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MINAEAST-NET e-Newsletter
No. 2/ Weeks 5- 7 /2005
Edited with the support of EU project MINAEAST-NET
Contract no: 510470 (2004- 2006)

 


Is there a European Strategy for Nanotechnology?

Commission Communication

  • Communication drafted by the Directorate General (DG) for Research and agreed with 16 other DGs
  • Adopted on the 12th May with reference COM (2004) 338

An integrated and responsible approach

  • Nanotechnology requires action on several fronts
      • Societal Issues
      • Infrastructure
      • Human Resources
      • Industrial Innovation

R&D: Building the Momentum

  • European p ublic investment in nanotechnology R&D should increase by a factor of 3 by 2010
  • Focus upon transforming our knowledge into wealth generating products and processes
  • Reinforce the next FP for added-value via critical mass, transnational collaboration and competition
  • Effective coordination of national programmes with both OMC and ERA- NET mechanisms
  • Bring public and private stakeholders together to strengthen roadmap and foresighting activities

Infrastructure: European “Poles of Excellence”

  • Europe needs a coherent system of infrastructure for R&D in nanotechnology
  • Measures needed to maximise the added-value of existing infrastructure, in particular, to help SMEs
  • Existing infrastructure should be examined and mapped to identify most urgent needs
  • Where needed, dedicated Europe nanotechnology infrastructure with critical mass should be built
  • All financing mechanisms should be explored e.g. European Investment Bank, Structural Funds, etc

Investing in Human Resources

  • Identify the educational needs of nanotechnology and provide examples of best practice
  • Encourage the definition and implementation of new courses and curricula for nanotechnology
  • Promote the integration of complementary skills into research training e.g. entrepreneurship
  • Explore the possibility of dedicated Marie Curie calls for proposals in nanotechnology
  • Create a “European award in nanotechnology” to encourage young researchers

Industrial Innovation: Knowledge to Technology

  • Promote conditions that encourage investment in nanotechnology R&D by industry
  • Investigate the prospects and conditions for the optimal industrial exploitation of nanotechnologies
  • Invites the European Investment Bank and other institutions to strengthen the capital base for R&D
  • Encourages closer cooperation between patent offices towards a more efficient patenting system
  • Invites Member States to review existing regulation and consider specificities of nanotechnology
  • Boost and coordinate actions in metrology, standards and norms

Integrating the Societal Dimension

  • Due attention should be paid to the integrating societal aspects into nanotechnology R&D
  • Europe should pursue an open and proactive approach to governance in nanotechnology R&D
  • A dialogue with EU citizens and consumers should be encouraged to promote informed judgement
  • The Commission reaffirms its commitment to ethical principles
  • The responsible and transparent development of nanotechnology is essential for public confidence

Public Health, Safety, Environmental and Consumer Protection

  •   A high level of public health, safety, environmental and consumer protection requires:
      • Identification of safety concerns (both real and perceived) and action at the earliest stage
      • Toxicological and ecotoxicological data and evaluation of human/environmental exposure
      • Adjustment, if necessary, of risk assessment procedures for issues of nanotechnology
      • Integration of risk assessment at all stages of the life cycle of the technology

A Further Step: International Cooperation

  • Encourage international debate on issues such as public health, safety, environment, consumer protection, risk assessment, metrology, norms
  • Provide access to knowledge to economically less developed countries to contribute towards the prevention of any “knowledge apartheid”
  • Promote the monitoring and sharing of information related to the scientific, technological, economical and social development of nanotechnology
  • Define an international “code of good conduct” for the responsible development of nanotechnology

Political Response to the Proposed Strategy

  • Estimate that around 10,000 copies have been accessed from our webpages
  • Discussed in the European Council and conclusions adopted on 24 September
  • Proposed integrated and responsible strategy has been welcomed
  • Discussed in the Economic and Social Committee and favourable opinion delivered on 10 November

The present document is for information purposes and does not engage the European Commission. Please refer to official documents for due information, e.g. from www.cordis.lu/nanotechnology

See also