U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), armed services committee member, has obtained approval for concentrating on nanotechnology research by the Defense Department, which includes a study to analyze the necessity for a nanotechnology center.
The prospective location of the center is the University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, committed to research and development of nanotechnology.
Senator Gillibrand added statements in the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act requesting the department to develop a report specifying the need to establish a research center and worked to offer $50 million of the nation’s funds to nanotechnology research.
Gillibrand suggested that the apt place to carry out nanotechnology research and development in the U.S. is UAlbany NanoCollege.
Senior Vice President and CEO of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Dr. Alain Kaloyeros stated that by appointing the college of nanoscience and engineering and New York as a centre to provide modern military technologies using nano-tools and methods, the military forces and the nation’s goals are both defended and safe-guarded.
A 2010 report of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology revealed that growth in the private and public investments of U.S. in nanotechnology every year was just 18% when compared to global growth rate of 27%.
The funding and legislative provision that forms a section of the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act has been approved by the Senate Armed Service Committee. The next step is to send the bill to the full Senate for approval, in line with the House version, and gain passage before being signed by the President.