Coordination of the NNI


The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) coordinates Federal nanotechnology research and development. The NNI creates a framework for shared goals, priorities and strategies for each Federal agency to leverage the resources of all participating agencies.

Established in 2000, the NNI serves as the central point of communication, cooperation and collaboration for all Federal agencies engaged in nanotechnology research, bringing together the expertise needed to advance this broad and complex field.

The NNI consists of 26 Federal agencies with a range of research and regulatory roles and responsibilities. Fifteen of the participating agencies have R&D budgets that relate to nanotechnology, with the reported Federal NNI Budget representing the collective sum of these. The NNI, as a program, does not fund research; however, it informs and influences the Federal budget and planning processes through its member agencies.

NNI Organization ChartHow it is Organized

The NNI is managed within the framework of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), the Cabinet-level council under the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House, through which the President coordinates science, space, and technology policies across the Federal Government.

The Nanoscale Science Engineering and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the NSTC coordinates planning, budgeting, program implementation and review to ensure a balanced and comprehensive initiative. The NSET Subcommittee is composed of representatives from agencies participating in the NNI. In order to focus concentration on specific areas of mutual interest that stand to benefit from increased collaborating, The NSET Subcommittee created four Working Groups:

How it Started

The beginnings of the NNI can be traced back to September 1998, when the Interagency Working Group on Nanotechnology was formed. The NNI was initially launched by President Bill Clinton. The NNI has grown from an original eight agencies up to 26 participating agencies.

The importance of a coordinated Federal program for nanotechnology R&D was further recognized by Congress, who passed legislation creating the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) that President George W. Bush signed into law, in 2003 (21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act).

Funding for nanotechnology research and development continues to enjoy wide bi-partisan support in Congress. The 26 NNI agencies work together to build "a future in which the ability to understand and control matter at the nanoscale leads to a revolution in technology and industry that benefits society."