prioritize, and plan the educational activities supported 
under the Program. 
(f) SOCIETAL DIMENSIONS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY EDU-
CATION ACTIVITIES.—Activities supported under the Edu-
cation and Societal Dimensions program component area, 
or any successor program component area, that involve in-
formal, precollege, or undergraduate nanotechnology edu-
cation shall include education regarding the environmental, 
health 
and 
safety, 
and 
other 
societal 
aspects 
of 
nanotechnology. 
(g) REMOTE ACCESS TO NANOTECHNOLOGY FACILI-
TIES.—(1) Agencies supporting nanotechnology research fa-
cilities as part of the Program shall require the entities that 
operate such facilities to allow access via the Internet, and 
support the costs associated with the provision of such ac-
cess, by secondary school students and teachers, to instru-
ments and equipment within such facilities for educational 
purposes. The agencies may waive this requirement for 
cases when particular facilities would be inappropriate for 
educational purposes or the costs for providing such access 
would be prohibitive. 
(2) The agencies identified in paragraph (1) shall re-
quire the entities that operate such nanotechnology research 
facilities to establish and publish procedures, guidelines, 
and conditions for the submission and approval of applica-
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tions for the use of the facilities for the purpose identified 
in paragraph (1) and shall authorize personnel who operate 
the facilities to provide necessary technical support to stu-
dents and teachers. 
SEC. 4. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. 
(a) PROTOTYPING.— 
(1) ACCESS TO FACILITIES.—In accordance with 
section 2(b)(7) of 21st Century Nanotechnology Re-
search and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(7)), 
the agencies supporting nanotechnology research fa-
cilities as part of the Program shall provide access to 
such facilities to companies for the purpose of assist-
ing the companies in the development of prototypes of 
nanoscale products, devices, or processes (or products, 
devices, or processes enabled by nanotechnology) for 
determining proof of concept. The agencies shall pub-
licize the availability of these facilities and encourage 
their use by companies as provided for in this section. 
(2) PROCEDURES.—The agencies identified in 
paragraph (1)— 
(A) shall establish and publish procedures, 
guidelines, and conditions for the submission 
and approval of applications for use of 
nanotechnology facilities; 
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(B) shall publish descriptions of the capa-
bilities of facilities available for use under this 
subsection, including the availability of technical 
support; and 
(C) may waive recovery, require full recov-
ery, or require partial recovery of the costs asso-
ciated with use of the facilities for projects under 
this subsection. 
(3) SELECTION AND CRITERIA.—In cases when 
less than full cost recovery is required pursuant to 
paragraph 
(2)(C), 
projects 
provided 
access 
to 
nanotechnology facilities in accordance with this sub-
section shall be selected through a competitive, merit- 
based process, and the criteria for the selection of such 
projects shall include at a minimum— 
(A) the readiness of the project for tech-
nology demonstration; 
(B) evidence of a commitment by the appli-
cant for further development of the project to full 
commercialization if the proof of concept is es-
tablished by the prototype; and 
(C) evidence of the potential for further 
funding from private sector sources following the 
successful demonstration of proof of concept. 
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The agencies may give special consideration in select-
ing projects to applications that are relevant to im-
portant national needs or requirements. 
(b) USE OF EXISTING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PRO-
GRAMS.— 
(1) PARTICIPATING
AGENCIES.—Each agency 
participating in the Program shall— 
(A) encourage the submission of applica-
tions for support of nanotechnology related 
projects to the Small Business Innovation Re-
search Program and the Small Business Tech-
nology Transfer Program administered by such 
agencies; and 
(B) through the National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office and within 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Science and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives— 
(i) the plan described in section 2(c)(7) 
of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Re-
search and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
7501(c)(7)); and 
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(ii) a report specifying, if the agency 
administers a Small Business Innovation 
Research Program and a Small Business 
Technology Transfer Program— 
(I) the number of proposals re-
ceived 
for 
nanotechnology 
related 
projects during the current fiscal year 
and the previous 2 fiscal years; 
(II) the number of such proposals 
funded in each year; 
(III) 
the 
total 
number 
of 
nanotechnology related projects funded 
and the amount of funding provided 
for fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 
2007; and 
(IV) a description of the projects 
identified in accordance with subclause 
(III) which received private sector 
funding beyond the period of phase II 
support. 
(2) NATIONAL
INSTITUTE
OF
STANDARDS
AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—The Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology in carrying out the re-
quirements of section 28 of the National Institute of 
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Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) 
shall— 
(A) in regard to subsection (d) of that sec-
tion, encourage the submission of proposals for 
support of nanotechnology related projects; and 
(B) in regard to subsection (g) of that sec-
tion, include a description of how the require-
ment of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is 
being 
met, 
the 
number 
of 
proposals 
for 
nanotechnology related projects received, the 
number of such proposals funded, the total num-
ber of such projects funded since the beginning of 
the Technology Innovation Program, and the 
outcomes of such funded projects in terms of the 
metrics developed in accordance with such sub-
section (g). 
(3) TIP ADVISORY BOARD.—The TIP Advisory 
Board established under section 28(k) of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278n(k)), in carrying out its responsibilities under 
subsection (k)(3), shall provide the Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology with— 
(A) advice on how to accomplish the re-
quirement of paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection; 
and 
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(B) an assessment of the adequacy of the al-
location of resources for nanotechnology related 
projects supported under the Technology Innova-
tion Program. 
(c) INDUSTRY LIAISON GROUPS.—An objective of the 
Program shall be to establish industry liaison groups for 
all industry sectors that would benefit from applications of 
nanotechnology. The Nanomanufacturing, Industry Liai-
son, and Innovation Working Group of the National Science 
and Technology Council shall actively pursue establishing 
such liaison groups. 
(d) COORDINATION WITH STATE INITIATIVES.—Sec-
tion 2(b)(5) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research 
and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(5)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) ensuring United States global leadership in 
the development and application of nanotechnology, 
including through coordination and leveraging Fed-
eral investments with nanotechnology research, devel-
opment, and technology transition initiatives sup-
ported by the States;’’. 
SEC. 5. RESEARCH IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Program shall include support 
for nanotechnology research and development activities di-
rected toward application areas that have the potential for 
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significant contributions to national economic competitive-
ness and for other significant societal benefits. The activities 
supported shall be designed to advance the development of 
research discoveries by demonstrating technical solutions to 
important problems in such areas as nano-electronics, en-
ergy efficiency, health care, and water remediation and pu-
rification. The Advisory Panel shall make recommendations 
to the Program for candidate research and development 
areas for support under this section. 
(b) CHARACTERISTICS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Research and development ac-
tivities under this section shall— 
(A) include projects selected on the basis of 
applications for support through a competitive, 
merit-based process; 
(B) involve collaborations among research-
ers in academic institutions and industry, and 
may involve nonprofit research institutions and 
Federal laboratories, as appropriate; 
(C) when possible, leverage Federal invest-
ments through collaboration with related State 
initiatives; and 
(D) include a plan for fostering the transfer 
of research discoveries and the results of tech-
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nology demonstration activities to industry for 
commercial development. 
(2) PROCEDURES.—Determination of the re-
quirements for applications under this subsection, re-
view and selection of applications for support, and 
subsequent funding of projects shall be carried out by 
a collaboration of no fewer than 2 agencies partici-
pating in the Program. In selecting applications for 
support, the agencies shall give special consideration 
to projects that include cost sharing from non-Federal 
sources. 
(3) INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH CENTERS.— 
Research and development activities under this sec-
tion may be supported through interdisciplinary 
nanotechnology research centers, as authorized by sec-
tion 2(b)(4) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Re-
search and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(4)), 
that are organized to investigate basic research ques-
tions and carry out technology demonstration activi-
ties in areas such as those identified in subsection (a). 
(c) REPORT.—Reports required under section 2(d) of 
the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Develop-
ment Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(d)) shall include a description 
of research and development areas supported in accordance 
with this section, including the same budget information 
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as is required for program component areas under para-
graphs (1) and (2) of such section 2(d). 
SEC. 6. NANOMANUFACTURING RESEARCH. 
(a) RESEARCH AREAS.—The Nanomanufacturing pro-
gram component area, or any successor program component 
area, shall include research on— 
(1) development of instrumentation and tools re-
quired for the rapid characterization of nanoscale 
materials and for monitoring of nanoscale manufac-
turing processes; and 
(2) approaches and techniques for scaling the 
synthesis of new nanoscale materials to achieve indus-
trial-level production rates. 
(b) GREEN NANOTECHNOLOGY.—Interdiciplinary re-
search centers supported under the Program in accordance 
with section 2(b)(4) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Re-
search and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(4)) that 
are focused on nanomanufacturing research and centers es-
tablished under the authority of section 5(b)(3) of this Act 
shall include as part of the activities of such centers— 
(1) research on methods and approaches to de-
velop environmentally benign nanoscale products and 
nanoscale manufacturing processes, taking into con-
sideration relevant findings and results of research 
supported under the Environmental, Health, and 
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Safety program component area, or any successor 
program component area; 
(2) fostering the transfer of the results of such re-
search to industry; and 
(3) providing for the education of scientists and 
engineers through interdisciplinary studies in the 
principles and techniques for the design and develop-
ment of environmentally benign nanoscale products 
and processes. 
(c) REVIEW OF NANOMANUFACTURING RESEARCH AND 
RESEARCH FACILITIES.— 
(1) PUBLIC MEETING.—Not later than 12 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the National 
Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall sponsor a 
public meeting, including representation from a wide 
range of industries engaged in nanoscale manufac-
turing, to— 
(A) obtain the views of participants at the 
meeting on— 
(i) the relevance and value of the re-
search 
being 
carried 
out 
under 
the 
Nanomanufacturing 
program 
component 
area of the Program, or any successor pro-
gram component area; and 
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(ii) 
whether 
the 
capabilities 
of 
nanotechnology research facilities supported 
under the Program are adequate— 
(I) to meet current and near-term 
requirements for the fabrication and 
characterization of nanoscale devices 
and systems; and 
(II) to provide access to and use 
of instrumentation and equipment at 
the facilities, by means of networking 
technology, to individuals who are at 
locations remote from the facilities; 
and 
(B) receive any recommendations on ways 
to strengthen the research portfolio supported 
under the Nanomanufacturing program compo-
nent area, or any successor program component 
area, and on improving the capabilities of 
nanotechnology 
research 
facilities 
supported 
under the Program. 
Companies participating in industry liaison groups 
shall be invited to participate in the meeting. The Co-
ordination Office shall prepare a report documenting 
the findings and recommendations resulting from the 
meeting. 
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(2) ADVISORY
PANEL
REVIEW.—The Advisory 
Panel shall review the Nanomanufacturing program 
component area of the Program, or any successor pro-
gram component area, and the capabilities of 
nanotechnology research facilities supported under the 
Program to assess— 
(A) whether the funding for the Nanomanu-
facturing program component area, or any suc-
cessor program component area, is adequate and 
receiving appropriate priority within the overall 
resources available for the Program; 
(B) the relevance of the research being sup-
ported to the identified needs and requirements 
of industry; 
(C) whether the capabilities of nanotechnol-
ogy research facilities supported under the Pro-
gram are adequate— 
(i) to meet current and near-term re-
quirements for the fabrication and charac-
terization of nanoscale devices and systems; 
and 
(ii) to provide access to and use of in-
strumentation and equipment at the facili-
ties, by means of networking technology, to 
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individuals who are at locations remote 
from the facilities; and 
(D) the level of funding that would be need-
ed to support— 
(i) the acquisition of instrumentation, 
equipment, and networking technology suffi-
cient 
to 
provide 
the 
capabilities 
at 
nanotechnology research facilities described 
in subparagraph (C); and 
(ii) the operation and maintenance of 
such facilities. 
In carrying out its assessment, the Advisory Panel 
shall take into consideration the findings and rec-
ommendations from the report required under para-
graph (1). 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Advisory Panel 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Science and Technology of the House of Represent-
atives a report on its assessment required under para-
graph (2), along with any recommendations and a 
copy of the report prepared in accordance with para-
graph (1). 
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SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, terms that are defined in section 10 of 
the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Develop-
ment Act (15 U.S.C. 7509) have the meaning given those 
terms in that section. 
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Union Calendar No. 427 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5940 
[Report No. 110–682] 
A BILL 
To 
authorize 
activities 
for 
support 
of 
nanotechnology research and development, and 
for other purposes. 
JUNE 4, 2008 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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