Through thick and thin PAIR'S WORK HAS MADE HP A LEADER IN NANOTECHNOLOGY By Therese Poletti Mercury News… “We called it the Quantum Research Initiative,'' he said. “We didn't like the word nanotechnology. At that point in time, nanotechnology was really viewed as the realm of kooks.'' With a slight smile, Williams added that in fact nanotech is still viewed by some as a realm of kooks. http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/new s/7563605.htm

history of NNI timeline.
http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/nano/nni11600/sta rt.htm

history of NNI Timeline
Nov 1996 nanotechnology group (bottom up)
Sep 1998 NSTC establishes IWGN
MAr 1999 OSTP/CT presentation on NNI
Draft of IWGN plan, approvals
Feb 2000 WH release of NNI initiative

williams testimony link

"We called it the Quantum Research Initiative," he said. "We didn't like the word nanotechnology. At that point in time, nanotechnology was really viewed as the realm of kooks." With a slight smile, Williams added that in fact nanotech is still viewed by some as a realm of kooks.

Here's the link.

This gets you closer: http://www.redseraphim.com/index.asp?c=article&ID= 26 "Dr. R. Stanley Williams of HP, one of the contributors to the governmentís National Nanotechnology Initiative is in so much angst about the dangers of hype to nanotechnology research that he was quoted about his mission to pop the nanotechnology bubble before it gets too big."

No, this was more informal, and it was specifically on their decision about whether to name the initiative with a word known to have controversial connotations.

But thanks for trying!

Not sure if this is what you wanted: http://www.mrs.org/pa/events/RSWSenTest91702.pdf