[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69462-69463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27548]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY OFFICE


National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan; National 
Science and Technology Council; National Nanotechnology Coordination 
Office

AGENCY: Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and 
Technology Policy.

[[Page 69463]]


ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Science and Technology Council; Committee on 
Technology; Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee 
requests public comments on the draft 2014 National Nanotechnology 
Initiative (NNI) Strategic Plan. The draft plan will be posted at 
www.nano.gov/2014strategy. Comments of approximately one page or less 
in length (4,000 characters) are requested and must be received by 
December 17, 2013 to be considered.

DATES: Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 17, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Respondents are encouraged to submit their comments (4,000 
characters or less) through one of the following methods. Please 
reference page and line numbers in your response, as appropriate 
Submission via the Web site is the preferred method of submission. 
Please do not include in your comments information of a confidential 
nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary 
information. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be 
accepted by the Federal Government to form a binding contract or issue 
a grant. Information obtained as a result of this notice may be used by 
the Federal Government for program planning on a non-attribution basis. 
Do not include any information that might be considered proprietary or 
confidential. Please be aware that your comments may be posted online.
     Web site: www.nano.gov/2014strategy.
     Email: [email protected].
     Postal Mail: Stacey Standridge, ATTN: NNI Strategic Plan 
Comments, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Stafford II Suite 405, Arlington, VA 
22230.
     Fax: (703) 292-9312.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) 
Strategic Plan is the framework that underpins the nanotechnology work 
of the NNI member agencies. It aims to ensure that advances in 
nanotechnology research and development (R&D) and their applications to 
agency missions and the broader national interest continue unabated in 
this still-young field. Its purpose is to facilitate achievement of the 
NNI vision by laying out targeted guidance for agency leaders, program 
managers, and the research community regarding planning and 
implementation of nanotechnology R&D investments and activities.
    The NNI is a U.S. Government R&D program of 20 departments and 
independent agencies working together toward the common vision of a 
future in which the ability to understand and control matter at the 
nanoscale level leads to a revolution in technology and industry that 
benefits society. The combined, coordinated efforts of these agencies 
have accelerated discovery, development, and deployment of 
nanotechnology towards agency missions and the broader national 
interest. Established in 2001, the NNI involves nanotechnology-related 
activities by the 20 member agencies, 11 of which have budgets for 
nanotechnology R&D in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014.
    The NNI is managed within the framework of the National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC), the Cabinet-level council that coordinates 
science and technology across the Federal government and interfaces 
with other sectors. The Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology 
(NSET) Subcommittee of the NSTC coordinates planning, budgeting, 
program implementation, and review of the NNI. The NSET Subcommittee is 
composed of senior representatives from agencies participating in the 
NNI (www.nano.gov/nset).
    The NSET Subcommittee has solicited multiple streams of input to 
inform the development of a revised NNI Strategic Plan. Independent 
reviews of the NNI by the President's Council of Advisors on Science 
and Technology and the National Research Council of the National 
Academies have made specific recommendations for improving the NNI. 
Additional input has come from the NNI Strategic Planning Stakeholders 
Workshop in Washington, DC, on June 11-12, 2013 (details available 
online: www.nano.gov/stakeholderworkshop), as well as in responses to 
targeted questions that were posted on www.nano.gov/stakeholderworkshop 
from June 7-June 14, 2013.
    The NNI Strategic Plan represents the consensus of the 
participating agencies as to the high-level goals and priorities of the 
NNI and specific objectives for at least the next three years. It 
describes the four overarching goals of the NNI; the major Program 
Component Areas, established in 2004 and revised in 2013, to broadly 
track the categories of investments needed to ensure the success of the 
initiative; and the near-term objectives that will be the concrete 
steps taken toward collectively achieving the NNI vision and goals. 
Finally, the plan describes collaborative interagency activities, 
including five Nanotechnology Signature Initiatives that are a model of 
specifically targeted and closely coordinated interagency, cross-sector 
collaboration designed to accelerate innovation in areas of national 
priority.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any questions about the content of 
this notice should be sent to [email protected]. Questions 
and responses may also be sent by mail (please allow additional time 
for processing) to: Stacey Standridge, ATTN: NNI Strategic Plan 
Comments, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Stafford II Suite 405, Arlington, VA 
22230. Phone: (703) 292-8103, Fax: (703) 292-9312.

Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-27548 Filed 11-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3270-F4-P