Nanotechnology means megabucks

President Clinton's fiscal 2001 budget request includes a $495 million multiagency initiative to increase the federal government's investment in nanotechnology research and development. The National Science Foundation is designated as the lead agency for the effort.

The emerging fields of nanoscience and nanoengineering - the ability to precisely move matter — are leading to unprecedented understanding of and control over the fundamental building blocks of all physical things.

The following table shows the breakdown of funding for nanotechnology research and development (in millions).