Nano-terrorismLawmakers seek to protect NY’s growing nanotech industry from terrorists

Last week during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Charles Schumer (D – New York) strongly urged DHS secretary Janet Napolitano to secure New York’s growing nanotechnology industry against a Mexican terrorist group that has attacked nanotechnology firms around the world.

The group, which calls itself “Individuals Tending to Savagery,” has sent package bombs to nanotechnology research facilities in South America and Europe injuring employees, students, and professors when opened.

Schumer’s remarks come as New York seeks to become a leading nanotechnology hub. The state of New York along with Intel, IBM, GlobalFoundries, Samsung, and TSMC recently invested more than $4 billion to begin researching and producing the 450 mm wafer chip, the next generation of nanotechnology, within the state.

The move is expected to create hundreds of jobs and raise New York’s profile within the nanotechnology sector, which Schumer fears could make it an attractive target for terrorists.

“New York is well on its way to being the worldwide leader in nanotechnology research,” the senator said. “We need to do absolutely everything we can to protect this vital industry from attack.”

Schumer was careful to note that Individuals Tending to Savagery has yet to strike anywhere in the United States, but urged Secretary Napolitano to crack down on the group before they plan an attack.

“While the good news is that these terrorists have yet to target the U.S., we shouldn’t wait until they have done so to act. I’m strongly urging the Department of Homeland Security to do everything in its power to break up the group, prevent an attack, and help our nanoscale research facilities protect themselves,” Schumer said.

The senator is particularly concerned about the state’s research centers which include the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, RPI, the STC in Canandaigua, and SUNY IT.