A Matter of Size: Triennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (2006)

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In response to a directive from the U.S. Congress, the National Research Council established the Committee to Review the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The task to be addressed by the committee was set forth in the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, Section 5, Public Law 108-153,¹ as follows:

1. IN GENERAL—The Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a triennial evaluation of the Program, including—

   1. an evaluation of the technical accomplishments of the Program, including a review of whether the Program has achieved the goals under the metrics established by the Council;

   2. A review of the Program’s management and coordination across agencies and disciplines;

   3. A review of the funding levels at each agency for the Program’s activities and the ability of each agency to achieve the Program’s stated goals with that funding;

   4. An evaluation of the Program’s success in transferring technology to the private sector;

   5. An evaluation of whether the Program has been successful in fostering interdisciplinary research and development;

6. An evaluation of the extent to which the Program has adequately considered ethical, legal, environmental, and other appropriate societal concerns;

7. Recommendations for new or revised Program goals;

8. Recommendations for new research areas, partnerships, coordination and management mechanisms, or programs to be established to achieve the Program’s stated goals;

9. Recommendations on policy, program, and budget changes with respect to nanotechnology research and development activities;

10. Recommendations for improved metrics to evaluate the success of the Program in accomplishing its stated goals;

11. A review of the performance of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office and its efforts to promote access to and early application of the technologies, innovations, and expertise derived from Program activities to agency missions and systems across the Federal Government and to United States industry;

12. An analysis of the relative position of the United States compared to other nations with respect to nanotechnology research and development, including the identification of any critical research areas where the United States should be the world leader to best achieve the goals of the Program; and

13. An analysis of the current impact of nanotechnology on the United States economy and recommendations for increasing its future impact.

2. STUDY ON MOLECULAR SELF-ASSEMBLY.—As part of the first triennial review conducted in accordance with subsection (a), the National Research Council shall conduct a one-time study to determine the technical feasibility of molecular self-assembly for the manufacture of materials and devices at the molecular scale.

3. STUDY ON THE RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF NANOTECHNOLOGY.—As part of the first triennial review conducted in accordance with subsection (a), the National Research Council shall conduct a one-time study to assess the need for standards, guidelines, or strategies for ensuring the responsible development of nanotechnology, including, but not limited to—

   1. Self-replicating nanoscale machines or devices;

   2. The release of such machines in natural environments;

   3. Encryption;

   4. The development of defensive technologies;

   5. The use of nanotechnology in the enhancement of human intelligence; and

   6. The use of nanotechnology in developing artificial intelligence.