U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that
the Senate has approved the FY10 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Bill which includes $500,000 for the University
at Albany's College of Nanoscience and Engineering. The funding would be
used to further the development and deployment of new nanoscale fabrication
and measurement strategies. Schumer and Gillibrand requested that the funding
be included as part of the spending bill.
"It is critical that we continue to support the groundbreaking research
at Albany NanoTech," said Schumer. "This federal funding will ensure
that Albany will continue to be a global leader in nanotechnology. This funding
will help support Albany as a leader in global research, attracting companies
and creating jobs in the Capital Region."
"This is a great investment for the state of the art research at our world
class facility at University at Albany," said Senator Gillibrand. "Nanotechnology
research and development is a critical part of the Capital Region's economic
growth. I will continue to work with Senator Schumer to ensure that New York
receives its fair share of federal dollars."
The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University
at Albany established the New York Center for National Competitiveness in Nanoscale
Characterization (NC)3 as a partnership with the National Institute for Science
and Technology (NIST) to assemble the synergistic intellectual assets and cutting
edge physical resources necessary to complement, support, and promote U.S. innovation
and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, sensitive traceability,
and accurate technological and industrial standards under the American Competitiveness
Initiative (ACI). Funding for (NC)3 will also support the concurrent research
and development of new nanoscale measurement strategies supporting the emerging
"bottom-up approach" in nanotechnology fabrication protocols based
on controlled self-assembly of atomic device building blocks to be used in a
broad array of applications including advanced nanoelectronic devices in addition
to clean energy, defense, biomedical, transportation and communications. Collaborative
interactions between NIST and CNSE focusing on the "bottom-up approach"
will focus more on nanoscale characterization of energy related materials and
devices including solar cells, solid state lighting, optical sensors for harsh
environments, fuel cells and energy storage devices.
Now that the bill has been approved by the Senate, it will be combined with
the House's version and go to the President for signature.
Posted November 6th, 2009
