Turkey has been embraced by the State Planning Organization ("Devlet Planlama Teskilatı", DPT) and as a result "the National Nanotechnology Research Center (NNRC) " project prepared by researchers from Bilkent University has commenced. This is a multi-disciplinary effort led by faculty from the Department of Physics, the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, and the Department of Electrical Engineering. Some of the faculty are already active in nanoscience and have contributed to the development nanotechnology programs in Europe. The Center will be open to the participation of all scientists within Turkey through research and development projects. Calls for proposals will be announced periodically and projects supported through these calls will utilize the resources of the Center. International participation in these projects is encouraged. The goals of the Center are not limited to research and development, but include the education and training of students in nanoscience and nanotechnology. In the first phase, R&D efforts will focus on the following areas: fiber, nanophotonic, nanoelectronic and spintronic devices, surface and surface related methods, nano-textiles, ultrafast lasers, ultrafast spectroscopy, nanomaterials, nanodetectors, nanostructured thin films and surface phenomena,and devices of nanometer scale. The expectation is that many of the technologies and know-how generated at this Center can find industrial applications and be commercialized through start-up companies established by some of the graduating students.