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.
