechnology 

research and development (R&D) for 2010 (see Table 1). 

The National Nanotechnology Initiative is managed within the framework of the National Science and 

Technology Council (NSTC), the Cabinet-level council by which the President coordinates science and 

technology policy across the Federal Government. The Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology 

(NSET) Subcommittee of the NSTC coordinates planning, budgeting, program implementation, and 

review of the initiative. The NSET Subcommittee is composed of representatives from agencies 

participating in the NNI. A listing of official NSET Subcommittee members is provided at the front of this 

report. Contact information for NSET Subcommittee participants is provided in Appendix B. The 

National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) acts as the primary point of contact for 

information on the NNI; provides technical and administrative support to the NSET Subcommittee; 

supports the subcommittee in the preparation of multiagency planning, budget, and assessment documents, 

including this report; and develops, updates, and maintains the NNI website, http://www.nano.gov.

The NSET Subcommittee has established several working groups. These include the Global Issues in 

Nanotechnology (GIN) Working Group; the Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications 

(NEHI) Working Group; the Nanomanufacturing, Industry Liaison, and Innovation (NILI) Working 

Group; and the Nanotechnology Public Engagement and Communication (NPEC) Working Group.

The December 2007 NNI Strategic Plan2 sets out a vision for the NNI: a future in which the ability to 

understand and control matter at the nanoscale leads to a revolution in technology and industry that benefits 

society. The plan specifies four goals aimed at achieving that overall vision: (1) advance a world-class 

nanotechnology research and development program; (2) foster the transfer of new technologies into 

products for commercial and public benefit; (3) develop and sustain educational resources, a skilled 

workforce, and the supporting infrastructure and tools to advance nanotechnology; and (4) support 

 

1 General note: In conformance with Office of Management and Budget style, references to years in this report are to fiscal years 

unless otherwise noted.

2 http://www.nano.gov/NNI_Strategic_Plan_2007.pdf. 

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, 

where unique phenomena enable novel applications. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, 

nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale.

A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick; a single gold atom is about a 

third of a nanometer in diameter. Dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers are known as the nanoscale. 

Unusual physical, chemical, and biological properties can emerge in materials at the nanoscale. These properties may differ in 

important ways from the properties of bulk materials and single atoms or molecules.
1. Introduction and Overview

4 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

responsible development of nanotechnology. The plan also lays out eight NNI investment categories (or 

program component areas, PCAs), each aimed at helping to achieve one or more of the above goals:

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

7. Environment, health, and safety

8. Education and societal dimensions

Federal agencies are investing in R&D within the above categories in support of national goals and agency 

missions. NNI funding represents the sum of the funding allocated by each of the participating agencies. 

Each agency separately determines its budgets for nanotechnology R&D, in coordination with the Office of 

Management and Budget, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Congress. Thus, the NNI is an 

interagency budget crosscut in which participating agencies work closely with each other to create an 

integrated program through communication, coordination, and joint programs. This creates a synergy 

between individual agency programs in which the NNI is greater than the sum of its parts.

Purpose of this Report

This document provides supplemental information to the President’s 2010 Budget and serves as the Annual 

Report on the NNI called for in the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act 

(P.L. 108-153). In particular, the report summarizes NNI programmatic activities for 2008 and 2009, as 

well as those planned for in 2010. NNI budgets for 2008–2010 are presented by agency and PCA in 

Section 2 of this report. Information on the use of the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

and Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program (STTR) program funds to support 

nanotechnology research and commercialization activities, called for in P.L. 108-153, will be provided in a 

separate document after updated SBIR data become available later in 2009. Section 3 discusses activities 

that have been undertaken and progress that has been made toward achieving the goals set out in the NNI 

Strategic Plan and highlights external reviews of the NNI and how their recommendations are being 

addressed. 
1. Introduction and Overview

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 5

Table 1

List of Federal Agencies Participating in the NNI During 2009

Federal agencies with budgets dedicated to nanotechnology research and development

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES, Department of Agriculture)3

Department of Defense (DOD)

Department of Energy (DOE)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Department of Transportation (DOT)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Forest Service (FS, Department of Agriculture)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, Department of Health and Human 

Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

National Institutes of Health (NIH, Department of Health and Human Services) 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, Department of Commerce)

National Science Foundation (NSF) 

Other participating agencies

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS, Department of Commerce)

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Department of Education (DOEd)

Department of Labor (DOL)

Department of State (DOS)

Department of the Treasury (DOTreas)

Director of National Intelligence (DNI)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Department of Health and Human Services)

International Trade Commission (ITC)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS, Department of the Interior)

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO, Department of Commerce)

 

3 Section 7511 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) establishes within the Department of Agriculture the 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and transfers all authorities of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 

Extension Service to NIFA not later than October 1, 2009.
6 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2009 Budget
The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2009 Budget 7

2.NNI INVESTMENTS

Budget Summary

The 2010 Budget provides $1.6 billion for the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), reflecting steady 

growth in the NNI investment. This sustained major investment in nanotechnology research and 

development (R&D) across the Federal Government over the past ten fiscal years of the NNI reflects the 

broad support of the Administration and of Congress for this program. This support is based on 

nanotechnology’s potential to vastly improve our fundamental understanding and control of matter, 

ultimately leading to a revolution in technology and industry for the benefit of society. The NNI remains 

focused on fulfilling the Federal role of supporting basic research, infrastructure development, and 

technology transfer, in the expectation that the resulting advances and capabilities will make important 

contributions to national priorities, with applications across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, 

electronics, aeronautics, agriculture and food, and energy. The NNI also is committed to implementing its 

comprehensive strategy for environmental, health, and safety (EHS) research.4 Increasing investments by 

NNI participating agencies in nanotechnology-related research since 2001 reflect a recognition of the 

potential for this research to support agency missions and responsibilities. The cumulative NNI investment 

since 2001, including the 2010 request, now totals almost $12 billion. Cumulative investments in EHS 

research since 2005 now total over $350 million. Cumulative investments in education and in research on 

ethical, legal, and other societal dimensions of nanotechnology since 2005 total over $220 million.

The 2010 NNI budget supports nanoscale science and engineering R&D at 13 agencies. Agencies with the

largest investments are:

• NSF (fundamental research across all disciplines of science and engineering)

• DOD (science and engineering research advancing defense and dual-use capabilities) 

• DOE (research providing a basis for new and improved energy technologies)

• NIH (nanotechnology-based biomedical research at the intersection of life sciences and the physical 

sciences)

• NIST (fundamental research and development of measurement and fabrication tools, analytical 

methodologies, and metrology for nanotechnology)

Other agencies investing in mission-related research are NASA, NIOSH, EPA, USDA (including both 

CSREES and FS), DHS, DOJ, and DOT (including the Federal Highway Administration, FHWA). 

Table 2 shows NNI investments in 2008–2010 for Federal agencies with budgets and investments for 

nanotechnology R&D. Tables 3–6 list the investments by agency and by program component area (PCA). 

The program component areas shown in these tables are those outlined in the December 2007 NNI 

Strategic Plan, 5 with nanotechnology-related EHS research reported in a separate PCA. 

 

4 Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research (February 2008): 

http://www.nano.gov/NNI_EHS_Research_Strategy.pdf. 5 http://www.nano.gov/NNI_Strategic_Plan_2007.pdf, pp. 7–9. 
2. NNI Investments

8 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

Table 2

NNI Budget, 2008--2010

(dollars in millions)

2008 Actual 2009 Estimate 2009 Recovery* 2010 Proposed

NSF 409 397 108 423

DOD** 460 464 379

DOE*** 245 337 25 351

DHHS (NIH)  305 311 326

DOC (NIST) 86 87 7 91

EPA 12 16 18 

NASA 17 17 17 

DHHS (NIOSH) 7 7 12 

DHS 3 9 12 

USDA (FS) 5 5 5 

USDA (CSREES) 6 3 3 

DOT (FHWA) 1 3 3

DOJ 0 0 0 

TOTAL** *** 1,554 1,657 140 1,640

* Based on preliminary allocations of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) appropriations. 

These figures may change. Other NNI agencies with ARRA funding, but not listed in the table, are in the process of

determining their allocations.

** In Tables 2–4, the 2008 and 2009 DOD figures include Congressionally directed funding that is outside the NNI plan 

($117 million for 2009). 

*** Funding levels for DOE include the Office of Science and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

  NIH recently unveiled the Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization (RCDC) system, a new knowledge 

management system designed to provide more consistent and transparent information to the public about NIH research. 

The shift to the RCDC process of categorization changes the way individual research projects are assigned to categories. 

This change will result in some differences in total dollar amounts between the 2008 reports and those issued in previous 

years. Any difference, whether an increase or decrease in funding levels, does not necessarily reflect a change in the amount

of money the NIH received from Congress or a change in the actual content of the NIH research portfolio. For more 

information about the RCDC process and some of the factors that might contribute to the differences between the 

previously reported and new RCDC-generated funding levels, please go to:

http://report.nih.gov/rcdc/category_process/Default.aspx and http://report.nih.gov/rcdc/reasons/default.aspx. 

** *** For Tables 2–6, totals may not add, due to rounding.

Key points about the 2009 and 2010 NNI investments

• Beyond the es timated $1. 66 billion i n to tal N NI i nvestments r eported u nder th e r espective 200 9 

agency appropriations, an additional $140 million has been provided for nanotechnology research and 

infrastructure investments in 2009 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 

2009. Note that ARRA investments shown in Table 5 are not included in Table 4. Additional 2009 

nanotechnology-related investments may be reported later, as agencies evaluate the results of funding 

opportunity announcements issued under ARRA.

• Research on fundamental nanoscale phenomena and processes remains the largest program 

component area, growing from $478 million in 2008 to $507 million in 2010. With additional funds 

provided under ARRA, the enacted funding for this PCA in 2009 t otals $548 million. Much of the 

increase for 2009 a nd 2010 stems from increased investments at DOE’s Office of Science for basic 

research on energy applications of nanoscience, and at NSF. 
2. NNI Investments

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 9

Table 3

Actual 2008 Agency Investments by Program Component Area 

(dollars in millions)

Fundamental

Phenomena & 

Processes

Nanomaterials

Nanoscale Devices

& Systems

Instrument 

Research, 

Metrology, & 

Standards

Nanomanufacturing

Major Research 

Facilities & Instr. 

Acquisition 

Environment,

Health, and Safety

Education & 

Societal Dimensions

NNI Total

NSF 154.3 72.9 44.6 21.8 20.7 29.1 29.2 35.9 408.6

DOD 200.2 73.9 137.9 8.1 7.8 28.7 3.8 460.4

DOE 50.3 72.4 4.7 16.3 6.8 91.1 2.6 0.5 244.7

DHHS (NIH) 47.4 43.1 159.5 5.3 0.7 36.0 11.9 0.6 304.5

DOC (NIST) 20.9 9.0 14.8 17.3 10.8 11.5 1.3 85.6

EPA 0.2 0.2 0.1 11.6 12.1

NASA 2.1 9.4 5.9 17.4

DHHS (NIOSH) 6.9 6.9

DHS 1.6 1.6 3.2

USDA (FS) 1.7 1.5 1.0 0.2 0.2 4.6

USDA (CSREES) 0.5 1.1 2.5 0.1 0.6 0.7 5.5

DOT (FHWA) 0.9 0.9

DOJ 0.1

TOTAL 478.5 285.1 372.7 69.0 47.1 196.4 67.9 37.7 1,554.4

Table 4

Estimated 2009 Agency Investments by Program Component Area 

(dollars in millions)

Fundamental

Phenomena & 

Processes

Nanomaterials

Nanoscale Devices

& Systems

Instrument 

Research, 

Metrology, & 

Standards

Nanomanufacturing

Major Research 

Facilities & Instr. 

Acquisition 

Environment, 

Health, and Safety

Education & 

Societal Dimensions

NNI Total

NSF 146.4 74.6 42.3 17.6 21.9 34.4 27.9 32.1 397.2

DOD 192.6 76.6 131.8 8.9 25.3 25.2 3.7 464.1

DOE 96.1 88.5 8.3 31.7 4.9 103.8 3.1 0.5 336.9

DHHS (NIH) 48.4 44.5 164.3 5.5 0.7 37.1 10.2 0.6 311.3

DOC (NIST) 21.0 7.7 15.3 18.3 10.6 11.2 3.0 87.1

EPA 0.2 0.2 0.2 15.8 16.4

NASA 1.8 9.5 5.3 16.6

DHHS (NIOSH) 7.4 7.4

DHS 3.7 5.3 0.1 9.1

USDA (FS) 2.0 1.4 0.7 1.1 0.2 5.4

USDA (CSREES) 0.4 0.6 1.5 0.1 0.4 0.3 3.3

DOT (FHWA) 1.5 1.0 2.5

DOJ 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3

TOTAL 509.0 308.8 376.1 83.1 63.9 211.7 71.5 33.5 1,657.6
2. NNI Investments

10 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

Table 5

Preliminary 2009 Agency Investments from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by Program Component Area*

(dollars in millions)

Fundamental

Phenomena & 

Processes

Nanomaterials

Nanoscale Devices

& Systems

Instrument 

Research, 

Metrology, & 

Standards

Nanomanufacturing

Major Research 

Facilities & Instr. 

Acquisition 

Environment, 

Health, and Safety

Education & 

Societal Dimensions

NNI Total

NSF 38.5 27.7 9.2 3.4 3.2 17.7 2.7 5.4 107.8

DOE 25.0 25.0

DOC (NIST) 7.3 7.3

TOTAL 38.5 27.7 9.2 3.4 3.2 50.0 2.7 5.4 140.1

* Based on preliminary allocations of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) appropriations. 

These figures may change. Other NNI agencies with ARRA funding, but not listed in the table, are in the process of

determining their allocations.

Table 6

Planned 2010 Agency Investments by Program Component Area 

(dollars in millions)

Fundamental

Phenomena & 

Processes

Nanomaterials

Nanoscale Devices

& Systems

Instrument 

Research, 

Metrology, & 

Standards

Nanomanufacturing

Major Research 

Facilities & Instr. 

Acquisition 

Environment, 

Health, and Safety

Education & 

Societal Dimensions

NNI Total

NSF 154.7 80.4 43.8 18.5 22.5 38.5 29.9 34.7 423.0

DOD 174.8 61.6 100.6 4.6 14.2 21.0 1.7 378.5

DOE 103.2 82.4 12.8 35.1 4.9 109.6 2.9 0.5 351.4

DHHS (NIH) 48.8 45.2 169.3 5.5 0.7 38.2 17.3 0.6 325.6

DOC (NIST) 21.1 7.5 14.4 19.4 10.7 11.4 6.0 90.5

EPA 0.2 0.2 0.2 17.1 17.7

NASA 1.8 9.5 5.3 16.6

DHHS (NIOSH) 12.4 12.4

DHS 6.5 4.9 0.3 11.7

USDA (FS) 2.0 1.4 0.7 1.1 0.2 5.4

USDA (CSREES) 0.4 0.6 1.5 0.1 0.4 0.3 3.3

DOT (FHWA) 1.5 1.0 2.5

DOJ 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4

TOTAL 507.1 296.8 354.6 84.2 53.7 218.7 87.7 36.1 1,639.0

• Other leading funding categories include the PCAs on nanoscale devices and systems ($355 million in 

2010) and nanomaterials ($297 million in 2010). As the NNI’s initial infrastructure investments 

mature, funding for the PCA on major research facilities and instrumentation acquisition has begun to 

level off (other than some increased funds provided under ARRA in 2009, which are being used to 

upgrade equipment and other facilities at DOE, NSF, and NIST user facilities).
2. NNI Investments

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 11

• Investments i n e nvironmental, health, and safety research continue to g row substantially from $68

million in 2008 to a requested $88 million for 2010. The increases are primarily targeted for leading 

and contributing agencies to address the prioritized research needs as identified in the NNI Strategy for 

Nanotechnology-Related E nvironmental, Health, and S afety Res earch,6

• Investments i n i nstrumentation r esearch, metrology, a nd s tandards c ontinue t o g row ( from 

$69 million in 2008 to $8 4 million i n 201 0). Nanomanufacturing research investments a re a lso 

growing (from $47 million in 2008 to $54 million in 2010, with a one-year increase to $67 million in 

2009, due in part to ARRA funding). 

including i nstrumentation and 

fundamental characterization, exposure assessment, and human health implications. For tables in this 

document, EHS R &D i s d efined a s r esearch wh ose p rimary p urpose i s t o u nderstand a nd a ddress 

potential risks to health and the environment that engineered nanomaterials may pose.

• Some of the largest percentage increases in nanotechnology-related funding for 2010 are at agencies 

such as NIOSH and EPA, which are increasing their funding for EHS research, and DHS, which has 

reexamined its i nvestment portfolio and is ramping up some new efforts i n nanotechnology (see 

below). NIH investments also continue to rise.

Changes in Balance of Investments by Program Component Area (PCA)

7

DOD: The Department of Defense continues to view nanotechnology as one of the enabling technologies 

that s hould r eceive the h ighest level of c orporate attention and coordination as d escribed i n th e 20 07 

Department o f D efense R esearch & E ngineering Strategy, w hich m ay be accessed online a t 

P.L. 108-153 calls for this report to address changes in the balance of investments by NNI member agencies 

among the PCAs. These are summarized below for those agencies that are reporting significant changes for 

2009 and 2010. 

DHS: Significant changes in overall funding have occurred because some activities were not included in the 

previous-year estimates, and a number of program activities have been expanded due to planned program 

scope c hanges a ssociated wi th transitioning of p roof-of-concept efforts to p rototype d evelopment and 

related technology transition efforts. 2010 programs are largely continuations of 2009 efforts, with limited 

new start proof-of-concept efforts beginning in 2010. The relative balance across PCAs from 2008–2010 is 

associated with regular program turnover and transition activities.

http://www.dod.mil/ddre/doc/Strategic_Plan_Final.pdf. D OD 2010 plans i nclude co ntinued, 

approximately stable support for all PCAs except Societal Dimensions—Education and Ethical, Legal, and 

Other Societal Issues. The primary PCA emphasis is expected to be in Fundamental Nanoscale Phenomena 

and P rocesses, Nanoscale D evices and Systems, and N anomaterials. New p rojects are awarded o n a 

competitive basis, so the actual balance of investment may vary somewhat from expectations. The DOD is 

undertaking a comprehensive review of its nanotechnology programs and strategy and expects to provide a 

detailed report on its program and progress in November 2009.8

DOE: The predominant Department of Energy components of the National Nanotechnology Initiative are 

research programs and facilities supported by DOE's Office of Science. The investment in 2010 continues 

to support full operation o f the fiv e DOE Nanoscale Science R esearch Center (NSRC) user f acilities 

(corresponding to the PCA for major research facilities and instrumentation acquisition) and an extensive 

 

6 http://www.nano.gov/NNI_EHS_Research_Strategy.pdf. 7 Changes are as compared to NNI investments described in the NNI Supplement to the President’s 2009 Budget, 

http://www.nano.gov/html/res/pubs.html. 8 The previous DOD nanotechnology report is available at http://www.nano.gov/html/res/DefenseNano2007.pdf.

 
2. NNI Investments

12 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

array of individual university grants and laboratory research programs. The Energy Frontier Research 

Centers, larger collaborative efforts in which a portion of the activity relates to nanoscale science, are also 

continued. (These constituted a substantial portion of the increase in DOE NNI funding in 2009 versus 

2008.) Nanoscience funding increases in 2010 are due partly to small increases across all of these 

mechanisms, which include activities related to solar energy conversion, chemical imaging, nuclear energy, 

ultrafast science, instrumentation for characterization, and other areas. However, much of the increase in 

2010 over 2009 results from the initiation of Energy Innovation Hubs focusing on electrical energy storage 

and solar fuels, in which it is anticipated that a fraction of the activity will be appropriately characterized as 

nanoscience. As a result of these changes, the DOE investment for 2010 includes a moderate increase under 

the Facilities and Instrumentation Acquisition PCA and considerably larger increases in the Fundamental 

Phenomena and Processes, Nanomaterials, and other PCAs. 

DOT/FHWA: The continuation of work previously reported under the Fundamental Nanoscale 

Phenomena and Processes PCA will be reported under the Nanomaterials PCA beginning in 2009 to better 

reflect the nature of the work now being performed. In addition, the Federal Highway Administration plans 

to increase its overall nanotechnology investment in 2009 and will split this increase between the 

Nanomaterials PCA and the Nanoscale Devices and Systems PCA.

NSF: No significant changes. The balance of efforts among PCAs continues to support priority 

fundamental research, as well as all areas of relevance, including societal implications.

NIH: NIH expects to fund some additional nanotechnology-related projects in 2009 under ARRA and will

provide estimates of the amounts as they become available, but it is including no ARRA funding in this 

report.

NIST: The President’s 2010 Budget includes a $3.5 million increase compared to 2009 in the NIST 

budget for research in nanotechnology. The NIST funding for EHS aspects of nanotechnology will increase

from $3.2 million in 2009 to $6.2 million in 2010, to further the development of an accurate 

characterization framework needed by all Federal agencies for timely progress on this topic. Under this 

request, NIST will significantly expand its nanotechnology EHS activities through a coordinated initiative 

that leverages nanotechnology expertise and resources across its laboratories and facilities to develop 

analytical methods for quantifying the type and amount of nanomaterials in biological systems, the 

environment, and the workplace.

NIOSH: NIOSH continues to invest exclusively in the PCA on environment, health, and safety, 

corresponding to its lead role in conducting nanotechnology R&D related to worker health and safety, and 

in coordinating the NNI EHS research category on human and environmental exposure assessment.

NIOSH conducts this work in close coordination with other agencies. This increased investment will 

support intramural and extramural projects that address critical research gaps related to potential 

occupational safety and health implications of nanotechnology and nanomaterials.

USDA/CSREES: USDA/CSREES will maintain its balanced investment by supporting research, 

development, education, and outreach activities in six of the eight PCAs (see Tables 3, 4, and 6 above, with 

PCA distributions). One noticeable change, though small in total dollars, is an increase in funding for both 

the Environment, Health and Safety PCA and the Educational and Societal Dimensions PCA. This is

reflected in the 2008 actual and 2009 estimated spending, compared to what was reported in the NNI 

Supplement to the President’s 2009 Budget, as well as in the 2010 request. The total dollar figures for the 

CSREES 2009 and 2010 nanotechnology budgets are slightly lower than those in the 2008 actual budget.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2009 Budget 13

3. PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING NNI GOALS AND PRIORITIES

NNI Contributions to Administration Goals for the Nation

Nanotechnology cuts across a wide variety of scientific and engineering disciplines, and it has potentially 

revolutionary applications relevant to many national priorities and key industrial sectors, including 

aerospace, agriculture, biotechnology, homeland security and national defense, energy, environmental 

improvement, information technology, medicine, and transportation. The work of the NSET 

Subcommittee in coordinating the NNI contributes to many Administration goals. For example: 

• Economy. The NNI, through the coordinated efforts of the NSET Subcommittee, is “[i]nvesting in 

the science, research, and technology that will lead to new medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, 

and entire new industries.”9 The NNI Vision, as set out in the December 2007 NNI Strategic Plan

(p. 3), is “a future in which the ability to understand and control matter at the nanoscale leads to a 

revolution in technology and industry that benefits society.” Nanotechnology is expected to 

revolutionize traditional economic sectors (e.g., transportation and healthcare), as well as help to 

create the new high-technology industries of the future, where the United States can have comparative 

advantage over other countries. These new industries will create high-wage jobs for scientists, 

technicians, and manufacturing workers. “Transfer of new technologies into products for commercial 

and public benefit” is one of the NNI’s four overarching goals (see more details below). In keeping 

with this goal, the NNI Strategic Plan calls out ten examples of important national needs and major 

industry sectors on which nanotechnology could have an impact, including energy security, smarter 

computers, safe and affordable water, and early detection of life-threatening diseases. The plan also 

calls for coordinated efforts by the NSET Subcommittee member agencies to accelerate the 

development of these and other high-impact application areas by addressing critical research needs.

• Energy and the Environment. The NNI is expected to contribute to the Administration’s goal of 

developing a “comprehensive plan to invest in alternative and renewable energy, end our addiction to 

foreign oil, address the global climate crisis, and create millions of new jobs.”10 Potential contributions 

from nanotechnology towards this goal, and recommendations on the NNI research agenda to enable 

these contributions, are described in detail in two NSET Subcommittee-sponsored workshop reports:

- Nanoscience Research for Energy Needs (http://www.nano.gov/nni_energy_rpt.pdf) outlines 

opportunities for major advancements in energy conversion, storage, and utilization, e.g., in 

developing inexpensive, high-efficiency photovoltaic cells and dramatically improved batteries.

- Nanotechnology and the Environment, especially the sections on Applications and Implications 

(http://www.nano.gov/NNI_Nanotechnology_and_the_Environment.pdf), outlines opportunities

for lower-cost environmental remediation through nanotechnology, as well as approaches for 

addressing potential EHS impacts of nanotechnology.

• Technology. The NNI also addresses several priorities listed under the Administration’s Technology 

agenda:

- “Improve America’s Competitiveness”11 by investing in the sciences and in university-based 

research; these are both key elements of the NSET Subcommittee’s strategy for the NNI.

 

9 From the Economy agenda on http://whitehouse.gov, accessed February 2009. 10 From the Energy & the Environment agenda on http://whitehouse.gov, accessed February 2009. 11 This and the next two bullets from the Technology agenda on http://whitehouse.gov, accessed February 2009.
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

14 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

- “Prepare All our Children for the 21st Century Economy.” This goal is consistent with one of the 

four overarching goals outlined in the December 2007 NNI Strategic Plan of “develop[ing] and 

sustain[ing] educational resources, a skilled workforce, and the supporting infrastructure and tools 

to advance nanotechnology.” Part of the NNI vision from its inception has been that 

nanotechnology can inspire a new generation of Americans to take up careers in science and 

engineering. To this point, the NNI portfolio includes a wide range of formal and informal 

educational activities. 

- “Employ Science, Technology, and Innovation to Solve Our Nation's Most Pressing Problems.”

See discussion about this above under “Economy” and “Energy and Environment.” The NNI 

portfolio includes large investments in nanotechnology research related to early detection and 

treatment of disease, including large, targeted programs at the National Cancer Institute, among 

others.

• National Defense. Toward the Administration’s objective to “invest in a 21st century military to 

maintain our conventional advantage while increasing our capacity to defeat the threats of 

tomorrow,”12 the Department of Defense supports a large portfolio of nanotechnology basic research 

and applications development activities. Illustrations of the wide range of potential military 

applications of nanotechnology are included in a recently completed Air Force Research Laboratory 

brochure entitled AFRL Nanoscience Technologies: Applications, Transitions and Innovations

(http://www.nano.gov/AFRLNanobooklet.pdf). DOD investments in these advanced technologies are 

essential to maintaining the technological edge that U.S. forces will continue to depend on in the 

future for success on the battlefield and for protecting our homeland security.

The NSET Subcommittee and the NNI continue to be models for effective coordination of 

interdisciplinary R&D that could be applied to these and many other areas of science and technology 

where research at the intersection of traditional disciplines offers great promise for major breakthroughs. 

The NNI strategy crafted by the NSET Subcommittee provides a particularly strong example of research 

at the intersection of the biological and physical sciences and engineering, for example.

The close coordination and cooperation through the NSET Subcommittee between the 25 participating 

agencies that has long characterized the NNI effectively leverages the mission-specific efforts of each agency

and minimizes redundancies, thus making the most of the Federal investment in nanotechnology research 

and development in a way that substantially contributes to each of the above goals.

Activities Relating to the Four NNI Goals

As called for in the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, the 2007 NNI Strategic 

Plan states that the annual interagency analysis of progress under the NNI will be provided in the annual 

NNI Supplement to the President’s Budget. As indicated in the plan, the NNI’s activities for 2008 and 

2009 and plans for 2010 are reported here in terms of how they promote progress toward the four NNI 

goals. Goal-related activities are in turn reported in terms of two categories of activities: (1) individual 

agency activities and (2) engagement with other agencies and groups and activities external to the NNI, 

including international activities. A brief report of progress toward the NNI goals in terms of these three 

categories follows. The activities described below are only selected highlights of current and planned work of the 

NNI member agencies and are not an all-inclusive description of ongoing NNI activities.

 

12 From the Defense agenda on http://whitehouse.gov, accessed February 2009.
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 15

Goal 1: Advance a world-class nanotechnology research and development program

The member agencies have sustained a strategic investment in nanotechnology R&D, something that is 

widely recognized as essential for the development and successful exploitation of any emerging technology.

The expanded investment by this Administration in nanotechnology will build on the foundation 

established over the past ten years and set the stage for transitioning the basic research discoveries into 

technologies and products for the benefit of our society and the nation’s economy.

As indicated in the NNI Strategic Plan, the NNI is (1) sustaining a variety of complementary R&D 

investment pathways, including single-investigator research, multi-investigator and team efforts, 

interdisciplinary centers of excellence, and user facilities and networks; (2) mapping the leading edge of 

R&D by sponsoring topical and strategy-setting workshops; (3) coordinating the NNI research and 

development investments across multiple agencies; and (4) stimulating collaborations and interactions 

across agencies, disciplines, industrial sectors, and nations. Examples of efforts toward all four components 

of this goal are presented below.

Individual Agency Contributions to Goal 1

DHS: The DHS Directorate for Science and Technology (S&T) is supporting nanotechnology research 

that will enable critical enhancements to homeland security applications in advanced threat detection 

systems and mitigation and blast protection materials and systems.

DOE: The Department of Energy’s support of the National Nanotechnology Initiative continues to come 

primarily from the DOE’s Office of Science through support of fundamental R&D, instrumentation, and 

construction and operation of major research facilities, as illustrated by the following recent developments 

and planned efforts:

• In 2009 DOE made five-year awards to initiate 46 new Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs). 

These collaborative, multi-investigator, multi-institution research projects bring together 

interdisciplinary teams to focus on energy-relevant fundamental science. 

• In 2009 DOE provided funding to expand single-investigator and small-group research projects in 

areas including solar energy, hydrogen fuel, energy storage, solid-state lighting, superconductivity, 

catalysis, advanced nuclear energy systems, geological carbon sequestration, clean combustion, 

materials under extreme conditions, and mid-scale instrumentation. 

• In 2009 DOE stood up the Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy to support the development 

of breakthrough energy technologies. 

• Building on the success of DOE’s three Bioenergy Research Centers, in 2010 DOE plans to initiate 

Energy Innovation Hubs to continue to encourage collaboration and team science and to connect the 

research labs to the industrial world.

While none of these efforts focus exclusively on nanoscience, it is expected that some portion of these 

activities will involve nanotechnology and that portion has been estimated in the budget figures provided.

NIST: NIST’s research program in nanotechnology is addressing national needs in energy, the 

environment, healthcare, information technology security, manufacturing, and physical infrastructure, as 

illustrated by the following new developments:

• Nanolubricants that improve by nearly 300% the evaporator performance of chillers that cool 

buildings
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

16 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

• A new generation of “spintronic” nanoelectronic devices that promise to be 10 times faster and 100 

times more energy-efficient than conventional electronics

• A research program to study the release of nanoparticles from nanocomposites used in building 

materials during their life cycles.

• A novel NIST microscopy technique, “through-focus scanning optical microscopy,” which can 

quickly and cheaply analyze nanoscale dimensions with nanoscale measurement sensitivity, with 

potential applications in nanomanufacturing, semiconductor process control, and biotechnology

• A radical new method of focusing a stream of ions down to a nanometer, with broad applications both 

for use in focused ion beam nanofabrication systems and for nondestructive imaging of nanoscale 

structures with finer resolution than possible with electron microscopes

• New programs to apply quantum phenomenon at the nanoscale, including single-photon counting 

and quantum coherence, enabling the development of revolutionary devices and sensors for quantum 

communications, national security, semiconductor device characterization, and astrophysics.

NRO: The National Reconnaissance Program (NRO) is supporting advanced nanotechnology R&D 

developments aimed to aid transition from the laboratory to system applications in the following areas:

• Improved solar cell performance with quantum dot inclusion in standard space solar cell processes

• Improved solar cell efficiency with inclusion of carbon nanotubes as the interface layers of a standard 

3-layer solar cell

• Process and development techniques to weave carbon nanotube threads into conducting wires (e.g., 

fabrication of the “world’s first” USB cable using carbon nanotubes to replace copper conductors, 

resulting in improved performance)

• Carbon nanotube interconnects and vias, as demonstrated in a semiconductor foundry, to enable the 

replacement of aluminum and copper as the electronic pathways for charge carriers

• 16-kbit memories based on use of carbon nanotubes as nanoelectromechanical switches, and the first 

engineering model of 4-Mbit carbon nanotube memory with sufficiently high speed and low power 

consumption to potentially revolutionize memory applications in space vehicles

NSF: Major new efforts planned by NSF include the following:

• A planned new program on "Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanostructures." 

• The Powering the Planet (PP) Chemical Bonding Center (CBC), which will be funded at a level of 

$4 million at the California Institute of Technology, to address the efficient, and ultimately 

economical, conversion of solar energy into stored chemical fuels. The efforts of the center focus on 

developing the components for a solar water-splitting system. The investigators are using novel nanoand micro- semiconductor structures to form new membranes capable of both efficient charge 

separation and proton management functions, which are needed for splitting water molecules to 

produce hydrogen and oxygen.

• Increased investment in using nanotechnology to address energy conversion and storage, “green” 

electronics, as well as water filtration.

• An initiative on “Beyond Moore’s Law Scaling” at the confluence between nanotechnology and 

information technology.

USDA/CSREES: CSREES’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) nanotechnology research and 

development activity supports the agency’s mission and its strategic goals. It is combining its 2009 and 
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 17

2010 nanotechnology funding, totaling approximately $5 million, for a single solicitation in 2010. The 

program priorities remain broadly to include detection and intervention technologies for enhancing food 

safety and agricultural biosecurity; effective and safe delivery of bioactives in functional foods for improving 

human health and wellness; and product traceability, identity preservation, and tracking.

USDA/FS: The USDA Forest Service (FS) hosted a group of Canadian industry, federal, and Alberta 

provincial nanotechnology leaders to visit the United States in October 2008. During their visit, the 

Canadian group visited the forest products nanotechnology program at Pennsylvania State University 

(University Park, PA), the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) Agenda 2020 Technology 

Alliance (Washington DC), the Chief of the Forest Service (Washington DC), the NNI/NSET NNCO

office (Washington DC), and the USDA FS Forest Products Laboratory (Madison, WI). As a result of the 

visit, plans are being formulated to explore development of a joint United States-Canada program of 

precompetitive nanotechnology-based forest products research involving the Forest Service, the U.S. forest 

products industry as represented by the AF&PA Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance, and Canadian 

counterparts.

The 4th International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry took place in 

St. Louis, MO, on June 25–27, 2008, with attendance by about 150 people, of whom about a third were 

from outside the United States. The 5th International Conference is being held in Edmonton, Alberta, 

Canada, June 24–26, 2009. Preliminary planning is underway for the 2010 6th International Conference,

to be held in Europe, and the 2011 7th International Conference, to be held in the United States. The 

USDA Forest Service provides a co-chair for the conference, conference planning committee 

representatives, and research staff members who give conference presentations.

The USDA Forest Service is working with the AF&PA Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance-led industry 

Cooperative Board for Advancing Nanotechnology (CBAN) to identify and organize a core group of 

universities having expertise in both nanotechnology research and forest products research to work with 

Forest Service researchers. This group is being organized to advance a previously agreed-upon common 

agenda that meets the needs of industry and the Forest Service. The National Nanotechnology Initiative has 

been critical to advancing this public-private-university partnership. 

Coordinated Activities with Other Agencies and Other Institutions Contributing to Goal 1

NIH and the Chinese Academy of Sciences: The National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI), the National 

Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH/NIEHS), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences 

organized the “First Joint U.S.-China Symposium on Nanobiology and Nanomedicine” in Beijing, October 

20–22, 2008. The goal of the symposium was to exchange research experiences and consider possible 

collaborations in the areas of cancer nanotechnology (prevention, detection, and treatment of the disease), 

and the effects of exposure to nanomaterials on the general public and the environment. In the United 

States, over $1 billion/year of Federal support is dedicated to nanotechnology research and development. 

The Chinese government has recently established several nanotechnology research centers, including the 

National Center for Nanoscience and Technology in Beijing. In response to this rapidly maturing 

nanotechnology research base in China, this meeting and follow up conversations concerning possible 

venues of interactions should produce joint projects leveraging strengths of efforts in both countries and 

promote exchanges of researchers.

NIST, CPSC, and industry: NIST and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have agreed to 

jointly measure the release of nanoparticle flame retardants from upholstered furniture. NIST will lead the 

preparation of nanocomposite foams and the associated upholstery, and CPSC will assist with methodology 
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

18 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

and personnel. As a component of this effort, NIST has initiated a consortium with multiple companies 

from the nanotechnology and manufacturing industries on nanoparticle flame retardants for use in 

upholstered furniture (foam and barrier fabrics). The research, which will begin in 2009, will examine the 

fundamental mechanisms of nanoparticle flame-retardant action and determine the sustainability of this 

nanotechnology.

NIST, U.S. universities, and international institutions: NIST has established a series of collaborative 

research programs focused on the new area of quantum nanotechnology at Yale University, Stanford 

University, Cornell University, and the University of Maryland at College Park in the United States; and at 

Delft University (The Netherlands), Humboldt University (Germany), The University of Waterloo 

(Canada), The NRC (Canada), The Donostia International Physics Center (Spain), and The Nicolas 

Copernicus University (Poland) overseas.

NRO with DOD (USAF and DTRA): The National Reconnaissance Office, United States Air Force

(USAF), and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) have initiated development of a carbonnanotube-memory-based “domestic trusted source” high-speed, high-gate-count field programmable gate 

array (FPGA) for space and terrestrial applications with severe environmental constraints (extreme 

radiation, temperature, chemical, and biological challenges)

NRO with DOD (DTRA): These agencies have developed carbon-nanotube-based anode and cathode 

materials for use in lithium-ion batteries. Potential gains of 9x in mass reduction, 3x in capacity, and 3x in 

charging speed enable improved performance in both space and terrestrial (defense, automotive, computer, 

etc.) uses.

NSF, EPA: These agencies funded the second Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology 

(CEIN) at Duke University in addition to the CEIN previously established at UCLA. Both those centers 

will be at the core of a nano-EHS academic network in the United States.

NSF, NIST, and the nanoelectronics industry: A series of workshops are planned by NSF, NIST, and 

industry for nanoelectronics beyond CMOS, including a grantees conference, one overview conference 

(INC6 in 2010), and other topical meetings.

NSF, DOEd, and DOL: NSF, the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor coorganized a

joint workshop and developed collaborative activities around several networks: the Network for 

Computational Nanotechnology (NCN), the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), 

the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net), the National Center for Learning and 

Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NCLT), and the Centers for Environmental Implications 

of Nanotechnology (CEIN).

NSF, DOD: These two agencies have planned a new initiative on “Quantum Information Science and 

Systems Engineering.”

Goal 2: Foster the transfer of new technologies into products for commercial and public 

benefit

The NNI member agencies have a number of activities uniquely targeting technology transfer and 

commercialization, e.g., workshops to gain input from industry and the academic community, SBIR and 

STTR programs to fund innovations in small businesses, and forefront research infrastructure for use by all 

nanotechnology researchers, including those from industry. Some positive results from this effort are now 

evident. 
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 19

Individual Agency Contributions to Goal 2

DHS: The DHS S&T Directorate supports the transition of nanotechnology through academic and 

government laboratory partnerships with industry for incorporation of nanotechnology-based solutions into 

commercial systems, development and modification of COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) security 

technology, and development of advanced critical components for next-generation security systems. Specific 

investments include the development and application of nanostructured materials to trace explosives 

detection applications.

While many of the nanoscience breakthroughs occur in university settings, the rapid transition of these 

advancements to industry partners for critical component or system development is a crucial aspect of the 

timely enhancement of homeland security capabilities. While the DHS S&T Directorate is significantly 

investing in university research for the discovery and development of novel nanotechnology, most of these 

investments involve a commercial industry partnership in order to help focus and more rapidly transition 

any technical advancements into manufacturable devices and systems.

NIST: NIST’s mission to develop measurement technologies in support of technology transfer includes 

significant nanotechnology investments. Examples include the following:

• The development of new reference cantilevers for commercial atomic force microscopes that enable 

quantitative nanoscale force and friction measurements needed to commercialize nanostructured 

materials and devices; a powerful technique to map nanoscale stress and strain, defects, and fatigue 

that will help to ensure the mechanical reliability of products manufactured from nanostructured 

materials; and cooperative research with industry to improve helium ion microscopy for 

nanometrology.

• In February 2008, NIST hosted the Second Tri-National Workshop on Standards for 

Nanotechnology, increasing mutual awareness and cooperation among U.S., Canadian, and Mexican 

delegates to international standards bodies.

NSF: NSF has planned a new model of Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRCs) 

focused on supporting fundamental nanoscale science and engineering projects proposed by industry 

groups.

Coordinated Activities with Other Agencies and Other Institutions Contributing to Goal 2

NNI member agencies and international standards bodies: Technical experts from multiple agencies, 

including DOD, DOE, EPA, NIOSH, NCI, NIST, and USDA/FS, are working to develop international 

documentary standards in nanotechnology through the International Organization for Standardization

(ISO), as coordinated by the American National Standards Institute’s U.S. Technical Advisory Group to 

ISO TC229 (Nanotechnologies). The Federal agencies’ Interagency Committee on Standards Policy 

(ICSP), chaired by NIST, provides an additional forum for information exchange and coordination on 

standards policy issues relating to nanotechnology. NNI agencies are also participating in standards 

development activities within ASTM International’s Committee E56 (Nanotechnology), the International 

Electrotechnical Commission Technical Committee 113 (Nanotechnology Standardization for Electrical 

and Electronics Products and Systems), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ 

Nanotechnology Council in developing nanotechnology-related documentary standards. This close 

cooperation with the American National Standards Institute helps NNI member agencies provide input 

reflecting U.S. priorities in the international standards arena.
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

20 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

NNI member agencies, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): The 

Department of State chaired the OECD Working Party on Nanotechnology (WPN) to advise on emerging 

policy issues in science, technology, and innovation related to the responsible development and use of 

nanotechnology. The WPN is assessing business environments, international research collaboration and 

coordination, available indicators and statistics, and approaches to public engagement. 

DOE/EERE/ITP: The Department of Energy supports nanoscience technology transfer, industrial activity, 

and commercialization through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and its 

Industrial Technologies Program (ITP). In 2009, EERE is placing increased focus on improving the 

reliability of nanomaterial production and scale-up of manufacturing processes for utilizing nanomaterials 

in energy-related products and applications. Research teams from the DOE national laboratories and

industry are developing and demonstrating technologies focused on nanocoatings, nanocatalysts, and 

nanocomposites. Examples range from erosion-resistant nanocoatings for gas turbines to nanoparticulatebased lubrication additives that reduce friction losses, to nanomaterial deposition technology for 

photovoltaic material production.

NIH and IEEE: The NIH in conjunction with the IEEE Society sponsored a nanomedicine workshop in 

April 2009 that outlined ongoing research in nanotechnology and industrial applications of nanomedicine.

NIST, USDA/FS, AF&PA Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance, University of Maryland, and industry: In 

May of 2008, NIST and the USDA Forest Service co-sponsored a workshop on Cross-Industry Issues in 

Nanomanufacturing, identifying common problems and solutions specific to nanotechnology, 

manufacturing processes, and performance of nanomaterials in commercial products within widely different 

industries, including aerospace, automotive, chemical, food, forest products, medical technology, 

pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors.

NRO with industry: NRO conducts nanotechnology developments with industry manufacturers in each of 

its nanotechnology R&D programs in order to foster a rapid transition from R&D to agency/industry dualuse. Industry partners have included Easton Sports, A123 Systems (battery), Spectrolab and Emcore (solar 

cells), ATK, Foster-Miller, Nantero, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Nanocomp, Nanotech, 

Minnesota Wire, BAE Systems, Honeywell, and others.

NSF and other NNI agencies: The NSET Subcommittee’s Nanomanufacturing, Industry Liaison, and 

Innovation (NILI) Working Group planned and conducted a workshop on Regional, State, and Local 

Initiatives in Nanotechnology on April 1–3, 2009. A report of the workshop is planned for 2009.

NSF, NIST, and semiconductor/electronics industry: NSF and NIST will continue and expand the 

partnership with the Nanoelectronics Research Initiative together with the Semiconductor Research 

Association, and will expand research and education to other long-term fundamental issues in 

nanoelectronics, photonics, and magnetics.

Goal 3: Develop and sustain educational resources, a skilled workforce, and the 

supporting infrastructure and tools to advance nanotechnology

Significant progress is being made on all three aspects of Goal 3. With respect to education and workforce 

development, education is among the chief objectives of NNI-funded university research. In addition, 

specific programs targeted at K–16 education, educating the public about nanotechnology, and improving 

nanotechnology curricula in U.S. schools and universities have been initiated and are growing in scale and 

reach. Details are provided in the following text. The extensive network of research centers, user facilities,
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 21

and other infrastructure for nanotechnology research, which was a key element of the original NNI strategy, 

is now largely complete.13

Individual Agency Contributions to Goal 3

DHS: The DHS S&T Directorate supports a range of nanotechnology development efforts at academic 

institutions at the graduate and postgraduate level, including several recently established centers of 

excellence. While these efforts are largely focused on development of breakthrough technology 

advancements, some aspects of these efforts also include problem-solving related to commercialization, such 

as, for example, scale-up of materials preparations.

NIST: The NIST advanced nanofabrication facility, the NanoFab, doubled its number of users in the past 

year, and in 2009 it will install approximately $7 million of new nanofabrication tools.

NSF: NNIN will be provided $10 million in ARRA funds to acquire advanced nanofabrication and 

characterization instrumentation and tools at several of its network sites, which will enable users to engage 

in state-of-the-art research projects. Availability of these funds will address the challenges the network has 

faced in maintaining its capital equipment base through acquisition of new instrumentation and 

replacement of aged or high-demand equipment.

NSF will recompete NCLT and NISE in 2009.

NSF will support the National Center for Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge (NACK, 

The Pennsylvania State University) with national outreach to 2-year community and technical colleges and 

4-year small universities and colleges. Several regional hubs for advanced nanotechnological education will 

be established in 2009 and 2010. NSF’s Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education program will focus on 

nanoengineering and nanosystems with increased funding compared to 2008.

Coordinated Activities with Other Agencies and Institutions Contributing to Goal 3

NIST, DOE: State-of-the-art x-ray detector arrays developed by NIST now provide a series of instruments 

at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory with the energy and depth 

sensitivity needed to determine the chemistry and structure of complex nanostructured materials and 

devices. These first-in-the-world capabilities have already enabled industry partners to design nextgeneration electronics materials and environmentally friendly automotive oil additives.

NIST, University of Maryland: NIST provides ongoing formal and informal opportunities for students 

and faculty from the University of Maryland to interact with NIST scientists and conduct nanotechnology 

research in NIST laboratories, and it jointly conducts outreach to the general non-science community and 

high school students, with an emphasis on disadvantaged or underrepresented groups.

NSF, DOE, and DOD: NSF’s NCLT and NISE networks will provide shared activities and networking for 

educational activities with DOE and DOD.

USDA/CSREES, DOE: To promote awareness and utilization of the NNI research infrastructure, 

USDA/CSREES will conduct its nanotechnology grantees’ annual meeting in conjunction with the DOE’s 

joint Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (LANSCE/CINT)

 

13 See a detailed discussion of the U.S. NNI infrastructure in the NNI Supplement to the President’s FY 2008 Budget, 

http://www.nano.gov/NNI_08Budget.pdf, including a map that shows the location of all the centers, networks, and user facilities 

(p. 21) and a list of participating academic institutions and national laboratories (pp. 29–33).
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

22 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

user conference in the fall of 2009 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The CSREES grantees will have an 

opportunity to tour the DOE center facilities at Los Alamos and/or Albuquerque.

Goal 4: Support responsible development of nanotechnology

The NNI has made significant progress towards the goal of supporting responsible development of 

nanotechnology. Funding for nanotechnology-related EHS research continues to increase at a rate far in 

excess of the overall NNI budget growth rate, from $35 million in 2005 to $88 million in the 2010 request.

This is only counting the narrowly defined primary purpose EHS R&D. The NNI agencies have reached a 

strong consensus on a comprehensive strategy to move these investments forward effectively, in line with 

the roles and responsibilities of the respective agencies involved. The NNI also maintains a strong portfolio 

of research on ethical, legal, and other societal implications of nanotechnology, along with support for 

innovative approaches to nanotechnology education at all levels, from K-12 though graduate education and 

public outreach.

Individual Agency Contributions to Goal 4

EPA: In support of its Nanomaterial Research Strategy,14 EPA has initiated a research program to 

understand which nanomaterials are most likely to enter the environment and how they move and 

transform within environmental media. This information will help the agency focus its human health and

ecological effects research on those nanomaterials and pathways with the most potential for harmful human 

exposure. The program is already generating results. For example, EPA scientists demonstrated that making 

changes to specific nanoparticles, such as coating the particles with a layer of particular types of molecules, 

could change their toxicity. In another example, EPA-funded researchers at Rice University have produced 

iron oxide nanocrystals capable of removing toxic arsenic from drinking water. Results indicate that after 

two hours, iron oxide nanocrystals removed between 98.4 and 99.2 percent of the arsenic present. These 

results indicate nanotechnology has the potential to provide reliable, cost-effective approaches to remediate 

soil and water contaminated with toxic compounds.

DHS: The DHS S&T Directorate supports the responsible development of nanotechnology through the 

use of developmental and independent test and evaluation for all component and system technologies that 

incorporate advanced components.

FDA: The Food and Drug Administration’s research program on nanoengineered materials reflects the 

need to build the knowledge base and experimental expertise necessary for regulation of products 

containing these materials. The results of this research will assist FDA in its mission to ensure the safety and 

efficacy of FDA-regulated products. These products include food, food additives, nutritional supplements, 

cosmetics, drugs, medical devices, and biologicals. Specifically, the work reflects the necessity for novel

detection and characterization tools to support specific research on toxicity, biocompatibility, exposure 

assessment, formulation and suspension media affecting material properties, and product quality.

NIOSH: In 2009 and 2010 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will focus its 

activities on (1) developing recommendations for controlling occupational exposure to fine and ultrafine 

titanium dioxide (TiO2) and conducting research on improving sampling and analytical methods, 

determining the extent of workplace exposures, and controlling airborne exposures; (2) developing 

recommendations for controlling occupational exposures to carbon nanotubes and conducting research to 

address gaps in information on sampling, analysis, exposure assessment, instrumentation, and controls; 

 

14 http://epa.gov/ncer/nano/publications/nano_strategy_012408.pdf
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 23

(3) conducting research on how to identify categories of nanomaterials that can be distinguished on the 

basis of similar physicochemical properties; (4) conducting research to identify long-term health effects of 

carbon nanotubes; (5) conducting toxicological research on other nanomaterials likely to be commercially 

viable; and (6) conducting research on the explosive potential of various nanomaterials. In addition, 

NIOSH will continue providing guidance on engineering controls and personal protective equipment, and 

continue updating guidance documents for safe handling of nanomaterials.

NIST: NIST has developed new measurement technology to detect and characterize particles from 2 to 10 

nanometers in diameter that are released by common kitchen appliances in abundant amounts and that 

greatly outnumber the previously detected, larger-size nanoparticles emitted by these appliances; NIST will 

continue to explore the production of such nanoparticles by indoor sources. Researchers showed that while 

engineered nanomaterials can be transferred up the lowest levels of the food chain from single-celled 

organisms to higher multicelled ones, the amount transferred is relatively low, with no evidence of the 

nanomaterials concentrating in the higher-level organisms.

NIST has also developed new techniques to purify carbon nanotubes and is applying this method to create 

carbon nanotube reference materials that enable uniform testing for EHS and commercial applications.

Using these specimens, NIST made the first measurements of length-dependent cell uptake of nanotubes—

a key step in determining their potential hazard to biological systems.

NSF: New efforts by NSF toward this goal are as follows:

• NSF will provide supplements to its Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSECs) for 

nanotechnology-related EHS projects on a competitive basis.

• The Nanotechnology in Society (NIS) Network will extend its national and international network.

• NSF will support activities of a new Society for the Study of Nanoscience and Emerging Technologies 

with an international network of researchers, students, stakeholders, and policymakers.

• A study is being conducted to assess and compare the capability of research centers in nanotechnology 

and other emerging technologies to integrate broader societal considerations and social sciences into 

their work. This study is coordinated with a European effort using the same methodology.

• NSF's NIS, NISE and NCLT networks are developing educational outreach resources addressing 

nanotechnology-related EHS issues.

• NSF continues to provide support for two centers for the study of societal dimensions of 

nanotechnology. Work at these centers helps build infrastructure for incorporating societal concerns 

directly into nanoscale science and engineering.

Coordinated Activities with other Agencies and Institutions Contributing to Goal 4

NNI member agencies, OECD: The DOS has chaired the OECD WPN to advise on emerging policy 

issues in science, technology, and innovation related to the responsible development and use of 

nanotechnology. EPA has chaired the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), 

which is leading an international effort by the 30 OECD member nations and other nonmember nations 

and organizations to coordinate and collaborate on approaches for better understanding the environmental, 

health, and safety impacts and the benefits of nanotechnology. In 2008, the WPMN embarked on a 

cooperative international program to conduct testing on fourteen nanomaterials types across 59 

environmental endpoints. The EPA is leading the U.S. effort to sponsor the testing of many of these 

materials.
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

24 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

EPA, NSF, NIH/NIEHS, NIOSH, USDA/CSREES, and EC: EPA is partnering with sister agencies in the 

United Kingdom and will jointly fund two consortia between U.S. and United Kingdom research

institutions. In addition, EPA is leading another interagency solicitation with NSF, NIH/NIEHS, NIOSH, 

and USDA/CSREES, all in coordination with the European Commission, focused on exposure and safety 

research data for engineered nanomaterials.

EPA, NSF, NIH/NIEHS, NIOSH, and DOE: Since 2004 EPA’s STAR (Science to Achieve Results) 

grants program has coordinated interagency requests for applications; agencies involved have included NSF, 

NIEHS, NIOSH, and DOE. The fourth joint research solicitation by EPA’s STAR program was issued in 

2007. The solicitation was a collaboration between the EPA, NSF, and DOE; over 130 research proposals 

were received. EPA awarded 15 grants, NSF awarded 6 grants, and DOE awarded 1 grant and made several 

awards to DOE laboratories. Individual grant awards totaled approximately $9 million. In addition, EPA 

recently awarded $2 million to study fate and transport in biological systems as part of an NIEHS-led 

request for applications.

NIH/NIEHS, NIST, NIH/NCI, FDA, NIOSH, Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute, 

and ASTM International: NIH/NIEHS in collaboration with NIST held a workshop on Enabling 

Standards for Nanomaterial Characterization on October 8–9, 2008, at NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The goal was to address the urgent need to accelerate standards development at the prestandards stage. 

NIH/NCI, NIH/NIEHS, and NIST: These agencies organized and held a one-day workshop at NIST on 

October 10, 2008, to establish an International Collaboration for NanoEHS Informatics aimed at 

developing a federated database system. The collaboration seeks to establish a global resource of knowledge 

on nanomaterial characteristics and their biological interactions that can be systematically queried from 

multiple sites within an interoperable, federated system of databases. Discussions between NIH’s National 

Institute for Biomedical Imaging and BioEngineering (NIBIB) and NIEHS institutes are also underway to 

define possible venues that address these and other related nanobioinformatic needs of the community.

NIH/NIEHS, EPA, and University of Massachusetts: These institutions and other academicians are cosponsoring the International Conference on the Environmental Implications and Applications of 

Nanotechnology in June 2009 in Amherst, MA. The conference will provide a valuable forum for scientists, 

regulators, and policymakers from academia, government, and industry to interact and share new 

knowledge on the health and environmental impacts of nanotechnology, green nanotechnology, and new 

environmental applications, and to help direct future research and regulatory needs. The conference will 

discuss global health and safety issues surrounding engineered nanoparticles and nanotechnologies, 

especially in connection with occupational and environmental health, and will provide insights into the 

latest research results and actions to assure the safety and thereby the future success of nanotechnologies.

NIOSH, all other NEHI member agencies: NIOSH led the organizing committee within the 

Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Working Group to organize the NNI 

Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment workshop that took place February 24–25, 2009. The 

workshop aimed to provide an open forum to facilitate effective communication among stakeholders about 

progress achieved in the human and environmental exposure assessment research category and about the 

path forward for addressing research needs in this category.

NIOSH, OECD: NIOSH will continue its leadership role in the OECD WPMN steering group on 

“Cooperation on Exposure Measurement and Exposure Mitigation.” Within this activity NIOSH is leading 

the development of globally harmonized protocols for nanomaterial emission assessment, guidance for the 

use of personal protective equipment, and guidance for the use of engineering controls. NIOSH will also 
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 25

continue conducting experiments and contributing data for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanostructured 

titanium dioxide (TiO2), silver (Ag), and cerium dioxide (CeO2) to the OECD WPMN sponsorship 

program for safety testing of nanomaterials. 

NIOSH, World Health Organization (WHO): NIOSH will continue developing and disseminating best 

practices globally for working with nanomaterials in collaborations with occupational safety and health 

institutions and coordinating activities led by WHO collaborating centers in the nanotechnology area.

NIOSH, International Alliance for NanoEHS Harmonization (IANH): NIOSH will participate in the 

IANH round-robin testing of toxicological techniques to ensure their reproducibility and to facilitate 

development of globally harmonized approaches to safety testing. 

NIOSH, International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON): NIOSH will continue active participation in 

ICON’s “Nano Good Practices Wiki” project, which aims to develop and maintain global best 

occupational practices for the safe handling of nanomaterials, utilizing a collaborative wiki-software 

platform. 

NIOSH, CPSC: Under an interagency agreement signed in 2008, NIOSH collaborates with the Consumer 

Product Safety Commission on studying exposure potential resulting from use of selected spray applications 

utilizing nanomaterials. 

NIST, NIH, FDA, and NIOSH: New measurements and reference nanomaterials are being developed for 

commercial and biomedical applications. With support from NIH and technical input from the FDA and 

NIOSH, NIST established the first gold nanoparticle reference materials in 2008 (https://srmors.nist.gov).

Coordinated development of reference materials will continue through 2010 for nanoparticulate titanium 

dioxide and silicon dioxide, both of which are widely used in personal care, automotive coatings, paints, 

and catalysis products.

NIST, NIOSH: Using prototype single-walled carbon nanotube reference material from NIST, NIOSH 

and NIST are collaborating on measuring toxicological effects important to characterizing potential worker 

exposure to such nanomaterials.

NSF, EPA: To ensure that nanotechnology is developed in a responsible manner, the National Science 

Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency have awarded approximately $38 million over five 

years (starting in September 2008) to establish two Centers for the Environmental Implications of 

Nanotechnology (CEIN). The CEINs are an important addition to the NNI and will build on NSF's 

Center for Biological and Environmental Technologies (CBET) and EPA’s STAR grants on 

nanotechnology. Led by the University of California at Los Angeles and Duke University, the CEINs will 

study how nanomaterials interact with the environment and human health, resulting in better risk 

assessment and mitigation strategies. Each center will work as a network, connected to multiple research 

organizations, industry, and government agencies, and will emphasize interdisciplinary research and 

education. 

USDA/CSREES: The CSREES Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Program 

(within AFRI) will continue to support competitive grants to assess and analyze the perceptions and 

acceptance of nanotechnology applications to food and agriculture and nanotechnology-based products by 

the general public, agriculture producers and processing industry, and other stakeholders, using appropriate 

social science tools. This effort started in 2008 and has funded three projects. One of them was awarded to 

Cornell University, which has produced six “radio blast” pieces for the EarthSky program through 

interviewing experts about nanotechnology applications and implications to agriculture and food systems. 
3. Progress Towards Achieving NNI Goals and Priorities

26 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

The program is estimated to reach out to audiences of more than 14 million in both the United States and 

other countries. Another grant funded a research project at the Michigan State University to address public 

perceptions of emerging applications of nanotechnologies in food and agricultural production, titled 

“Public Perceptions of Agrifood Nanotechnologies: Using Extension to Assess and Link Stakeholder 

Knowledge with Public Policies.” The project seeks to develop within the Cooperative Extension System 

the capacity to train extension educators on (1) what nanotechnologies are and what their current and 

emerging applications are throughout the agrifood system, so that extension agents can speak 

knowledgeably about these matters with their clientele; and (2) develop in the agents the social science 

research skills for documenting key public perceptions as revealed through extension agent-client 

interaction, and for translating/transferring this information to agrifood policy organizations through 

delivery systems that increase the likelihood of information utilization. The long-term goal of this project is 

to inform and enhance socially responsive policies for agrifood nanotechnologies at national, state, and 

population-specific levels. 

External Reviews of the NNI

Public Law 108-153 calls for periodic external reviews of the NNI by the National Research Council 

(NRC) of the National Academies and by the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.

The last comprehensive National Academies review, A Matter of Size: Triennial Review of the National 

Nanotechnology Initiative,15 was released in December 2006. The NNI Supplement to the President’s FY 

2009 Budget16 includes an overview of the recommendations of that study and how the NNI participating 

agencies are responding to them. In December 2008 the National Research Council (NRC) of the 

National Academies released a new report commissioned by the NNI to review its strategy for 

nanotechnology-related environmental, health, and safety research.17 The NNI response to the NRC

review is available at http://www.nano.gov.18

The most recent comprehensive external review of the NNI was released in April of 2008 by the 

President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) in its role as the National 

Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.19 The NNI Supplement to the President’s FY 2009 Budget includes a 

review of the findings from the PCAST report. 

The NSET Subcommittee and member agencies incorporate the findings of these external reviews into the

planning and implementation of ongoing NNI programs. More details of NNI activities that correspond 

to the recommendations of these reviews are included elsewhere in this report.

 

15 http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11752

16 http://www.nano.gov/NNI_09Budget.pdf, pp. 36–37. 17 Review of the Federal Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research: 

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12559. 18 http://www.nano.gov/NRC_Response_Letter_010509.pdf. 19 The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Second Assessment and Recommendations of the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel:

http://ostp.gov/galleries/PCAST/PCAST_NNAP_NNI_Assessment_2008.pdf.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2009 Budget 27

APPENDIX A.GLOSSARY

Act Public Law 108-153, the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act

AF&PA American Forest and Paper Association

AFRI Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (USDA/CSREES)

Agencies Departments, agencies, and commissions within the Executive Branch of U.S. Federal 

Government

ARO Army Research Office (DOD)

ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

BIS Bureau of Industry and Security (DOC)

CBAN Cooperative Board for Advancing Nanotechnology

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CEIN Centers for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology

CNST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (DOC/NIST)

CNT Carbon nanotube

CPSC Consumer Product Safety Commission

CSREES Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (USDA)

CT Committee on Technology of the NSTC

DHS Department of Homeland Security

DHHS Department of Health and Human Services

DNI Director of National Intelligence

DOC Department of Commerce

DOD Department of Defense

DOE Department of Energy

DOEd Department of Education

DOJ Department of Justice

DOL Department of Labor

DOS Department of State

DOT Department of Transportation

DOTreas Department of the Treasury

DTRA Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DOD)

EC European Commission

EERE [Office of] Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE)

EHS Environmental, health, and safety

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

FDA Food and Drug Administration (DHHS)
Appendix A. Glossary

28 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

FHWA Federal Highway Administration (DOT)

FS Forest Service (USDA)

GIN Global Issues in Nanotechnology (NSET Subcommittee working group)

ICON International Council on Nanotechnology

ISO International Organization for Standardization

ITC International Trade Commission

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NCI National Cancer Institute (DHHS/NIH)

NCL Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (DHHS/NIH/NCI)

NCLT Center for Learning and Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NSF)

NCN Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NSF)

NEHI Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications Working Group of the NSET 

Subcommittee

NIBIB National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (DHHS/NIH)

NIEHS National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (DHHS/NIH)

NIFA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA, replacing CSREES Oct. 1, 2009)

NIH National Institutes of Health (DHHS)

NILI Nanotechnology Innovation and Liaison with Industry Working Group of the NSET 

Subcommittee

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (DHHS/Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention)

NISE Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NSF-supported network)

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology (DOC)

NNAP National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel

NNCO National Nanotechnology Coordination Office

NNI National Nanotechnology Initiative

NNIN National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NSF program)

NPEC Nanotechnology Public Engagement and Communication Working Group of the NSET 

Subcommittee

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission (also National Research Council of the National 

Academies)

NRO National Reconnaissance Office

NSEC Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSF program)

NSET Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee of the NSTC

NSF National Science Foundation

NSRC Nanoscale Science Research Centers (DOE program)

NSTC National Science and Technology Council

NTP National Toxicology Program (DHHS)

OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Appendix A. Glossary

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 29

OMB Office of Management and Budget (Executive Office of the President)

OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy (Executive Office of the President) 

PCA Program Component Area

PCAST President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research Program

STAR Science to Achieve Results (EPA)

STTR Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program

USGS U.S. Geological Survey (Department of the Interior)

USPTO U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (DOC)

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

WHO World Health Organization

WPMN Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (under the Chemicals Committee of the 

OECD)

WPN Working Party on Nanotechnology (OECD)
30 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2009 Budget

APPENDIX B. CONTACT LIST

OSTP

Travis M. Earles

NSTC Representative 

(Nanobiotechnology)

Office of Science and Technology Policy

Executive Office of the President

725 17th Street, N.W., Rm. 5203-5

Washington, DC 20502

T: 202-456-6025

F: 202-456-6021

Travis_M._Earles@ostp.eop.gov

OMB

Irene Kariampuzha

Office of Management and Budget

Executive Office of the President

725 17th St., N.W.

Washington, DC 20503

T: 202-395-3535

F: 202-395-4652

Irene_Kariampuzha@omb.eop.gov

NNCO

Dr. E. Clayton Teague

Director

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-4319

F: 703-292-9312

cteague@nnco.nano.gov

Dr. Vivian Ota Wang

NSTC Agency Representative

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-4399

F: 703-292-9312

votawang@nnco.nano.gov

CPSC

Dr. Mary Ann Danello

Associate Executive Director

Directorate for Health Sciences

Consumer Product Safety Commission

4330 East-West Highway, Suite 600

Bethesda, MD 20814

T: 301-504-7237

F: 301-504-0079

mdanello@cpsc.gov

Dr. Treye Thomas

Toxicologist

Directorate for Health Sciences

Consumer Product Safety Commission

4330 East-West Highway, Suite 600

Bethesda, MD 20814

T: 301-504-7738

F: 301-504-0079

tthomas@cpsc.gov

DHS

Dr. Richard T. Lareau

Science and Technology Directorate

Department of Homeland Security

William J. Hughes Technical Center, 

Bldg. 315

Atlantic City International Airport, NJ 

08405

T: 609-813-2760

F: 609-383-1973

Richard.Lareau@dhs.gov

Dr. Eric J. Houser

Department of Homeland Security

Office of Research and Development

Science and Technology Directorate

1120 Vermont Ave., N.W.

Washington, DC 20005

T: 202-254-5366

eric.houser@dhs.gov

DNI

Richard D. Ridgley

Chief, Foundational and 

Communications Technology

Advanced Systems and Technology 

Directorate

National Reconnaissance Office

14675 Lee Road

Chantilly, VA 20151

T: 703 275-3314

F: 703 808-2646

richard.d.ridgley@ugov.gov

Susan Durham

DCI Intelligence Technology Innovation 

Center

Central Intelligence Agency

Washington, DC 20505

susaned0@ucia.gov

DOC/BIS

Kelly Gardner

Export Policy Advisor

Department of Commerce

Bureau of Industry and Security

Office of National Security and 

Technology Transfer Controls

14th St. & Constitution Ave., N.W.

Rm. 2600

Washington, DC 20230

T: 202-482-0102

F: 202-482-3345

kgardner@bis.doc.gov

DOD 

Dr. Lewis Sloter

Associate Director, Materials & 

Structures

Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of 

Defense for Science & Technology

1777 N. Kent St Ste 9030

Arlington, VA 22209-2110

T: 703-588-7418

F: 703-696-2230

Lewis.Sloter@osd.mil
Appendix B. Contact List 

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 31

Dr. David M. Stepp 

Chief, Materials Science Division 

Army Research Office 

AMSRL-RO-PM (Materials Science 

Division) 

P.O. Box 12211 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 

T: 919-549-4329 

F: 919-549-4399 

david.m.stepp@us.army.mil 

Dr. Robert H. Cohn 

Chief Scientist 

Office of the Special Assistant for 

Chemical and Biological Defense and 

Chemical Demilitarization 

Office of the Secretary of Defense 

3050 Defense Pentagon, Rm. 3B253 

Washington, DC 20301-3050 

T: 703-693-6835 

F: 703-695-0476 

Robert.Cohn@osd.mil 

Dr. Mihal E. Gross 

Program Officer - Functional 

Inorganic/Semiconductor/Nano 

Materials & Systems 

Office of Naval Research 

Naval Materials Science and Technology 

Division - Code 332 

875 North Randolph St., Suite 1425 

Arlington, VA 22203-1995 

T: 703-696-0388 

F: 703-696-0934 

mihal.gross@navy.mil 

Dr. Gernot S. Pomrenke 

Program Manager - Optoelectronics, 

THz and Nanotechnology 

AFOSR/NE 

Directorate of Physics and Electronics 

Air Force Office of Scientific Research 

875 North Randolph Street 

Suite 325, Rm. 3112 

Arlington, VA 22203-1768 

T: 703-696-8426 

F: 703-696-8481 

gernot.pomrenke@afosr.af.mil 

Dr. Eric Snow 

Director, Institute for Nanoscience 

Code 1100 

Naval Research Laboratory 

Washington DC 20375 

T: 202-767-3261 

F: 202-767-1821 

snow@bloch.nrl.navy.mil 

DOE 

Dr. Patricia M. Dehmer 

Deputy Director for Science Programs 

Office of Science 

U.S. Department of Energy 

SC-2/FORS 

1000 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Washington, DC 20585 

T: 202-586-5430 

F: 202-586-4120 

Patricia.Dehmer@science.doe.gov 

Dr. Altaf H. Carim 

Division of Scientific User Facilities 

Office of Basic Energy Sciences 

U.S. Department of Energy 

SC-22.3/GTN 

1000 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, DC 20585-1290 

T: 301-903-4895 

F: 301-903-1690 

carim@science.doe.gov 

Dr. John C. Miller 

Division of Chemical Sciences, 

Geosciences, and Biosciences 

Office of Basic Energy Sciences 

U.S. Department of Energy 

SC-22.1/GTN 

1000 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Washington, DC 20585 

T: 301-903-5806 

F: 301-903-4110 

John.Miller@science.doe.gov 

Andrew R. Schwartz 

Division of Materials Sciences and 

Engineering 

Office of Basic Energy Sciences 

U.S. Department of Energy 

SC-22.2/GTN 

1000 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, DC 20585-1290 

T: (301) 903-3535 

F: (301) 903-9513 

andrew.schwartz@science.doe.gov 

Dr. Brian Valentine 

Office of Industrial Technologies 

U.S. Department of Energy 

Headquarters Bldg., EE-2F 

1000 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20585-0121 

T: 202-586-9741 

F: 202-586-9234 

Brian.Valentine@ee.doe.gov 

DOEd 

Dr. Krishan Mathur 

U.S. Department of Education 

Office of Postsecondary Education 

1990 K Street, N.W., #6144 

Washington, DC 20006-8544 

T: 202-502-7512 

F: 202-502-7877 

krish.mathur@ed.gov 

DOJ 

Joseph Heaps 

Deputy Director, In-situ Thermal 

Desorption Technology 

Department of Justice 

National Institute of Justice 

Office of Science and Technology 

810 7th Street, Rm. 7206 

Washington, DC 20531 

T: 202-305-1554 

F: 202-305-9091 

Joseph.Heaps@usdoj.gov 

DOL 

Brad Wiggins 

Business Relations Group 

U.S. Department of Labor 

Employment & Training 

Administration 

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. 

Rm. N-4643 

Washington, DC 20210 

T: 202-693-3742 

F: 202-693-3890 

wiggins.brad@dol.gov 

Linda Fowler 

U.S. Department of Labor 

Employment & Training 

Administration 

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. 

Rm. N-4643 

Washington, DC 20210 

Fowler.Linda.M@dol.gov 

DOS 

Kenneth Hodgkins 

Director 

Office of Space & Advanced Technology 

U.S. Department of State 

OES/SAT, SA-23 

1990 K Street NW, Suite 410 

Washington, DC 20006 

T: 202-663-2398 

F: 202-663-2402 

HodgkinsKD@state.gov 
Appendix B. Contact List

32 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

Dr. Robert Rudnitsky

Physical Science Officer

Office of Space & Advanced Technology

U.S. Department of State

OES/SAT, SA-23

1990 K Street NW, Suite 410

Washington, DC 20006

T: 202-663-2399

F: 202-663-2402

RudnitskyRG@state.gov

Dr. Chris Cannizzaro

Physical Science Officer

Office of Space & Advanced Technology

U.S. Department of State

OES/SAT, SA-23

1990 K Street NW, Suite 410

Washington, DC 20006

T: 202-663-2390

F: 202-663-2402

CannizzaroCM@state.gov

DOT

Kelly Leone

Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration

Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.

Washington, DC 20590

T: 202-366-4334

Kelly.Leone@dot.gov

Dr. Jonathan Porter

Chief Scientist

Office of Research, Development, and 

Technology

Federal Highway Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research 

Center

6300 Georgetown Pike

McLean VA 22101-2200

T: 202-493-3038

F: 202-493-3417

jonathan.porter@fhwa.dot.gov

DOTreas

Dr. John F. Bobalek

Program Manager

Office of Research and Technical 

Support

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Rm. 201-29A

14th and C Streets, S.W.

Washington, DC 20228-0001

T: 202-874-2109

F: 202-927-7415

John.Bobalek@bep.treas.gov

EPA

Jeff Morris

Acting National Program Director for 

Nanotechnology

Office of Research and Development

Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20460

T. 202-564-6756

F. 202-565-2494

Morris.Jeff@epa.gov

Dr. Nora F. Savage

National Center for Environmental 

Research

Office of Research and Development

Mail Code 8722F

Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20460

T: 202-343-9858

F: 202-343-0678

Savage.Nora@epamail.epa.gov

Dr. Philip Sayre

Associate Director

Risk Assessment Division

Office of Pollution Prevention and 

Toxics

Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Mail Code 7403M

Washington, DC 20460

T: 202-564-7673

F: 202-564-7450

sayre.phil@epa.gov

FDA

Dr. Norris E. Alderson

Associate Commissioner for Science

Director, Office of Science and Health 

Coordination

Food and Drug Administration

5600 Fishers Lane

Rm. 14B-08 (HF-32)

Rockville, MD 20857

T: 301-827-3340

F: 301-827-3410

norris.alderson@fda.hhs.gov

Carlos Peña, PhD, MS

Senior Science Policy Analyst

Office of the Commissioner

FDA

5600 Fishers Lane

HF-33, Room 14B08

Rockville, MD 20857

T: 301-827-3340

F: 301-827-3042

carlos.pena@fda.hhs.gov

ITC

Elizabeth R. Nesbitt

International Trade Analyst for 

Biotechnology and Nanotechnology 

Chemicals and Textiles Division

Office of Industries

International Trade Commission

500 E Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20436

T: 202-205-3355

F: 202-205-3161

elizabeth.nesbitt@usitc.gov

NASA 

Dr. Minoo N. Dastoor

Chief Technologist, Innovative 

Partnership Program Office

National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration

NASA Headquarters, Rm. 6F80

Washington DC 20546-0001

T: 202-358-4518

F: 202-358-3878

mdastoor@mail.hq.nasa.gov

Dr. Meyya Meyyappan

National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration

Ames Research Center

MS 229-3 

Moffett Field, CA 94035

T: 650-604-2616

F: 650-604-5244

m.meyyappan@nasa.gov
Appendix B. Contact List

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 33

NIH

Dr. Piotr Grodzinski

Program Director, Nanotechnology in 

Cancer

Office of Technology and Industrial 

Relations

Office of the Director

National Cancer Institute

National Institutes of Health

31 Center Drive, 10A52

Bethesda, MD 20892

T: 301-496-1550

F: 301-496-7807

grodzinp@mail.nih.gov

Dr. Lori Henderson

Program Director

National Institute of Biomedical 

Imaging and Bioengineering

National Institutes of Health

Democracy Two, Suite 200, MSC 5469

6707 Democracy Blvd.

Bethesda, MD 20892-5469

T: 301-451-4778

F: 301-480-0679

hendersonlori@mail.nih.gov

Dr. Jeffery A. Schloss

Program Director 

Technology Development Coordination 

National Human Genome Research 

Institute 

National Institutes of Health 

Suite 4076, MSC 9305 

5635 Fishers Lane 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9305 

T: 301-496-7531

F: 301-480-2770

jeff_schloss@nih.gov

NIH/OD

Dr. Lynn Hudson

Deputy Director

Office of Science Policy & Planning

National Institutes of Health

Office of the Director

Building 1 - Shannon Bldg, Rm. 218

1 Center Drive

Bethesda, MD 20892

T: 301-496-0786

F: 301-402-0280

HudsonL1@od.nih.gov 

Dr. Nancy E. Miller

Senior Science Policy Analyst

Office of Science Policy and Planning

Office of the Director

National Institutes of Health

1 Center Drive

Bldg 1, Rm. 218

Bethesda, MD 20892

T: 301-594-7742

F: 301-402-0280

MILLERN@od1tm1.od.nih.gov

NIH/FIC

George Herrfurth

Multilateral Affairs Coordinator

Division of International Relations

Fogarty International Center

National Institutes of Health

Building 31, Rm. B2C11

Bethesda, MD 20892-2220

T: 301-402-1615

F: 301-480-3414

herrfurg@mail.nih.gov

NIH/NCI

Dr. Piotr Grodzinski

Program Director, Nanotechnology in 

Cancer

Office of Technology and Industrial 

Relations

Office of the Director

National Cancer Institute

National Institutes of Health

31 Center Drive, 10A52

Bethesda, MD. 20892

T: 301-496-1550

F: 301-496-7807

grodzinp@mail.nih.gov

Dr. Scott McNeil

Director, Nanotechnology 

Characterization Laboratory

National Cancer Institute at Frederick

National Institutes of Health

P.O. Box B, Building 469

1050 Boyles Street

Frederick, MD 21702-1201

T: 301-846-6939

F: 301-846-6399

mcneils@ncifcrf.gov 

NIH/NHGRI

Dr. Vivian Ota Wang

Division of Extramural Research

National Human Genome Research 

Institute

National Institutes of Health

Suite 4076, MSC 9305

5635 Fishers Lane

Bethesda, MD 20892-9305 

T: 301-496-7531

F: 301-480-2770

otawangv@mail.nih.gov

NIH/NHLBI

Dr. Denis Buxton

Advanced Technologies and Surgery 

Branch, DHVD

National Heart, Lung, and Blood 

Institute

National Institutes of Health

6701 Rockledge Drive, Rm. 8216

Bethesda, MD 20817 

T: 301-435-0513

F: 301-480-1454

BuxtonD@nhlbi.nih.gov

NIH/NIEHS

Dr. John R. Bucher

Associate Director

National Toxicology Program

National Institute of Environmental 

Health Sciences

National Institutes of Health

P.O. Box 12233

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

T: 919-541-4532

F: 919-541-4225

bucher@niehs.nih.gov

Dr. Sally S. Tinkle

Senior Science Advisor to the Deputy 

Director

National Institute of Environmental 

Health Sciences

National Institutes of Health

P.O. Box 12233, MD B2-06

Durham, NC 27709

T: 919-541-0993

F: 919-541-5064

stinkle@niehs.nih.gov
Appendix B. Contact List

34 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

NIH/NIGMS

Dr. Catherine Lewis

Director, Division of Cell Biology and 

Biophysics

National Institute of General Medical 

Sciences

National Institutes of Health

45 Center Drive, Rm. MSC 6200

Bethesda, MD 20892-6200

T: 301-594-0828

F: 301-480-2004

catherine.lewis@nih.hhs.gov

NIOSH

Dr. Vladimir V. Murashov

Special Assistant to the Director

National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health

OD/NIOSH M/S-P12

395 E Street, S.W.

Suite 9200

Washington, DC 20201

T: 202-245-0668

F: 202-245-0628

vladimir.murashov@cdc.hhs.gov

NIST

Mark Bello

Public and Business Affairs Office

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1070

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070

T: 301-975-3776

F: 301-926-1630

mark.bello@nist.gov

Dr. Jason Boehm

Acting Director, Program Office

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1060

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1060

T: 301-975-8678

F: 301-216-0529

jason.boehm@nist.gov

Dr. Ajit Jillavenkatesa

Standards Services Division

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2100

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2100

T: 301-975-5089

F: 301-975-4715

ajit.jilla@nist.gov

Dr. Dianne L. Poster

Scientific Advisor, Chemical Science and 

Technology Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8300

T: 301-975-8941

F: 301-975-3845

poster@nist.gov

Dr. Roger van Zee

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8360

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8360

T: 301-975-2363

F: 301-869-5924

roger.vanzee@nist.gov

Dr. Lloyd J. Whitman

Deputy Director, Center for Nanoscale 

Science and Technology

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 6200

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6200

T: 301-975-8002

F: 301-975-8026

whitman@nist.gov

NRC

Rick Croteau, Deputy Director

Division of Engineering

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555-0001

T: 301-415-7210

RXC2@nrc.gov

NSF

Dr. Mihail C. Roco 

Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology

National Science Foundation

Directorate for Engineering

4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 505

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-8301

F: 703-292-9013

mroco@nsf.gov 

Dr. Zakya H. Kafafi

Director, Division of Materials Research

National Science Foundation

Directorate for Mathematical and 

Physical Sciences

4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1065

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-8810

F: 703-292-9035

zkafafi@nsf.gov

Dr. Charles Liarakos

Senior Advisor for Strategic Planning

National Science Foundation

Directorate for Biological Sciences

4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 605N

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-8400

F: 703-292-9154

cliarako@nsf.gov

Dr. T. James Rudd

Program Manager, SBIR/STTR

Office of Industrial Innovation

National Science Foundation

4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 550

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-4759

F: 703-292-9057

tjrudd@nsf.gov

USDA/CSREES 

Dr. Hongda Chen

National Program Leader, Bioprocess 

Engineering 

Cooperative State Research, Education 

and Extension Service

Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Mail Stop 2220 

Washington, DC 20250-2220 

T: 202-401-6497 

F: 202-401-5179

hchen@csrees.usda.gov

USDA/FS 

Dr. Christopher D. Risbrudt

Director

Forest Products Laboratory

USDA Forest Service

One Gifford Pinchot Drive

Madison, WI 53726-2398

T: 608-231-9318

F: 608-231-9567

crisbrudt@fs.fed.us
Appendix B. Contact List

The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget 35

Dr. Theodore H. Wegner

Assistant Director

Forest Products Laboratory

USDA Forest Service

One Gifford Pinchot Drive

Madison, WI 53726-2398

T: 608-231-9434

F: 608-231-9567

twegner@fs.fed.us

Dr. Robert Doudrick

Staff Director, Resource Use Science

USDA Forest Service

1400 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Mailstop Code: 1114

Washington, DC 20250-1114

T: 703-605-4195

F: 703-605-5137

rdoudrick@fs.fed.us

Dr. World Nieh

National Program Leader, Forest 

Products and Utilization

USDA Forest Service 

1400 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Mailstop Code: 1114 

Washington, DC 20250-1114

T: 703-605-4197 

F: 703-605-5137

wnieh@fs.fed.us

Dr. Howard Rosen

Resource Use Science

USDA Forest Service

1400 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Mailstop Code: 1114

Washington, DC 20250-1114

T: 703-605-4196

F: 703-605-5137

hrosen@fs.fed.us

USGS

Dr. Sarah Gerould

Bureau Program Coordinator, 

Contaminant Biology Program

U.S. Geological Survey 

Mail Stop 301 National Center

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

Reston, VA 20192

T: 703-648-6895

F: 703-648-4238

sgerould@usgs.gov

USPTO

Charles Eloshway

Patent Attorney

Office of International Relations

Patent and Trademark Office

P.O. Box 1450

Alexandria, VA 22313

T: 571-272-9300

F: 571-273-0123

Charles.Eloshway@uspto.gov

Bruce Kisliuk

Patent Examining Group Director

Technology Center 1600

Patent and Trademark Office

P.O. Box 1450

Alexandria, VA 22313

T: 571-272-0950 

Bruce.Kisliuk@uspto.gov
Appendix B. Contact List

36 The National Nanotechnology Initiative—Supplement to the President’s 2010 Budget

Additional NNCO Staff Contacts 

Marlowe Epstein

Assistant Communications Director and 

NILI Executive Secretary

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-7128

F: 703-292-9312

mepstein@nnco.nano.gov

Dr. Heather Evans

AAAS Fellow and GIN Executive 

Secretary

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-7916

F: 703-292-9312

hevans@nnco.nano.gov

Liesl Heeter

IT Director and NEHI Executive 

Secretary

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-4533

F: 703-292-9312

lheeter@nnco.nano.gov

Geoffrey M. Holdridge

Policy Analyst and NSET Executive 

Secretary

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-4532

F: 703-292-9312

gholdrid@nnco.nano.gov

Lapedra Tolson

Assistant Webmaster

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-8906

F: 703-292-9312

ltolson@nnco.nano.gov

Victor Turner

Office Manager

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-8626

F: 703-292-9312

vturner@nnco.nano.gov

Ken Vest

Communications Director and NPEC 

Executive Secretary

National Nanotechnology 

Coordination Office 

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Stafford II, Suite 405

Arlington, VA 22230

T: 703-292-4503

F: 703-292-9312

kvest@nnco.nano.gov