Public surveys are an extremely useful tool in assessing stakeholder opinions, needs, and feedback regarding targeted topics. The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has partnered with the National Science Foundation under the auspices of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) to conduct its latest study of commercialization trends in nanotechnology and nanofabrication. The goal of the 2014 survey is to document best practices in nanomanufacturing, i.e; nano-product development and integration, and subsequently identify the challenges stakeholders (academia, government labs, start-ups or established corporations) face in transitioning advances in nanotechnology from the laboratory to sustainable commercial applications of nano-enabled products.
The NCMS has received its fourth award from the National Science Foundation to assess nanotechnology applications in US industry. The 2013-14 NCMS-NSF study theme is “Achieving Sustainable Nanotechnology Products. The interactive survey may be accessed at www.usnanosurvey.org until March 15, 2014, requires approximately 10-15 minutes, and is intended to reach a broad cross-section of stakeholders. The NCMS has urged stakeholders at all levels in commercial organizations involved in the NNI and affiliated public organizations to log their opinions and insights regarding nanotechnology development in the U.S. Responses will remain confidential and will only be used towards the aggregation of final outcomes. All collaborating organizations and survey respondents will receive the study results in advance of public release this summer, with selected respondents being contacted to amplify key results.
The study goals are to develop a representative benchmark of how US manufacturers view nanotechnology, compare the growth of products applying nanotechnology, and identify common challenges nanotechnology stakeholders and industry faces. With this information, the NNI can establish future policies and programs to address these with the aim of maintaining US competitiveness in this field. The survey addresses 20 key factors and best practices for accelerating the commercial readiness of innovative market-oriented nanotechnology-enabled products that are economically profitable, socially responsible, and environmentally safe.
NCMS has conducted previous nanotechnology commercialization studies under NSF award in 2003, 2006 and 2009, resulting in the largest database of evolutionary Nanomanufacturing trends in the US. The NNN encourages it's members and stakeholders to participate in the survey as it provides key insights and trends into nanomanufacturing and commercialization of nanotechnology.
About NCMS
The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (www.ncms.org) is a non-profit consortium of industry, government and academia, working since 1986 to drive the global competitiveness of North American Manufacturers through collaboration, innovation, and deployment of advanced technologies.
