Nanotechnology: Science, Innovation, and Opportunity

Foreword

When Congress passed and the President signed the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, or Public Law 108-153, in December 2003, our goal was to help spur and coordinate research and technology development in this exciting and promising area, one that has the potential to transform every aspect of our lives. By manipulating matter at a molecular scale, nanotechnology may allow us to develop new materials and devices that have unique properties beyond the realm of current conventional technology. Its potential economic effects are also profound, as some have estimated that its impact on both existing and new industries may easily exceed tens of billions of dollars by the end of this decade, and a trillion dollars not ...