Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating materials at the atomic level to design and manufacture new and better materials and products. One nanometer equals one billionth of 1 meter. A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. Due to quantum mechanical effects at the nanoscale, the physical properties of materials change as well as rules of manufacturing.

The Center for the Advancement of Nanotechnology (NanoCenter) at the Donald F. Averill Applied Technology Training Center (ATTC) of the San Bernardino Community College District won a $2 million competitive grant for Nanotechnology from the US Department of Labor in January 2009. The overall goal of this grant project is to advance the economic development opportunities of Nanotechnology by providing a pipeline of trained workforce and bring about job development and wealth creation in our region. The Nanotechnology training program will consist of 90 hours of hands-on training that introduces participants to Nano Characterization, Micro/Nanofabrication, Materials Characterization, Device Characterization, Electronic Devices, and Optoelectronic Devices. The Nanotechnology training will be mostly conducted at the ATTC facility and some components of the hands-on training will be held at the Bourns College of Engineering at UCR.  The next training sessions start on January 9, 2012.

ATTC is currently positioned to offer Nanotechnology, Green and Clean Technology training programs to meet the growing technology training needs of companies in the Inland Empire.