[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 135 (Friday, October 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11745-S11746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH (for himself and Ms. Cantwell):
  S. 1908. A bill to authorize the Under Secretary of Technology of the 
Department of Commerce to award grants to establish up to eight 
Nanoscience to Commercialization Institutes throughout the United 
States to develop commercial applications for nanotechnology; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Cantwell to 
introduce the Nanoscience to Commercialization Institutes Act of 2005.
  Still in its infancy, nanotechnology is an exciting technology with a 
bright future and the potential to have a significant impact on the 
economy, global competitiveness and the quality of life for our 
citizens.
  The advent of nanotechnology is creating opportunities in any array 
of industries with applications ranging from improving the performance 
of sports equipment used in recreation activities to life-saving 
medical applications used to combat deadly diseases such as cancer.
  Many promising technological advances have already begun to take 
shape in the world of micro- and nanotechnology and countless more 
potential future applications exist in fields such as medicine, 
electronics, energy to name a few.
  However, many times innovative research becomes victim of the 
``Valley of Death'' by failing to advance from the research labs to 
application in commercial products and services.

[[Page S11746]]

  My bill will establish up to eight Nanoscience to Commercialization 
Institutes across the country, each focusing on a specific field of 
expertise including areas such as energy, electronics, agriculture, 
medical, textiles and transportation with the purpose of developing and 
bridging research to the marketplace.
  My bill is aimed at narrowing this so-called ``Valley of Death,'' by 
focusing on bringing research to commercialization. To reach this 
objective, my bill contains provisions requiring these institutes to 
partner with private sector entities with experience in micro- and 
nanotechnology and for each institute to develop and maintain business 
plans.
  My bill will create additional avenues for entities that are engaged 
in micro- and nanotechnologies to develop research for application in 
commercial products and services that will ultimately contribute to 
sustained economic development, an improved quality of living and 
increased U.S. global competitiveness.
  The competitive landscape of nanotechnology is global in nature. 
Other countries, such as Japan and China are making tremendous 
investments and advances in various specialties of nanotechnology to 
gain competitive advantages. It is critical the U.S. demonstrate its 
global leadership role by further advancing opportunities to advance 
micro- and nanotechnology to commercial applications.
  The future of nanotechnology is a bright future and its potential 
boundless. The legislation that I am introducing today with Senator 
Cantwell supports and encourages the advancement of this exciting 
technology. I urge my colleagues to support the Nanoscience to 
Commercialization Institutes Act of 2005.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1908

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Nanoscience to 
     Commercialization Institutes Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. NANOSCIENCE TO COMMERCIALIZATION INSTITUTES.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--The Under Secretary of Technology of the 
     Department of Commerce (referred to in this Act as the 
     ``Under Secretary'') is authorized to award grants to 
     eligible entities to establish up to 8 Nanoscience to 
     Commercialization Institutes (referred to in this Act as 
     ``Institutes'') throughout the United States to assist in the 
     commercialization of nanotechnology.
       (2) Maximum amount.--The Under Secretary shall not award a 
     grant under this section in an amount which exceeds 
     $1,500,000 for any year of the grant period.
       (3) Duration.--The Under Secretary shall award grants under 
     this section for a period not to exceed 3 years.
       (4) Location.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that each 
     Institute is located at either a public university or Federal 
     laboratory.
       (b) Use of Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Grants awarded pursuant to subsection (a) 
     shall be used to establish at least 1 Institute in each of 
     the following areas of nanotechnology or microtechnology:
       (A) Energy, including clean coal liquification, 
     gasification, and filtration, nuclear energy, biofuels, or 
     fuel processing.
       (B) Printable electronics, including electronic displays.
       (C) Medical, including diagnostics, imaging, or medical 
     devices.
       (D) Transportation, including materials or coatings.
       (E) Textiles, including heat resistance, waterproofing, 
     insulation, or fireproofing.
       (F) Agriculture.
       (2) Limitation.--Not more than 20 percent of each grant 
     award may be used for administrative expenses or other 
     overhead costs.
       (3) Matching requirement.--For-profit manufacturing 
     companies conducting research and development in micro- and 
     nanotechnologies shall provide--
       (A) not less than 20 percent of the funding for each 
     Institute; and
       (B) in addition to the funding under subparagraph (A), in-
     kind contributions equal to not less than 15 percent of the 
     operating costs of the Institute.
       (c) Application.--
       (1) In general.--Each entity desiring a grant under this 
     section shall submit an application to the Under Secretary at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Under Secretary may reasonably require.
       (2) Collaboration.--The application submitted under 
     paragraph (1) shall include a business plan that--
       (A) describes how each grant recipient will collaborate 
     with the private sector entities that will contribute 
     expertise and matching funds; and
       (B) includes goals for the first year of the grant period.
       (3) Ineligible entities.--Any institution of higher 
     education that has a federally funded nanotechnology center 
     or is the primary lead of a nanotechnology center is not 
     eligible for a grant under this section.
       (4) Peer review committee.--The Under Secretary shall 
     establish a peer review committee, consisting of 
     representatives from the micro- and nanotechnology industry 
     and early stage venture capital firms, to review the goals 
     and progress made by each Institute during the grant period.
       (5) Renewal of grants.--
       (A) Each entity that receives an initial 1-year grant under 
     this section shall, as a condition of continued grant 
     funding, submit a report, not later than 1 year after the 
     beginning of the grant period and annually for the next 2 
     years, to the peer review committee established under 
     paragraph (4).
       (B) The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall 
     describe the Institute's accomplishments during the preceding 
     year and the Institute's goals for the subsequent year.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated $24,000,000 during 
     the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
     Act to carry out the provisions of this Act.

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