Examples of centers and networks primarily supported by government sources

While single and smaller group investigators do most of the nanoscale R&D, the larger research centers play an essential role in the development of major topics and establishing of partnerships. Centers providelong-term coherence, interdisciplinary, and a meeting place of people with multiple expertise and tools covering the various needs of nanotechnology development. A large proportion of the major nanotechnology centers around the world have been established in the last year. Several illustrations of key research centers are listed below:

- In the U.S.

National Nanofabrication User Network (NNUN):

5 universities, with the lead at the Cornell University

Distributed Center for Advanced Electronics Simulation (DesCArtES):

4 universities with the lead at the University of Illinois - Urbana

Materials Research Science and Technology Centers: distributed through U.S.

Engineering Research Centers, components on nanotechnology

Nanobiotechnology Science and Technology Center (Cornell University)

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (6 centers established in 2001)

California NanoSystems Institute (established in 2001)

NASA Nanoscience Centers (3 university based centers established in 2001)

DOE Nanoscience Laboratories (3 national laboratory centers to be established in 2002)