[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5505-5506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01521]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Nanotechnology Commercialization Success Stories

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek 
examples of commercialization success stories stemming from U.S. 
Government-funded nanotechnology research and development (R&D) since 
the inception of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in 2001. 
The information gathered in response to this RFI may be used as 
examples to highlight the impact of the Initiative or to inform future 
activities to promote the commercialization of federally funded 
nanotechnology R&D. Depending on the nature of the feedback, responses 
may be used to shape the agenda for a workshop to share best practices 
and showcase commercial nanotechnology-enabled products and services. 
Commercial entities, academic institutions, government laboratories, 
and individuals who have participated in federally funded R&D 
collaborated with Federal laboratories; utilized federally funded user 
facilities for nanoscale fabrication, characterization, and/or 
simulation; or have otherwise benefited from NNI agency resources are 
invited to respond.

DATES: Responses are requested by February 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit responses by any of the following methods 
(email is preferred):
     Email: [email protected]. Include [NNI 
Success Story] in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Mike Kiley, National Nanotechnology Coordination 
Office, ATTN: RFI0116, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Stafford II, Suite 405, 
Arlington, VA 22230. If submitting a response by mail, allow sufficient 
time for mail processing.
    Instructions: Submissions are limited to five pages, one of which 
we strongly recommend be an overview slide using the template provided 
at www.nano.gov/NNISuccessStories. Responses must be unclassified and 
should not contain any sensitive personally identifiable information 
(such as home address or social security number), or information that 
might be considered proprietary or confidential). Please include a 
contact name, email address, and/or phone number in case clarification 
of details in your submission is required.
    Disclaimer: Federal agencies may or may not use any responses to 
this RFI

[[Page 5506]]

as a basis for subsequent projects, programs, or funding opportunities. 
Responses to this RFI will not be returned. The Office of Science and 
Technology Policy is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the 
information received, or to provide feedback to respondents with 
respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Respondents to 
this RFI will have no competitive advantage in receiving any future 
awards.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiley, (703) 292-4399, 
[email protected], National Nanotechnology Coordination 
Office. Any requests for clarification must be received no later than 
seven (7) business days prior to the close of this RFI in order to 
receive a timely response.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background Information: The National Nanotechnology Initiative 
(NNI), established in 2001, is a U.S. Government research and 
development (R&D) initiative of 20 Federal departments, independent 
agencies, and independent commissions (hereafter referred to as 
``agencies'') working together toward the common challenging vision of 
a future in which the ability to understand and control matter at the 
nanoscale leads to a revolution in technology and industry that 
benefits society (see www.nano.gov). Over the life of the NNI, 
participating agencies have invested a total of $22 billion in 
nanotechnology research, development, and commercialization; their 
combined, coordinated efforts have accelerated the discovery, 
development, and deployment of nanotechnology to address agency mission 
goals and broader national needs.
    One of the four goals of the NNI is to foster the transfer of new 
technologies into products for commercial and public benefit. Recent 
external assessments of the NNI by the President's Council of Advisors 
for Science and Technology (PCAST) have highlighted the need to better 
assess and highlight the Initiative's progress towards this goal. While 
there are a number of excellent examples of nanotechnology-based 
commercial products, the purpose of this RFI is to collect more 
comprehensive information about the impact of NNI investments on 
nanotechnology commercialization. This RFI seeks to collect examples of 
commercial products or services attributable at least in part to the 
NNI, through direct funding of the developer and/or a collaborator, the 
use of federally funded facilities, or based at least in part on 
intellectual property or specific research results that arose from 
Federal investment in nanotechnology.
    The feedback received may be used to inform strategic activities to 
further foster nanotechnology commercialization. Depending on the 
nature of the feedback, responses may also be used to shape the agenda 
for a workshop to share best practices and showcase examples of 
successful transfer of nanotechnology from lab to market, and 
respondents may be invited to this and other events related to 
nanotechnology commercialization. In addition, information gained from 
this RFI may be used to update commercialization activities and goals 
in the 2016 NNI Strategic Plan, and may be incorporated into future NNI 
reports, publications, public remarks, and other materials.
    Information Requested: The National Nanotechnology Coordination 
Office seeks examples of nanotechnology commercialization success 
stories enabled by Federal investments under the auspices of the NNI. 
Examples should include a description of the nanotechnology-enabled 
product or service, key things that led to commercialization success, 
the role nanotechnology plays in the product, and how the Federal 
Government helped make success possible, including the following 
details:
     Description of the nanotechnology-enabled product or 
service.
     Success story details, which may include but are not 
limited to: Companies formed; jobs created; collaborations with larger 
companies or research institutions; revenues; patent applications or 
patents granted; and/or awards.
     Role of the U.S. Government in commercial success. The 
Government role could include direct funding of research and 
development; collaboration with Federal laboratories; use of federally 
funded user facilities for nanoscale fabrication, characterization, 
and/or simulation; or other benefits from NNI agency resources.

Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-01521 Filed 2-1-16; 8:45 am]
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