Strategies for Enhancing Nanotechnology Standards Activities Discussed at ANSI-NSP Meeting

Previous | Printer-friendly

Strategies for Enhancing Nanotechnology Standards Activities Discussed at ANSI-NSP Meeting New York May 3, 2013

Dr. Altaf Carim of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President delivered a presentation on the federal governments perspective on nanotechnology and standards. Providing a cross-sector view, ANSI senior vice president and COO Fran Schrotter gave attendees an introduction to ANSIs varied standards collaboratives, such as the ANSI-NSP and the new ANSI Energy Efficiency Standardization Coordination Collaborative (EESCC), and how they address national priorities.

Following the presentations, interactive panel discussions were moderated by Dr. Celia Merzbacher, formerly of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President and now with the Semiconductor Research Corporation, and Dr. Clayton Teague, former Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office and former ANSI-NSP Chair, respectively. Panelists discussed the ways in which current nanotechnology standards activities are meeting real world needs, and key areas of priority that still need to be addressed. Participants agreed that greater visibility is needed for nanotechnology standards that are already published and available for utilization. To meet this need, ANSI is currently developing an online database of relevant standards activities.

Also discussed were the reasons individuals are motivated to participate in nanotechnology standards development and the advantages participation brings to their organizations. Some of the key benefits mentioned include enhanced knowledge about state-of-the-art technology, increased development of professional relationships, as well as the opportunity to influence the technical content of documents. Participants agreed that mechanisms for promoting support for individuals and organizations actively working in standards development processes would be beneficial, and ANSI's Standards Boost Business initiative could be used as a role model.

The full meeting report is available here.

Formed in 2004, ANSI-NSP serves as the cross-sector coordinating body for the facilitation of standards development in the area of nanotechnology. Shaun Clancy, Ph.D., the director of product regulatory services for the Evonik Degussa Corporation, and Ajit Jilavenkatesa, Ph.D., the senior standards policy advisor for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC), serve as the ANSI-NSPs co-chairs.

For more information, visit the ANSI-NSP webpage or contact Heather Benko (hbenko@ansi.org), ANSI senior manager, nanotechnology standardization activities.