Networking, Collaboration and Information Dissemination

The CHM facilitates the National Nanomanufacturing Network (NNN). The NNN, along with its online information clearinghouse, InterNano, has been firmly rooted as an important resource to the broader nanomanufacturing community. The NNN serves its mission as a catalyst for progress in nanomanufacturing in the U.S. through the facilitation and promotion of nanomanufacturing workshops, roadmapping, inter-institutional collaborations, technology transition, test beds, and information exchange services. Providing value-added services to industry, stakeholders, and practitioners engaged in nanomanufacturing, the NNN has established a leadership role in such important activities as standards and terminology, nanoinformatics, education and workforce training, materials database federation, R&D collaborations, and archiving of nanomanufacturing relevant information. The network presently consists of centers, leaders, experts, and stakeholders from the nanomanufacturing research, development and education community representing a partnership between academia, industry and government. The core foundation of the NNN consists of the four NSF nanomanufacturing NSECs, the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing (CHM), the Center for High-Rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN), the Center for Scalable and Integrated NanoManufacturing (SINAM), and the Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems (Nano-CEMMS), as well as the DOE Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT) at Sandia National Laboratories and the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) and other affiliations. InterNano is the information arm of the NNN—a digital library resource of timely information on nanomanufacturing and an informatics platform for collaboration that provides an open platform for archiving information where stakeholders can contribute or access relevant information specific to their needs in the area of nanomanufacturing.

NNN has created a functioning, action-oriented network populated by leaders of U.S. R&D programs, centers and enterprises related to nanomanufacturing, including an Industrial Advisory Board. These activities have also firmly established InterNano as the premier information site and community resource of the nanomanufacturing community, and clearly demonstrate singular NNN contributions to transformational progress in U.S. nanomanufacturing. To accomplish this, the NNN has established a portfolio and database of enabling nanomanufacturing processes, capabilities, and organizations; expanded the NNN base through increased affiliations with government, industry, and academic organizations; and continued to sponsor and organize thematic workshops and conferences targeting priority challenges in nanomanufacturing. New or expanded network activities include education and training, promotion of best practices, facilitating collaborations, and promoting emerging tools supporting design for nanomanufacturing.