National Nanotechnology Initiative releases its fiscal year 2009 budget and highlights

Budget and highlights to accompany the president's 2009 budget

February 14, 2008, 10 a.m.—A summary of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) Fiscal Year 2009 Budget was released today by the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Technology. The report is a supplement to the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2009, providing additional details on the NNI budget request, as well as highlights of planned activities to be conducted under that budget.

Described in the report are the programs and activities taking place across all 25 of the Federal agencies participating in the NNI. The document is available online from the home page of the NNI Web site (www.nano.gov) or directly at http://www.nano.gov/NNI_FY09_budget_summary.pdf.

The 2009 budget request provides $1.5 billion for the NNI, reflecting steady growth in the NNI investment. This sustained major investment in nanotechnology research and development (R&D) across the Federal Government over the past nine fiscal years of the NNI reflects the broad support of the Administration and of Congress for this program.

The NNI remains focused on fulfilling the Federal role of supporting basic research, infrastructure development, and technology transfer, in the expectation that the resulting advances and capabilities will make important contributions to national priorities, with applications across a wide range of industries including healthcare, electronics, aeronautics and energy. Increasing investments by mission agencies in nanotechnology-related research since 2001 reflect a recognition of the potential for nanotechnology research to support agency missions and responsibilities.