Science and Technology Advisors Assess Federal Nanotechnology Initiative

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology has released a report to the president and Congress assessing the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), “which coordinates Federal research and development activities involving the manipulation of matter at scales smaller than 100 billionths of [a] meter.” The third in a decade-long series of assessments, the report lauds the NNI for making the United States a nanotechnology leader but notes that aggressive competitors “such as China, South Korea, and the European Union,” pose a threat to that leadership position.

The report makes a number of recommendations, including increased investment in product commercialization and technology transfer and a strengthened commitment to “explore in more orderly fashion environmental, health, and safety issues.” Noting the role that nanotechnology plays in consumer products, including foods, the report also envisions how it can be used in information technology, health care, the development of high-strength materials, energy and the environment, and national security.

In a related development, the U.K. government has reportedly responded to a House of Lords report calling on industry to disclose details about its nanotechnology research by warning that mandatory reporting requirements could deter companies from doing that research in Britain and trigger a research and development exodus. The government also reportedly observed, “It seems doubtful whether existing legal powers could be used to compel U.K. food companies to provide information about their research activities or their plans for future product launches. Introducing a mandatory reporting system would therefore require new legislation.” See FoodProductionDaily.com, March 31, 2010.