Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology research is a federal priority, and analysts expect that nanotechnology will be a $1 trillion market by 2015, with 800,000 to 900,000 nanotechnology workers in the United States alone.


Nanotechnology in Virginia
In 2003, the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission (VRTAC) identified nanomanufacturing as a strategic research priority for the Commonwealth. Because Virginia has continued to expand and strengthen its nanoscience research community and nano-related education and training programs, the Commonwealth is in a strong position to be competitive in nanomanufacturing as well as other areas, including characterization, carbonaceous nanomaterials and applications in nanobiomedicine and nanoelectronics.
Nanotechnology is performed at colleges, universities, industry, and federal labs across the Commonwealth. James Madison University, George Mason University, Old Dominion University, Hampton University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University are among those involved in nano-related research and education. NASA Langley Research Center and the Jefferson Laboratory are among the federal labs engaged in research, in many case with industry and/or academia. Virginia industry – from Hampton Roads to Northern Virginia to Southside to Southwest Virginia, and from startups to large firms - are involved in nanotechnology research, integration, and production

CIT and VNI
CIT created the Virginia Nanotechnology Initiative (VNI) in 2002; this CIT program is a vehicle to enhance nano-related collaboration among Virginia's universities and increase federal research funding into Virginia. Its website, www.vanano.org, provides nanotechnology-related information about Virginia events, industry, academia, federal labs, and other programs and activities.

CIT supports nanotechnology initiatives of the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission (VRTAC), the Virginia Administration, and the Virginia Congressional delegation.