Activities in the National Nanotechnology Initiative

1. Activities in the National Nanotechnology Initiative Dr. Altaf H. Carim Co-chair Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee National Science and Technology Council Scientific User Facilities Division Office of Basic Energy Sciences Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy Workshop on Standards for EHS Research Needs for Engineered Nanoscale Materials NIST, Gaithersburg, MD September 12, 2007

2. What is the National Nanotechnology Initiative? • The NNI is an interagency program that coordinates Federal nanoscale research and development activities and related efforts among various participating entities (currently 26) • The NNI began in 2001 and its activities were codified and further defined in the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (Dec. 2003) • Planned federal NNI expenditures are over $1.4 billion in FY 2008

3. NIH USDA FS NIST DOC BIS DOS NASA USPTO FDA DOD IC USGS DOTr ITC NRC DOE DOL USDA DOT CPSC DHS DOJ DOEd NSF EPA NIOSH DOC TA 2001: Six Agencies 2002: Seven New Agencies 2003-4: Four New Agencies 2005: Six New Agencies 2006: ThreeNew Agencies Participating Agencies in the NNI OSTP OMB • Six agencies developed original 2001 NNI proposal • Now have 26 NSET Subcommittee member agencies

4. The NNI definition of "nanotechnology" What is “nanotechnology”? • Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications… • Nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale • "Engineered nanoscale materials, or nanomaterials, are those that have been purposefully manufactured or synthesized to have a size with at least one dimension in the range of approximately 1-100 nm and that exhibit unique properties determined by this size." • excludes naturally occurring or produced nanomaterials or nanoparticles • excludes incidental (byproduct) nanomaterials

5. Some interagency NNI activitiesfacilitated by NSET and NNCO • Consolidated reporting on nanoscale science, engineering, and technology efforts across the federal complex • Cross-cutting workshops, publications, strategic planning, and information exchange among both research and regulatory bodies • Coordinated interactions with state and regional efforts, international bodies, industry, and others • Joint development of tools, methodologies, and facilities, such as the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory established by the National Cancer Institute of NIH in collaboration with NIST and FDA • Joint grant solicitations, such as an annual call regarding environmental and human health effects of manufactured nanomaterials led by EPA and involving NSF, NIEHS, and NIOSH

6. NNI activities and documents inform agencies, report outcomes, and serve as resources Supplement to thePresident's FY 2008 Budget General brochurefor a broad audience

7. So how does the NNI actually work? • ManagementEOP + Agencies • Establishment of nanotechnology as high priority R&D area • Budget creation, funding allocation to agencies, & spending • Negotiations with Congress • CoordinationNSET Subcommittee • Coordinates development of strategic plan for NNI • Providing mechanisms for interagency communication and coordination on nanotechnology R&D • ReportingNNCO • Publishes reports on behalf of the NSET and the NNI for use by Congress, academia, industry, and the public • Serves as public point of contact for NNI

8. NSET Subcommittee working groups • Promote effective interagency communication, coordination, and joint programs • Enable efficient operation of the Subcommittee • Four working groups now established • Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) • Nanotechnology Innovation and Liaison With Industry (NILI) • Global Issues in Nanotechnology (GIN) • Nanotechnology Public Engagement and Communications (NPEC)

9. EHS Research Needs report • Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Needs for Engineered Nanoscale Materials • NEHI Working Group activity with input from prior reports, interactions of NSET with industry, public meetings, etc. • Report published September 2006 • 75 identified needs in five broad areas • Follow-up: • Draft prioritization document posted to NNI web site; public comment period through Sept. 17 • Input from agencies on existing programs being collated and verified; gap analysis and plan for path forward to follow

10. Standards development in the NNI Strategic Plan • The current NNI strategic plan, released December 2004, explicitly acknowledged this area, listing as a current (and future) NNI activity:"Participate in standards development activities…Areas of interest for standardization in nanotechnology include, for example, nomenclature and terminology, materials, metrology, and testing procedures."

11. Suitable Standards are Critical For Nanotech Development and Commercialization • Commercial progress in nanotechnology requires standards based on solid science and engineering • Imperative for best technologies to be incorporated into internationally-developed specifications and standards • Standards not so founded can constrain innovation and entrench inferior technologies • Documents on consensus specifications serve as highly informative and instructional information for advancing field • Standards are key to addressing the highly multi-disciplinary and broad based nature of nanotechnology—cross-sectorial standards typical • across scientific fields including biochemistry, molecular biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, medicine,… • Standards on nomenclature, measurement, and envi-ronment, health, and safety (EHS) are a high priority

12. International Standards Organizations National Body International Standards Organizations Treaty-Based International Standards Organizations Standards Development Orgs. With Global Reach

13. For more information on the NNI • http://nano.gov

14. This workshop (i.e., how you can help!) • Purpose of the workshop: • Focus on the identification of standard materials needed to address toxicology and risk assessments of engineered nanoscale materials and technical challenges that inhibit nanomaterial risk management decision making processes and progress for the regulatory community and industry. • Primary topics: • Approaches for identifying standard materials critical for toxicology and risk assessment • Nomination of materials specific to user and community needs • Critical materials characterization parameters required to meet needs of specific users and communities • Priority reference materials, characterizations, and timescales for development.