The nanotech world in the Capital Region is spinning after the President commends its growth. It’s not just because he says what's happening in Albany needs to happen across the country, but because it naturally continues to press ahead as its way of doing business. Innae Park reports.

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ALBANY, N.Y. – “It’s pretty awesome and I don't think people around here really recognize what's going on here.”

Those words came from Warren Montgomery, the Assistant Vice President of Advanced Technology and Business Development at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the University at Albany. However, after this week’s visit from President Barack Obama, more people, in both the area and across the country, are expected to be aware of CNSE and the nanotechnology work being done in the Capital Region.

Those who led the President down the halls of the institution say it is clear that the tour is just a sign of the things to come.

“This concept that is being developed here really has been ushered in by New York and it's pretty impressive. And it can probably be taken to the next level, which is national,” said Montgomery.

So what is this model that has brought experts in nanotechnology from all over to New York’s capital?

Christopher Borst, the Assistant Vice President for Module Engineering, says it’s about collaboration.

“We can have multiple partners working here together, sometimes competitors, all here for the unified purpose for doing development on this type of technology,” Borst said.

Borst said the President seemed to be most impressed with those relationships during his visit.

Montgomery explained, “Probably 20 years ago, we used to have giant companies like IBM that would do all the early development themselves and pay it all. Now, people are pooling their money on pre-competitive technology because it's too expensive to do it independently.”

With companies like GlobalFoundries, IBM, Intel and Samsung joining CNSE to form the Global 450 Consortium, it is a movement that the president desires to see elsewhere, even in different sectors.

“There are other areas of technology that could leverage from this model,” said Montgomery.

In the meantime, the local nanotech movement isn't stopping.

“Just keep moving things forward at that rapid pace,” Borst said.