Jim O鈥機onnor, vice president of Technological Commercialization at Motorola, Inc., testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Science Subcommittee on Research to share Motorola鈥檚 thoughts on where the United States stands competitively and innovatively when it comes to nanoscience and nanotechnologies.
Representing Motorola鈥檚 24,000 research scientists and engineers, Mr. O鈥機onnor cited the recent report by the President鈥檚 Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) on 鈥淭he National Nanotechnology Initiative at Five Years,鈥� which indicates the U.S. has surged to the forefront of nanotechnology research and development 鈥� ahead of Europe, Asia, and all other competing nations around the globe.
鈥淭hanks to public-private partnerships between Federal and State governments, business and academia, our nanotechnology position has become strong,鈥� said Mr. O鈥機onnor. 鈥淗owever, the relative lead the U.S. currently holds is in jeopardy because the rest of the world is catching up to the U.S. in a variety of measurements. In government funding, for example, the rate of increase in the European Union and Asia is higher than that of the U.S.鈥�
In addition to emphasizing the importance of federal support to help boost America鈥檚 position in nanotechnology research and development, Mr. O鈥機onnor reiterated the private sector鈥檚 long-term investment and commitment to the future of nanoscience. For example, Motorola鈥檚 current investment in the nanotech field could soon lead to the commercialization of flat-screen TVs using Carbon Nanotube technology, the first of its kind.
Despite these advancements, Mr. O鈥機onnor warned the Subcommittee about current problems that could endanger America鈥檚 global competitiveness. For example, because of the shortage of American workers skilled in science and technology, the U.S. is slipping behind its competitors 鈥� Asia in particular 鈥� in undergraduate and graduate training. For this reason, federal programs such as the National Science Foundation鈥檚 university grants program are integral to the growth of America鈥檚 technology sector.
To illustrate Motorola鈥檚 commitment to university partnerships, Mr. O鈥機onnor informed the congressional panel about this summer鈥檚 launch of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nanotechnology (CIRN) with Arizona State University. Among other education and training initiatives, Motorola supports the PCAST Report鈥檚 recommendation that the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) establish relationships with the Departments of Education and Labor to develop education and training systems to improve the Nation鈥檚 technical proficiency in the 鈥淪TEM鈥� fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
鈥淟et me be clear as possible: if the Internet improved our quality of life via the Information Superhighway, then nanotechnology should be considered the Express Lane for future technological breakthroughs to make our lives simpler, safer and more enjoyable,鈥� said Mr. O鈥機onnor before the House Science Subcommitee. 鈥淟ife-changing dreams are becoming reality in our nation鈥檚 nanotechnology labs and we must press forward in a coordinated, collaborative fashion between Federal and State governments, businesses in the private sector, and our academic institutions to ensure America鈥檚 competitiveness, boost our economy and improve our citizens鈥� quality of life.鈥�
