The National Nanomanufacturing Network (NNN) is an alliance of academic, government, and industry partners that cooperate to advance nanomanufacturing strength in the U.S.

The goal of the NNN is to build a network of experts and organizations that facilitate and expedite the transition of nanotechnologies from core research and breakthroughs in the laboratory to production manufacturing. The NNN fosters technology transition and exchange through a host of activities including reviews and archiving of emerging materials, processes, and areas of practice, strategic workshops and roadmap development, and information archiving in areas of processes and tools, standards, reports, events, and environmental health and safety databases supported through InterNano.org, a project of the NNN  providing resources for nanomanufacturing.

The NNN is funded by the National Science Foundation.

Background

Over the last several years the federal government, through the National Nanotechnology Initiative, has made strategic funding investments to spark innovations in nanotechnology. This has resulted in a growing portfolio of laboratory discoveries that promise new applications with tremendous societal benefit. To realize this potential, however, these proof-of-concept scientific advancements must make their way into factories. To do so is no easy feat. Nonetheless, the projected economic and societal gains of nanotechnology are a strong driver to invest the necessary time, money, and human effort.

Historically, most product manufacturing technologies advance in an evolutionary fashion where small modifications are relatively easy to implement. In contrast, nanomanufacturing technologies are frequently disruptive, quantum leaps that take considerably more effort to adopt. For a potential nanomanufacturing process to fit in the product manufacturing value chain, it must be compatible with complementary manufacturing steps. Moreover, product performance must be assured; adequate return on investment is required; supporting manufacturing equipment and a trained technical workforce must be available; and safety to workers and consumers is essential.

Meeting these criteria requires cooperation among stakeholders in academia, industry and government. The NNN aims to facilitate that cooperation and to move U.S. nanomanufacturing forward.