The Bush Administration has identified nanotechnology as one of its top R&D priorities. When FY 2005 concludes later this year, over $4BN will have been spent since FY 2001 on nanotechnology R&D. In addition, the President's FY 2006 budget includes over $1BN for nanotechnology research across 11 federal agencies. Such a substantial and sustained investment has been largely based on the expectation that advances in understanding and harnessing novel nanoscale properties will generate broad-ranging economic benefits for the US. The recently released report: "The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) at Five Years: Assessment and Recommendations of the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel (NNAP)" is PCAST's first assessment of the federal government's nanotechnology research efforts in its role as NNAP. See: www.ostp.gov/pcast/pcast.html.
