Legislation promoting nanotechnology development in electronics, energy and medicine has been introduced in both the House and Senate, government science and technology agencies are working to funnel federal funds to the right programs and industry along with universities are gearing up to move promising technologies like carbon nanotubes from the laboratory to market.

Congress approved $849 million for nanotechnology research and development in fiscal 2003. "We're rapidly heading toward a $1 billion program," said Richard Russell of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. "Now's the time to shape the program."

A recent National Research Council review of a proposed U.S. nanotechnology research initiative concluded that the effort "needs a clear, compelling and overarching strategy."

The urgency is being driven in part by growing international competition. Estimates of Japan's investment in nanotechnology R&D run as high as $500 million a year.

Russell told a presidential council on science and technology that research efforts are focusing on creating devices at sizes between 1 and 100 nm and how materials will interact. The advisory council convened a meeting in early March to consider a proposed work plan for nanotechnology R&D.

The lion's share of federal funding has so far been earmarked for fundamental research into areas like materials and a set of nanotechnology "grand challenges." The list includes nanoscale manufacturing, instrumentation and metrology, development of materials like carbon nanotubes and nano-electronics, photonics and magnetics.

Nanotechnology has a "huge potential impact on electronics," Russell said.

Other categories include energy conservation and storage as well as micro-aircraft and robotics, two areas in which agencies like the Defense Department are interested.

Carbon nanotubes have so far drawn the most interest and research dollars. The so-called "light pipes" are being considered for applications ranging form vertical interconnects and electron-beam welding of simple junctions to scratch-resistant films.

"We are just now learning how to assemble [carbon nanotubes] into useful nanostructural materials and devices," said Richard Siegel of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, N.Y.).

Legislation promoting nanotechnology development in electronics, energy and medicine has been introduced in both the House and Senate, government science and technology agencies are working to funnel federal funds to the right programs and industry along with universities are gearing up to move promising technologies like carbon nanotubes from the laboratory to market.

Congress approved $849 million for nanotechnology research and development in fiscal 2003. "We're rapidly heading toward a $1 billion program," said Richard Russell of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. "Now's the time to shape the program."

A recent National Research Council review of a proposed U.S. nanotechnology research initiative concluded that the effort "needs a clear, compelling and overarching strategy."

The urgency is being driven in part by growing international competition. Estimates of Japan's investment in nanotechnology R&D run as high as $500 million a year.

Russell told a presidential council on science and technology that research efforts are focusing on creating devices at sizes between 1 and 100 nm and how materials will interact. The advisory council convened a meeting in early March to consider a proposed work plan for nanotechnology R&D.

The lion's share of federal funding has so far been earmarked for fundamental research into areas like materials and a set of nanotechnology "grand challenges." The list includes nanoscale manufacturing, instrumentation and metrology, development of materials like carbon nanotubes and nano-electronics, photonics and magnetics.

Nanotechnology has a "huge potential impact on electronics," Russell said.

Other categories include energy conservation and storage as well as micro-aircraft and robotics, two areas in which agencies like the Defense Department are interested.

Carbon nanotubes have so far drawn the most interest and research dollars. The so-called "light pipes" are being considered for applications ranging form vertical interconnects and electron-beam welding of simple junctions to scratch-resistant films.

"We are just now learning how to assemble [carbon nanotubes] into useful nanostructural materials and devices," said Richard Siegel of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, N.Y.).