Nanotech on Campus

Academia is fast becoming the center of this promising technology's universe, with states helping to pay the way.

Nanotechnology is the engineering of microscopic materials, but there's nothing small about its impact on universities. Huge nano centers are opening up across the country. Northwestern, Purdue, the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, and the University of Albany have all recently opened spanking-new nano centers.

If universities are gaga for nano, it's not hard to see why. It starts with money. The federal government has earmarked $3.7 billion for nano research over the next four years. State governments -- eager to host the industries of the future -- are joining the rush. New York has funneled hundreds of millions to the nanotech corridor taking shape around the University of Albany.

More here.