National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2009
Key claim: This 2009 Senate bill would expand the National Nanotechnology Program to speed commercial development of nanoscale technologies, require coordinated research on nanomaterials’ environmental and health risks, and authorize NIST and NSF funding for nanotech standards and a public project database.
Abstract
(S1482 · 111th Congress) National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2009 - Amends the 21st Century Nanotechology Research and Development Act to expand the scope of the National Nanotechnology Program (the Program), including directing the Program to utilize the perspectives of the industrial community to promote the rapid commercial development of nanoscale-enabled devices, systems, and technologies and to coordinate research in determining the key physical and chemical characteristics of nanoparticles and nanomaterials that may pose environmental, health, and safety risks. Requires issuing guidance to agencies that describes a strategy for transitioning research into commercial products and technologies and how the Program will coordinate or conduct research on the environmental, health, and safety issues related to nanotechnology. Revises requirements regarding the Program’s triennial strategic plans. Requires participating agencies to support the activities of the committees of standards setting bodies involved in the development of standards for nanotechnology. Requires the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office to be supported by funds from each participating agency. Authorizes appropriations to: (1) the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the development of nanotechnology standards; and (2) the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the development of a public information database of projects in certain program component areas. Makes the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel a distinct entity. Instructs the Panel to establish a subpanel to enable it in assessing whether societal, ethical, legal, environmental, and workforce concerns are adequately addressed by the Program. Rewrites provisions for triennial external review of the Program. Designates a Coordinator for Societal Dimensions of Nanotechnology, who shall convene a panel to develop a research plan. Requires the Coordinator to enter into an arrangement with the National Science Board to cr Latest action (2009-07-21): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Why this matters
The 2009 amendments reflect a recurring pattern in federal R&D policy: layering commercialization mandates and EHS (environmental, health, safety) research requirements onto an established interagency initiative rather than creating new programs. For NNI-funded researchers at NSF and NIST, such reauthorizations shape which nanotech projects receive priority and whether risk research is coordinated across agencies. The bill also illustrates the perennial debate over how much of a technology R&D program should be steered toward standards-setting and public transparency (project databases) versus discovery science.