海角社区

To maintain global leadership in nanotechnology and fully realize its benefits to the economy and national security, the United States must act swiftly to renew and expand its investments, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report, titled Quadrennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, was written by a committee chaired by 海角社区 College of Engineering Dean and Bert S. Turner Chair Vicki Colvin.

The report highlights how two decades of federal investment鈥攖otaling $40 billion鈥攈ave catalyzed breakthroughs in microelectronics, biomedicine, energy and agriculture, generating nearly $1 trillion in industry revenue. Despite these successes, the U.S. is still in the early stages of realizing the full return on its investment. 

鈥淣anotechnology has already brought us better batteries, computers, and therapeutics,鈥� Colvin said. 鈥淏ut in the big picture, the global competition for technological leadership is just getting started. Competing in the next leg of the race will require to fully leverage existing nanotechnology expertise, as well as make strategic investments that accelerate the nation鈥檚 next big breakthroughs.鈥�

Colvin likened nanotechnology infrastructure to the U.S. highway system.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a shared national asset that supports everyone from startups to universities to major industries, and it drives innovation, commerce, and prosperity,鈥� she said. 

The report urges Congress to reauthorize the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) and strengthen the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), which plays a vital role in cross-agency collaboration. It recommends targeted funding to expand shared infrastructure and close research gaps, ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of quantum systems and biotechnology.

鈥淎t 海角社区, nanotechnology research spans disciplines, from engineering and chemistry to agriculture and biomedical sciences,鈥� Colvin said. 鈥淥ur researchers are using nanomaterials to improve crop resilience in Louisiana鈥檚 changing climate and to develop targeted drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. This kind of interdisciplinary innovation is only possible with access to world-class infrastructure.鈥�

The report emphasizes that nanotechnology鈥檚 potential to drive advances in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and sustainable agriculture makes continued federal coordination essential. It calls for renewed investment in shared facilities, expert staffing, and advanced instrumentation to ensure that the benefits of nanotech research are accessible to a broad community of academic, government, and industry innovators.

To read the report, visit . 

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a prestigious, private, nonprofit institution in the United States that provides independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology.