JAPAN NANONET BULLETIN - 32nd Issue - November 25, 2004

Visions for the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (Part I)

We had an opportunity to interview him about his visions for the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative during his visit to the National Institute for Materials Science at Tsukuba, Japan in February 2003. This interview article was revised in October 2004.

This is the part I of this interview. The part II contains the objective of NBIC Convergence project, societal implications and international collaboration on nanotechnology. The part II will be issued on December 9, 2004.

Q: Your major was Mechanical Engineering. It seems that nanotechnology and Mechanical engineering are not related to each other. What made you work on nanotechnology?

Dr. Roco: Your question can be regarded as what are nanoscale science and engineering. Basically all disciplines have a contribution. My research work was a combination of chemical, mechanics and computer simulation areas in the early 80’s.
I noted in my work on finely dispersed multiphase systems that shared layers behaved like a superfluid or a quasi-solid depending on the thickness of those layers in a confined space. In a subsequent IBM-sponsored project on two-phase toner flow, I observed how nanometer-size particles and thin layers unexpectedly and significantly change properties if their dimensions or shapes become closer to the atomic or molecular size. Interacting with numerous researchers and consulting with a wide variety of industries helped me to understand the multiple facets of nanoscience. I became interested in the overall picture of its potential implications on knowledge development and transforming tools at the end of 80’s. In 1990, I proposed the nanoparticle program at NSF, and since then I have devoted more time to the advancement of the entire field of nanotechnology besides my research and teaching.

Q: So do you think that there are no differences between fields where nanotechnology is concerned?

Dr. Roco: Nanotechnology deals with the intermediate domain between a single atom or a single molecule and large molecular systems, where all primary structures and properties of matter are defined, at the transitions between discontinued behavior and continuum behavior. Here, all fields of science and engineering deal directly with atoms and molecules, without using the discipline-specific averaging methods and mathematical formalisms that are applicable at the micro and macro scales. The phenomena are strongly correlated and simultaneous at the nanoscale and cannot be treated in the frame of a single discipline any longer. So, you will reach the same conclusions no matter what discipline you start with your exploration. One has to analyze the interdependent phenomena at the same time. This is the reason why many researchers in different disciplines like to work together in nanoscience, and why they integrate disciplines and use a transforming system approach in nanoengineering.

Q: You have actually started worldwide nanotechnology initiatives and are working in the midst of everything. Each government has its own policies and initiatives. How do you feel about this trend? What are your impressions?

Dr. Roco: First of all, it’s an interesting trend that more than 30 countries have developed activities or plans at the national level in the field of nanotechnology within two years after NNI was announced in January 2000. The spread of national programs in nanotechnology is much faster than in information technology in the 70’s and 80’s or biotechnology in the 80’s and 90’s. The long-term vision of nanotechnology has focused on the systematic control of matter at the nanoscale that would affect almost all sectors of society is a key factor in these rapid changes. Main outcomes are added-value synergies among various scientific and technological branches, acceleration of research and education in critical areas of progress, and converging technologies from the nanoscale for increasing human potential. In the United States, we have a focus on “horizontal” interdisciplinary strategy for applying not only the tools and methods but also the architecture and the principles of many different fields to a new one. In Korea, in another example, the focus has been more on a “vertical” development strategy for turning fundamental discoveries into useful products in one field at a time. This strategy fits better in smaller countries. They are working to become the best in the area of high density memory. In Australia, they have started to focus on nanostructure photonics and a little on nanobiology while Japan has focused on promoting both “horizontal” interdisciplinary infrastructures and targeted potential industrial applications. In the United States, about 75% of the overall R&D (research and development) investment has come from industry and 25% comes from the government, and of this last one only half has been used for developing civilian applications. This is the reasons that the Federal government has focused on creating the long-term foundation for developments to be made by industry. Currently developments in nanoscale fundamental research are occurring faster than expected, and many governmental agencies around the world have started their own initiatives to support fundamental long-term research.

Q: What do you think the overall vision should be?

Dr. Roco: It took us about 3 years from 1997 to 2000 to begin a global nanotechnology initiative. We prepared this program looking ten years ahead, and we conducted international benchmarking and considered what governments can or cannot do to foster open interaction with the public and to address societal implications. We spent months looking for funding agencies to invest in our program, but at the beginning nobody paid attention probably because of the difficulties in dealing with nanoscale materials. In 2000, with the President Clinton’s support for the NNI programs, it became a national interest. We emphasized that, beyond the small size, new phenomena at the nanoscale are more important. In addition, because of weak molecular interactions, smaller energy requirements and the need for less material, manufacturing can be accomplished with the highest return and added value. A unified science and engineering platform based on the same principles and transforming tools at the nanoscale will emerge. NNI reached about $1 billion in R&D investment in 2004, which is about four times higher than in 2000, while the worldwide R&D investments will exceed $3.6 billion in 2004. In summary, the long-term vision and addressing societal implications are key drivers for the advancement of nanotechnology. Its importance has been proven by the 30 countries that started using the basic concepts of NNI in a short period of time.

(To be continued…)