New Challenges Face Nanotechnology Investments to Simultaneously Stimulate Research and Innovation

At a time when both public and private stakeholders are evaluating the impact of the last decades' investments in nanotechnology research and development, numerous indicators provide a positive outlook for both short and long term strategies for future investments. The indicators and data providing a positive outlook for increased future opportunities are predominantly derived from the recent manufacturing report on business by the Institute of Supply Management (ISM, December 2010). Simultaneously, government, academic, and private stakeholders are assessing models and strategies for future investments in nanotechnology in order to provide sustainable growth and economic impact. In part, this is due to the fact that, while the U.S. investment under the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) has clearly transformed nanoscience research over the past decade, innovation and commercialization has not kept pace. New policy and organizational strategies are clearly warranted to foster growth in innovation, and effectively facilitate the transition from laboratory science to commercialization. Also: Thermoplastic Nanocomposites via Nanoinfusion Processing; Hybrid Silicon/Carbon Nanotube Heterostructures for Reversible High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Anodes; and Atomic-Scale Metrology is Key in Fabricating Graphene Devices.