Business Development Support
A major aim of the National Nanotechnology Initiative is to maximize the return on the Federal government's investment in nanoscale R&D. Therefore, communicating with the business community on current research activities, partnership opportunities and available resources is a high priority.
To facilitate nanotechnology R&D, government infrastructure is available to researchers through the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, the Network for Computational Nanotechnology, the DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers, the Naval Research Laboratory's Institute of Nanoscience, and through the nanoFab at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In addition to the facilities mentioned above, many, if not most, universities are willing to work with businesses in research collaborations. Most have technology transfer offices that can be contacted directly for information on possible collaborations.
The Federal government also offers special Funding Opportunities for industry, universities, and other research institutions.
Mechanisms of NNI Interaction with Industry and States
An important objective of the NNI is developing interactions with industry and state organizations in order to support nanotechnology development and technology transfer. The Nanomanufacturing, Industry Liaison, and Innovation (NILI) Working Group surveyed NNI member agencies to create a central list of the different agency programs that work toward this objective, and to detail the current or planned activities that support this goal of the NILI charter. To learn more, click on the gray boxes below.
Defense Threat Reduction Agency/JPEO Chemical & Biological Defense Program (DTRA/CBDP)
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Chem-Bio Detection Capability Area Research | As available | Nano-PCR: Rapid, Accurate, and Portable Full Genomic Amplification (Nanobiosym, Inc.) |
CBD/ SBIR Chem-Bio Small Business Innovation Research program |
As available (total CBD SBIR FY09 budget = $12.7M); these funds are for Phase I & Phase II contract awards across the Physical S&T and Medical S&T Capability Areas. Some topic areas have addressed nano-technology applications. | Participation in the annual DoD Beyond Phase II program; this annual outreach conference was established to facilitate one-on-one interactions between small businesses and potential industry partners to commercialize SBIR developed technologies. |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
CBD/ SBIR Chem-Bio Small Business Innovation Research program |
As available | State operated Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) serve as liaison between SBIR programs (e.g., the Government) and small businesses, and potential industrial partners. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) established the SBDC network to foster relationships with small business and industry. A few example SBDC websites include: |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Participating at outreach conferences such as the DoD Beyond Phase II conference (see #1 above) | See info presented above |
Department of Agriculture. Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (USDA/ CSREES)
Title or name of each activity |
Amount and budget of annual activity |
Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Providing competitive grants, including SBIR, formula funds, and Congressional earmarks for research, education and extension activities | $6M combined total for nanotechnology, nanomanufacturing is a small fraction of it. | NRI competitive grants, currently funded projects http://cris.csrees.usda.gov/cgi-bin/starfinder/0?path=nrinselink.txt&id=anon&pass=&search=CG=*-35603-*%20not%20PS=TERM*&format=WEBTITLESG |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Facilitating broad stakeholder interactions with LGUs, other research institutions, the food industry, and agricultural producers through workshops, conferences, grantees’ annual meetings, multistate research committees | Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems – National Planning Workshop, http://www.nseafs.cornell.edu/ |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
CRADA- Cooperative Research and Development Agreement SBIR- Small Business Innovation Research USDA Extension system/Extension Communities of Practice (CoP) Some large grants with industry direct involvement in project planning, executive, and sharing results, sometimes through an industry advisory board. Special research grants aiming at solving industry problems, and may require industry matching fund. |
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Business (DOL/ETAB)
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
High Growth Job Training Initiative | N/A | The High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to prepare workers to take advantage of new and increasing job opportunities in high growth, high demand and economically vital sectors of the American economy. The High Growth Initiative targets worker training and career development resources toward helping workers gain the skills they need to build successful careers in these and other growing industries. |
Community Based Job Training Grants | N/A | Community Based Job Training Grants serve to build the capacity of community and technical colleges to train workers and develop skills needed in local industries and occupations that are expected to experience high growth. California Nanotechnology Collaborative NanoCenter (http://www.doleta.gov/BRG/CBJTGrants/pdf/CA_San_Bernardino_Community_College.pdf) |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Global Issues in Nanotechnology (GIN) Working Group, NSTC-CT-NSET Subcommittee | None | Participation in GIN meetings Contributions to GIN projects related to OECD activity Connection of NILI and NSET conferences and meetings to DOL-ETA nanotech talent development investments |
Department of State
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
OECD Working Party on Nanotechnology |
N/A | Project on Nanotechnology Impacts on Companies and Business Environments www.oecd.org/sti/nano |
OECD Working Party on Nanotechnology |
N/A | Project on Nanotechnology Indicators and Statistics |
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Meeting with product sponsor | Part of FDA responsibility—no specific budget | For all products that FDA regulates, product sponsors request regular meeting |
Public meetings to hear from industry on requirements for nano products | Part of FDA responsibility—no specific budget | Two public meetings to hear from public on requirements for nanoproducts |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Developing guidance for industry for nano products | No specific budget—part of FDA business | FDA Task Force Report |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
While FDA typically does not develop technology for transfer to industry, FDA does serve as a facilitator of technology to bring new technology to enhance public health. | None | N/A |
National Institute of Standards and Technology/ Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (NIST/ CNST)
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) NanoFab Facility |
||
NIST / SRC-NRI Partnership | ||
TIP- Technology Innovation Program | ||
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) | ||
SBIR - Small Business Innovation Research | ||
Recovery Act Measurement Science and Engineering Research Grants Program |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Sponsor/co-sponsor Nanotechnology-related Workshops | Approx. 5 per year | 2008-2009 Examples:
|
Participate in National and International Technical and Standards Committees | Examples:
http://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f?p=102:7:0::::FSP_LANG_ID,FSP_ORG_ID:25,1315 |
|
Maintain Website with Links to Research | ||
Focused on Nanotechnology |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Publishing Papers | ||
Developing Standards | ||
Develop Standard Reference Materials (SRM) | Examples: RM 8011, Gold Nanoparticles, Nominal 10 nm Diameter |
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control (NIOSH/ CDC)
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Facilitating nanotechnology innovation indirectly by reducing safety concern barriers through the NIOSH Nanotechnology program | $6M in FY08 | NIOSH Nanotechnology Program http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/ NIOSH Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/safenano/ NIOSH Nanotechnology Field Team (NIOSH Publication No. 2008-121: NIOSH Nanotechnology Field Research Effort; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2008-121/ |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
NIOSH eNews NIOSH Science Blog |
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/default.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/ |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Research to Practice (r2p), a NIOSH initiative focused on the transfer and translation of research findings, technologies, and information into highly effective prevention practices and products which are adopted in the workplace. CDC Technology Transfer Office |
CRADA, MTAs, etc. |
National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (NIH/ NCI)
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
CCNE - Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence CNPP - Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships UIP – Unconventional Innovations Program SBIR/STTR – Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer NCL – Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory |
http://nano.cancer.gov/programs/ccne.asp Unconventional Innovations Program completed in 2008.
|
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Maintaining web site, includes information about Alliance awardees, funding opportunities, scientific bibliography NCL- NanoWeek |
http://ncl.cancer.gov http://ncl.cancer.gov/ncl_business_plan.pdf http://ncl.cancer.gov/NCLSubmissions.asp |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
SBIR/STTR- Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer
UIP- Unconventional Innovations Program
NCL- National Characterization Lab
Public-Private-Partnership |
http://otir.cancer.gov/programs/ati_uip.asp
http://ncl.cancer.gov/working_intellectual-property.asp
|
National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH/ NHLBI)
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
PEN – NHLBI Programs of Excellence in Nanotechnology SBIR/STTR – Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer BRP - Bioengineering Research Partnerships |
http://www.nhlbi-pen.net/default.php http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/01902140802022484 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-352.html
|
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
PEN – NHLBI Programs of Excellence in Nanotechnology NanoWeek |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
SBIR/STTR BRP - Bioengineering Research Partnerships Public-Private-Partnership |
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/01902140802022484 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-352.html
|
National Science Foundation
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
GOALI - Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry I/UCRC - Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers SBIR - Small Business Innovation Research STTR - Small Business Technology Transfer PFI – Partnerships for Innovation |
open pool of funds
open pool of funds
open pool of funds
open pool of funds
open pool of funds
|
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07522/nsf07522.htm
http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/iucrc/
http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/index.jsp
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5527
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5261
|
NSEC –Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers NNN - National Nanomanufacturing Network NNIN – National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Networks NCN - Network for Computational Nanotechnology NRI –Nanoelectronics Research Infrastructure MRSEC – Materials Research Science & Engineering Centers STC – Science and Technology Centers |
19 centers
Network with 4 main nodes
Network with 14 nodes
Network with 7 nodes 17 centers with main focus on nano
2 centers only on nano |
http://nri.src.org/member/about/default.asp |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Maintaining website with abstracts and funding opportunities, with search engine Supporting workshops |
about 4,000 awards posted (keyword: nano*) About 10 per year |
Workshop with forestry industry, website or reference TBA |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Publishing papers Patents Funding SBIR/STTR companies Matching SBIR/STTR companies to industry |
N/A N/A $18 million (grants) $5 million (supplements) |
N/A N/A http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/diversity/2003sbirII.xls http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/matchmaker.jsp |
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
**Note: Data Forthcoming
United States Forest Service (USFS)
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry- Vision and Technology Roadmap | FS participated in Forest Products industry nanotechnology roadmapping workshop. Road map published by the Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance. http://www.agenda2020.org/PDF/fp_nanotechnology.pdf |
|
SBIR | SBIR project with NanoDynamics to develop mold resistant building materials |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
American Forest & Paper Association Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance | Regular interaction and review of pre-commercial nanotechnology for application in the forest products industry | |
Chemical Industry Vision 2020 Technology Partnership | Regular interaction discussing nanotechnology in the chemical industry. Provide input into chemical industry road mapping activities. | |
American Forest & Paper Association/Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Industrial Liaison Meeting | Annual review (2 days) of USFS nanotechnology R&D program with industry | |
Annual International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry | $5,000 sponsorship plus staff time and travel costs to plan , conduct and participate in the conference | Research conference on nanotechnology specific to the forest products sector—involves industry and universities in the US and worldwide |
FS-Purdue University collaboration | $45,000 plus salary and benefits of employee (~$90,000) | USFS has placed a nanotechnology scientist at the Purdue University Birck Nanotechnology Center with joint academic appointment. |
Title or name of each activity | Amount and budget of annual activity | Example of activity |
---|---|---|
American Forest & Paper |
Review of pre-commercial nanotechnology and assess readiness for technology deployment | |
Association Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance | ||
Research publications in scientific and industry technical journals | ||
SBIR project-NanoDynamics and other cooperative R&D agreements as opportunities arise | Develop mold resistant building products |
United State International Trade Commission (USITC)
**Note: Data Forthcoming
State, Regional, and Local Nanotechnology Initiatives and Resources
State and regional economic development initiatives for nanotechnology now operate in many states, and several others are getting started. To find out what kind of support is available locally for commercial development, contact the Initiative office closest to you. State and local economic development offices also can assist R&D efforts. To learn more about nanotechnology initiatives, visit the workshop site from the 2009 Regional, State and Local Initiatives in Nanotechnology Workshop.
Albany NanoTech (New York)
Arizona Nanotechnology Cluster (Arizona)
Birck Nanotechnology Center (Indiana)
California NanoSystems Institute (California)
Colorado Nanotechnology Initiative (Colorado)
Greater Washington Nanotech Alliance (Washington, D.C.)
High Technology Innovation Corporation (Hawaii)
Maryland Technology Development Corporation (Maryland)
Massachusetts Nanotechnology Initiative (Massachussetts)
MidAtlantic Nanotech Alliance (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware)
NanoBusiness Alliance (across the US)
nanoSTAR Institute (Virginia)
North Carolina Nanotechnology (North Carolina)
North Dakota Centers of Excellence (North Dakota)
Northern California Nanotechnology Initiative (California)
Northern Virginia Technology Council (Virginia)
Ohio Third Frontier (Ohio)
Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative (Oklahoma)
Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) (Oregon)
Pennsylvania Nanomaterials Commercialization Center (Pennsylvania)
Southwest Nano Consortium (Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico)
Texas Emerging Technology Fund (Texas)
Texas Nanotechnology Initiative (Texas)
The Nano-Network (Ohio)
Washington Tech Center (Washington)
WV Nano Initiative (West Virginia)
Internet Resources
Numerous Internet resources offer information that could be of use to businesses working in or interested in nanotechnology. See Links