marketable nanotechnology products. Often, foreign governments are pursuing a strategy of letting American researchers do the basic science, then using their resources to commercialize that research and gain the economic benefit. Having invested in the early days of nanotechnology research and innovation, we should not miss the opportunity to fully commercialize our own research.
Programs such as Small Business Innovation Research, Small Business Technology Transfer, and the new Technology Innovation Program are vital mechanisms for bringing technology out of the lab and into the marketplace. They provide needed resources and expertise to emerging small businesses. They bridge the “valley of death” that lies between basic research funding and late-stage commercial funding—a valley that would otherwise swallow many more promising companies. Programs like SBIR have enabled companies like ours to stay focused on more disruptive innovations even when they are not the lowest hanging fruit in terms of revenue generation. In practice, such programs keep American innovation at the cutting edge as we continue to meet real-time market needs.
Rapid commercialization is important, but goal-oriented research also will help accelerate the path to market for nanotech companies. Many emerging countries are focusing on this strategy to leapfrog themselves into significant roles in the global economy. For example, countries like Taiwan have determined that, although they may not be able to challenge the United States across the board, they can compete effectively if they concentrate their resources. By conducting goal-oriented research in a key area such as electronics or display technologies, they can achieve a strong position in those markets.
We can do the same thing. Already, we have had tremendous success with goal-oriented research in cancer treatment and other health-related areas. Identifying and pursuing other key goals, such as nanomedicine, energy, electronics, or water purification, will help ensure that we are getting the most for our research money.
As someone who practically embodies the concept of “multidisciplinary research,” I would encourage the Subcommittee to see to it that goal-oriented research centers cross traditional scientific and agency boundaries. The National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy should be working together; NIST should be working with EPA; and so forth. I have seen the beginnings of such multidisciplinary research under the current National Nanotechnology Initiative, and the results are indeed encouraging. I see this in my own company every day, and I know it works.
I caution the Committee, however, not to get trapped by lesser goals while losing sight of the bigger picture. It is one thing to make products based on nanotechnology research; it is another to build a nanotechnology economy. The goal-oriented nanotech research of competing economies is understandable given their resources. But it is one thing to be simply the supplier of a bumper, or a headlight, or a mechanical part for an automobile; it is another thing to build an economy based on the mobility the automobile enabled, which spawned multiple new industries and employed millions. So it could be with nanotechnology.
It will be this understanding of the nano-based economy that will differentiate us from our competitors and allow us to make the best decisions about where to invest our resources. This understanding will also enable us to take a fresh approach to American leadership in the new global economy.
3. The Broader Impact of Nanotechnology on Environmental, Health, Safety and other Global Challenges
With nanotechnology products entering the commercial market, it is important that we know how nanoparticles behave in the body and in the environment. Just as important is the need to communicate with consumers so that they understand the efforts that are underway to determine and address any risks that may exist. The last thing that any nanotechnology company wants is for a lack of safety data to scare consumers into staying away. The field has learned the lessons of the genetically modified food debacle.
That said, however, amid the concern about potential negative environmental, health, and safety impacts, it is easy to forget that nanotechnology can be much more of an environmental, health, and safety solution than a problem. For example, Nanobiosym’s products will improve health both here and in the developing world by rapidly diagnosing infectious disease. Soon, we plan to expand into water and food testing.
Many other nanotechnology companies are making similar contributions to environmental, health, and safety issues. From fuel cells to LED lights, from cancer treatments to antibacterial surfaces, and from strong composite materials to aircraft metal fatigue sensors, nanotechnology products are beginning to clean up the environment, cure people and keep them healthy, and save lives by preventing accidents. These trends will only accelerate as nanotechnology becomes more widespread.
4. Bringing Emerging Technologies into Emerging Global Markets
I envision that the new global economy will take shape as the economies of major nations become more interdependent and intertwined via science, technology, and commerce. Nanotechnology by its very multidisciplinary and international nature is thus likely to play a major role in driving the new global economy.
Nanotechnology will spur American entrepreneurs to think and act even more globally. As Americans, we should take a bold step towards global leadership in the nanotechnology revolution by engaging other players around the world and also by embracing global challenges (such as the energy crisis, global health, and the environment) as our own, including those of the developing world. Together we should focus on using our best scientific and technological tools to solve real-world problems.
The very nature of the way innovation and commercialization is proceeding in nanotech enables us to reach out to a global market. For example our product, because of its portability and small size, has a large potential in the developing world. Similar to the cell phone industry which has made a disruptive impact on telecommunications in emerging markets, there are six billion people on Earth and everybody gets infected at some point in their life. If we can make our products cheap enough we can improve global healthcare as well as cater to the needs of a growing multibillion-dollar market.
Conclusion
Building on the success of the National Nanotechnology Initiative’s first five years, the United States has a historic opportunity to drive nanotechnology to maximize its impact on global challenges. The economic and humanitarian benefits of driving this nanotechnology revolution will be tremendous, and the reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative will go a long way towards putting America at the forefront of this global revolution.
