IN
FEBRUARY, U.S. Senator Gordon Smith and I announced
that Oregon would become home to a signature nanotechnology
research center, the Center for Nanotechnology for Thermal
Management and Portable Power Generation, which will
develop nanotechnologies to significantly enhance the
performance of microelectronics.
In July, we were able to follow up on that success by
announcing that the Oregon Nanoscience and
Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) would receive more than
$11 million in federal funding for various research
projects, including the new research center.
As I work with policymakers and business leaders
throughout Oregon to build a strong economy for our
state’s future, I see these announcements as
important milestones. Not only will these federal research
funds have a significant positive impact on our state
economy, but they also demonstrate that Oregon is already a
recognized national leader in this growing field.
This is important for Oregon’s economic future
because the worldwide nanotechnology market is expected to
be worth more than $2.6 trillion in 2015, and
nanotechnology has potential application in fields
including medicine, manufacturing and information
technology. I would like to see Oregon entrepreneurs
— among the most innovative anywhere — harness
the potential of this far-reaching and revolutionary
technology.
Fortunately, many in the public and private sectors share
this vision and are working together toward this end.
I have already detailed some of the efforts at the federal
level; at the state level, Governor Ted Kulongoski and
others have led the charge for state funding and broader
recognition that nanotechnology is an important part of
Oregon’s economic future. And the leadership of
ONAMI — itself a collaborative effort among
Oregon’s research universities, the private sector
and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory — truly
epitomizes the value of cooperation and a united
front.
It is because we are working together that we have been
able to secure an Oregon nanotechnology center and the
millions of dollars in federal research funding that comes
with it. And it is because we will continue this
collaborative model that Oregon will continue to see
benefits — in additional research funding and the
associated jobs, economic growth and opportunities for
commercialization — for years to come.
— U.S. Senator Ron
Wyden
IDEAS, KNOWLEDGE, AND
INNOVATION are the keys to stimulating our modern
industrial economy. Our understanding of the interplay
between technological advances, investment and jobs has a
direct correlation with the strength and vitality of
knowledge-based sectors and institutions.
Meeting business challenges in today’s advanced
technological society requires a continuing investment in
many different fields of research. Oregon is at the
forefront of medicine, high tech and agriculture, and
keeping up with new technologies and trends will help us
maintain our leadership.
As a U.S. senator, I have championed increased research
funds to energy, defense, transportation, agriculture and
medicine. Many of these research dollars go to
Oregon, where they provide direct economic benefits and
improve the quality of life for all Oregonians. For
example, Oregon has a long tradition of environmental
stewardship and continues to lead in the field of renewable
energy resources. Oregon’s communities, universities
and businesses are pursuing a wide range of renewable and
alternative energies that will better secure our economic
future.
Medical research is also a top priority for me. Just as
business technology helps keep our economy sound, medical
advances keep our citizens healthy. As our population ages,
it is increasingly important to find cures and new
treatments for the diseases and conditions that affect the
lives of millions of Americans. Advances in research spur
new treatments that improve the lives of those who suffer.
I believe that the federal government should play a
significant role in these efforts. In 1998, I voted to
double funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
over the course of five years. In 2004, I supported a $900
million increase, allocating a total of $27.9 billion.
Oregon Health Science & Science University received
more than $200 million in federal funding that same
year.
Now, more than ever before, ongoing investment in research
will help determine the future of America’s strength
at home and leadership abroad. We will always face new and
varied challenges, but I am confident that we will meet
with continuing success if we remember that research is the
key to our progress.
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