The U.S. electronics industry’s long-term prospects could dim unless a national effort to boost nanoelectronics gets underway, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Many believe that the higher leakage currents that come with scaling CMOS devices will force the industry to adopt new technologies by 2020.

John Kelly, senior vice president for IBM’s Technology Group, called for the creation of a National Research Institute to lead a “massive, coordinated research and development effort in nanoelectronics,” involving federal and state governments, universities and industry.

Research areas that show promise include nanoscale probes for storage applications, “spintronic” devices that harness the angular momentum of electrons, molecular electronics, and carbon nanotubes, Kelly said.