USA　and　China　are　two　leading　countries　engaged　in　nanotechnology　research　and　development.　They　compete　with　each　other　for　fruits　in　this　innovative　area　in　a　parallel　and　compatible　manner.　Understanding　the　status　and　developmental　prospects　of　nanotechnology　in　USA　and　China　is　important　for　policy-makers　to　decide　nanotechnology　priorities　and　funding,　and　to　explore　new　ways　for　global　cooperation　on　key　issues.　We　here　present　the　nanoscience　and　nanomedicine　research　and　the　related　productivity　measured　by　publications,　and　patent　applications,　governmental　funding,　policies　and　regulations,　institutional　translational　research,　industrial　and　enterprise　growth　in　nanotechnology-related　fields　across　China　and　USA.　The　comparison　reveals　some　marked　asymmetries　of　nanotechnology　development　in　China　and　USA,　which　may　be　helpful　for　future　directions　to　strengthen　nanotechnology　collaboration　for　both　countries,　and　for　the　world　as　a　whole.　©　2015　Elsevier　Inc.