The California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) is an integrated research center operating jointly at
UCLA and
UC Santa Barbara whose mission is to foster interdisciplinary collaborations for discoveries in nanosystems and
nanotechnology; train the next generation of scientists, educators and technology leaders; and facilitate partnerships with industry, fueling economic development and the social well-being of
California, the
United States and the
world. CNSI was created by Governor
Gray Davis as part of a science and innovation initiative, it was established in 2000 with $100 million from the state of California and an additional $250 million in federal research grants and industry funding. At the institute, scientists in the areas of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics, computational science and engineering are measuring, modifying and manipulating the building blocks of our world -
atoms and
molecules. These scientists benefit from an integrated laboratory culture enabling them to conduct dynamic research at the
nanoscale, leading to significant breakthroughs in the areas of health, energy, the environment and information technology.