Governor Praises Congressional Action to Support Nanotechnology

Bill also provides federal funding for Northwest Manufacturing Initiative.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski praised the efforts of the state’s U.S. Senators in passing a defense appropriation that support projects in Oregon that involve nanotechnology, one of several requests the Governor submitted to the state’s congressional delegation for federal support of key projects in Oregon.

Nanotechnology is the development and use of devices that have a size of only a few nanometers, which is smaller than many molecules.

The Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) will receive $5.8 million in federal money to work on “nano-electronics,” safer nano-materials, and miniature tactical energy systems. The Governor also requested federal support for the Northwest Manufacturing Initiative, which helps the region’s manufacturing cluster become more competitive in defense-related contracting. The defense appropriation contains $2.5 million to support the Initiative.

“I’m grateful to our U.S. senators and representatives for their successful efforts to obtain federal support of these important projects in Oregon,” the Governor said. “Nanotechnology will play a role in solving the energy crisis by giving us ways to create, store and transport renewable energy. That’s worth hoping for in an age when we must rely on other nations for a fuel that pollutes our air and contributes to global warming.”

In 2003, Governor Kulongoski led a team that mustered $20 million in capital and another million in operating funds to start the ONAMI effort on Oregon’s research campuses. Last year, he placed ONAMI among his highest priorities, and asked the legislature to invest $7.0 million more to strengthen ONAMI’s capacity, which won legislative approval.

Early this year, the federal government announced its intention to invest $8.0 million more in ONAMI to conduct defense-related work.