At the end of 2003, the Chinese government approved the establishment of the National Center for Nanosciences and Technology (NCNST) to advance the development of nanoscience and related technology. This is a part of the long-term strategy at the national level for the development of multidisciplinary science, aiming at enhancing basic and applied research, increasing creative ability, and fostering a creative system for scientific and technological progress in China. To this end, a system that can consolidate close collaborations among universities and the Chinese Academy of Sciences was considered. As a consequence, NCNST was co-built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, and Tsinghua University. With its rapid development in the past decade, nanoscience is now truly interdisciplinary, breaking through the classical boundaries in science, technology, and engineering. Nanotechnology has immense potential for applications in green printing, energy, environmental remediation, biology, medicine, functional materials, information technology, etc. In China, there is a great demand from the industrial sector to upgrade manufacturing techniques and traditional industrial products through nanotechnology. This is anticipated to assist the industry in overcoming key challenges and problems that are faced in reducing CO2 emissions, conserving raw materials, and reducing manufacturing costs through improved efficiency and performance. However, it is difficult for industry to become involved in the early stages of development due to the interdisciplinary nature, complexity, and uncertainty of nanotechnology. NCNST therefore serves as a bridge between academia and industry, and plays a vital role in the promotion and translation of nanotechnology. To meet these demands, NCNST was designed partly as a public platform for the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, performing the following functions: promoting scientific research in the major areas of nanoscience and related technology; supporting material characterization for both academia and industry; building partnerships among government, academia, and industry; speeding up nanotechnology transfer; offering education and training in nanotechnology to students and young researchers; informing the public about nanotechnology; organizing international/national conferences; serving as China's window for international collaboration; and establishing standards and accreditation for nanomaterial applications. Inaugurated in 2003, it is now time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the NCNST. I am honored to guest-edit this NCNST Special Issue, highlighting research in the center covering a range of themes, including nanomaterials for energy applications, nano composites, nanoelectronics, nanostructure assembly, nanocatalysts, nanofabrication, cancer nanotechnology, and nanotoxicology. The tight publication schedule meant that only a select number of authors could have their manuscripts published in time for this 10th anniversary Special Issue. The papers in this issue represent a small cross-section of the research carried out at our institute, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation of the efforts of our colleagues at NCNST. Achieving the wide and large-scale applications of nanotechnology will be the next main mission of NCNST. A great deal of work remains to be done. In particular, cross-disciplinary and cross-sector collaborations are needed to continuously advance fundamental research and the applications of nanotechnology.