ISTIC-TWAS report depicts high-impact innovation studies
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rk Gorenberg), articulated the success and potential for growth within the NNI, saying, “The initiative has shown excellent technology and science development to date and we’ve reached a point in the initiative where the opportunities for commercialization are better than they’ve ever been.” McQuade emphasized the importance of not losing focus on basic nanoscience research, but also described one of the report’s key recommendations as the need to “bring a new focus to commercialization of the technologies that are being developed as part of the initiative.” Meador agreed, saying, “The NNI needs to continue to do what it’s already done well—R&D, training, supporting user facilities, etc., but now there also needs to be more focus on commercialization.” The assessment’s primary recommendation to drive nanotechnology commercialization is to use the Grand Challenges framework. A Grand Challenge exhibits many characteristics—it must achieve an audacious but measurable goal with significant societal impact, it must establish a partnership between the public and private sectors, it must have clear interim milestones, and it must be broadly
cross-disciplinary spanning from R&D to commercialization. “Since this framework is already widely used in the science community and across the federal government, it is an ideal vehicle to bring nanotechnologies to market,” said McQuade. Collaboration between the public and private sectors has already started in many areas of nanotechnology, and Neaton characterized the Molecular Foundry’s engagement with industry as “strong and growing” and added that they already have a “strong history of successful partnerships.” But Neaton also acknowledges that one of the biggest challenges going forward is “getting the word out about what capabilities are available and streamlining how industry can work with us to meet their scientific needs.” Lloyd Whitman, Assistant Director for Nanotechnology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, says it’s important for scientists to spread the word: “The NNI is not just an activity of the federal government; for the NNI to succeed, we need the public to understand the promise of nanotechnology-enabled products, and our students to be prepared to make those products possible.” Jennifer A. Nekuda Malik
kaolinite clay. The composite demonstrates excellent adsorbent properties for lead and cadmium as well as for nickel ions, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls found in water. More than 100 candidates made up an initial list of innovation projects. Twenty-three of them were then selected on the basis of their replicability, impact, and the lessons they provide. They were also chosen for a presentation at a workshop held in Penang, Malaysia, in October 2012. Now these cases have been grouped in a publication that ISTIC and TWAS will distribute among policymakers and other leaders to illustrate why investment in innovation is a critical part of effective governance.
ISTIC-TWAS report depicts high-impact innovation
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