Image/Graph: Government investment in Nano.

Caption: Graph showing increase in global government and U.S. government investment in nanoscience and nanoengineering research from 1997 to 2003. The U.S. established the National Nanotechnology Initiative, a federally funded program to advance nano research and development that encompasses 15 federal agencies. Funding for this initiative reached approximately $770 million in fiscal year 2003. The National Science Foundation, the federal agency I serve, has the interagency lead in this coordinated effort. Only a week ago President Bush signed The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, authorizing funding of $3.7 billion over 4 years for nano science and engineering research, education and development.

Source: Mikhail Roco, NSF