Summary　It　is　generally　agreed　that　the　United　States　National　Nanotechnology　Initiative　(NNI)　has　significantly　influenced　global　nanotechnology　development　since　its　inception　in　2000.　The　far-reaching　impact　of　NNI　and　nanotechnology　development,　as　evidenced　by　publications　in　high　impact　journals,　has　been　rising　rapidly　over　the　last　10　years.　Recently,　the　global　nanotechnology　community　witnessed　China＇s　ascent　in　nanotechnology.　With　increased　governmental　funding　and　improved　research　infrastructure,　China　has　made　significant　advances　and　currently　has　the　fastest　growing　nanotechnology　publications　and　related　industrialization.　On　the　one　hand,　the　Chinese　government,　like　the　American　government,　continues　to　build　and　support　a　fertile　nanotechnology　community.　On　the　other　hand,　efforts　appear　less　organized　in　the　European　Union.　Although　the　gap　in　nanotechnology　impact　between　the　USA　and　China　has　narrowed　significantly　over　recent　years,　the　two　countries　have　evolved　with　their　own　research　focuses.　Yet,　China　is　still　left　behind　American　nanotechnology　in　terms　of　average　citations　per　papers　and　publications　in　high-impact　journals.　It　is　hopeful　that　competition　and　collaboration　between　the　two　countries　in　this　field　will　positively　advance　the　global　nanotechnology　development.　©　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.