New Jersey is hoping to become the nano-structure center of the nation. In early 2000, the state's Commission on Science and Technology awarded one of six technology transfer and commercialization grants to NanoPac Technologies which is working to commercialize a patented technology in the processing of extremely fine ceramic, nanopowders. With NSF funding, the University of Washington recently announced the country's first doctoral program in nanotechnology at its Center for Nanotechnology. Beyond the research implications, application of nanotechnology will have significant ramifications for practically every industry sector. The economic and policy implications for many states and communities will be staggering.
Nanotechnology also demands completely new manufacturing processes.
Working on the atomic level, labor on most production lines will be replaced almost entirely by robots, computers, petri dishes, and clean rooms. The Advisory Group identified barriers to locating in the District such as workforce development and affordable facilities, then crafted incentives designed to help businesses overcome them. The incentives include several tax credits, cuts, exemptions, and abatements, and lease guarantees for qualified companies. Before the bill is enacted, perhaps by Spring of 2001, it must be approved by the D.C. Financial Control Board and Congress. The high-tech industry added 1.1 million new jobs nationally since 1993, or eight percent of the 13.8 million jobs created by the U.S. private sector in the same time span, the report said.