Introduction - Nanotechnology and Human Health - page 3

(OECD) Working Party on Nanotechnology (Palmberg 2009), the United
States has invested by far the most in nanotechnology in the period between
2005 and 2010 (~US$1400 million/yr between 2005 and 2009), followed by
Japan (~US$730 million/yr between 2005 and 2008), Germany (~US$500 mil-
lion/yr between 2005 and 2010), France (~US$370 million/yr between 2005
and 2007), and Korea (~US$280 million/yr between 2005 and 2010).
1.2 Government Funding Programs Worldwide
and Main Priorities in Research
1.2.1 North America
In the United States, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) coor-
dinates funding for nanotechnology at the federal level. The budget has
steadily increased from US$464 million in fiscal year 2001 to US$2.1 billion
in 2012. The cumulative total investment in the NNI was US$16.5 billion in
this period. It is complemented by state programs and private funding.*
In Canada, at least until 2008, there was no national nanotechnology strat-
egy; however, there are several provincial nanotechnology initiatives or insti-
tutes in Quebec, Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and New Brunswick.
Since the establishment of NINT (National Institute for Nanotechnology) in
1999, Canada has targeted investment to nanotechnology (OECD 2009).
In Mexico, a national plan for nanotechnology research (2008-2012) is still
under construction. Since 2009, the nanoscientific research community in
Mexico has joined forces in the national nanoscience and nanotechnology
network RedNyN. By 2011, this network had around 280 members, 35% to
45% of nanoscientists in the country. There is a lot of research activity in
many universities and research centers in the north and center of the coun-
try and in Mexico City, including high-quality research in well-equipped
laboratories. The focus of most research is mainly fundamental science.
Networking between scientists in different parts of the country or with indus-
try is underdeveloped. † Nanotechnology has been recognized as a strategic
research area since 2002, without a dedicated national plan for nanotechnol-
ogy. CONACYT has invested US$14.4 million in 152 nanotechnology proj-
ects between 1998 and 2004, involving 58 research institutes. Since 2007, two
national laboratories for nanotechnology have been installed by CONACYT,
with an investment of US$20 million each. ‡ Recently, new groups of young
* Source : NNI: http://www.nano.gov/about-nni/what/funding.
† See reports on “Nanotechnology in Mexico” at www.nanoforumeula.eu.
‡ See http://www.economia.gob.mx/?P=944.