Annexes to COM(2007)505 - Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe 2005-2009. First Implementation Report 2005-2007 - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2007)505 - Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe 2005-2009. First Implementation Report 2005-2007. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2007)505  |
| date | September 6, 2007 |
A dedicated international dialogue has been launched with meetings in Alexandria (USA) in 2004 and Tokyo in 2006, and two preparatory meetings in Brussels and Cape Town. The third international dialogue is planned for 2008 in Europe.
The Commission’s action has included the following:
- Participating in CEN and ISO, where new groups have been created on N&N standards (CEN/TC 352 and ISO/TC 229), and existing groups have taken up specific related work items (e.g. ISO/TC 24, ISO/TC 146).
- Participating in OECD, where two new Working Parties have been established: the OECD-WP on Manufactured Nanomaterials, under the Joint Chemicals Meeting (section 6); and the OECD-CSTP-WP on Nanotechnology.[21]
- Addressing in FP7 research on the impact of nanoparticles on health and the environment in consultation and/or coordination with US Federal Agencies; the EC and Environment Protection Agency have concluded an implementing arrangement which includes nanotechnology.
- Providing in FP7 support for the networking of researchers from third countries in nanotechnology and the creation of a free and open electronic archive of N&N publications, to help prevent a possible “nano divide”.
- Creating an ad-hoc working group with Member State representatives to examine progress and challenges for international activities specific to nanotechnology.
IMPLEMENTING A COHERENT AND VISIBLE STRATEGY AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
The purpose of the Action Plan is to ensure the best possible governance of the development and use of nanotechnology. Its effective implementation therefore requires an efficient structure and coordination, within a detailed and regular consultation with the Member States and all stakeholders.
The Commission has cooperated with the EU Presidencies in the organisation of conferences providing opportunities to verify progress. In 2005, the UK hosted the EuroNanoForum conference. The UK Presidency also organised a Member State workshop to discuss and examine the initial progress of the implementation of the Action Plan. This event was followed up by the Austrian Presidency in June 2006; and by the Finnish Presidency in September 2006, with the conference “Nanotechnologies: Safety for Success”.[22] The German Presidency organised the EuroNanoForum conference in June 2007, and the Portuguese Presidency plans to organise an official event in November 2007.
An EC Interservice Group dedicated to all aspects of the work described in this report has been established. The Commission has also issued a call for the creation of an observatory, to carry out dynamic assessments of nanotechnology development and use; this should enable stakeholders to understand the potential and critical issues, providing an “early warning” function to the EU Institutions and Member States.
A new Europa website presents the implementation work carried out by all the Commission services involved: http://ec.europa.eu/nanotechnology/
In a broader sense, the Action Plan is also a means to ensure that N&N contribute to the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA),[23] and the following achievements may be noted in this respect:
- The broad-ranging European strategy for N&N and the fact that EC funding accounts for a third of European public funding in N&N have resulted in effective coordination and the minimisation of overlaps. Another helpful factor has been the early launching of these initiatives, often before any structured initiatives by Member States (section 1 above).
- Funded projects dedicated to the training and mobility of researchers, and other R&D projects in N&N, have contributed to the creation of high quality human potential in N&N (section 3 above).
- FP6 has seen increasing industrial participation in R&D projects on N&N, and the creation of several ETPs has strengthened public-private cooperation in N&N. FP7 is expected to lead to further progress (section 4 above).
- Several strategic activities have been carried out to engage the public (section 5 above).
- Selected strategic activities focusing on international collaboration are being undertaken (section 7 above). There is also a small but increasing participation of international partners in R&D projects in N&N.
- These activities have been complemented by wide-ranging efforts to enable the safe development and use of nanotechnologies (section 6 above).
In the coming years, special attention should be paid to the development of interdisciplinary infrastructures; appropriate conditions for the safe and effective use of nanotechnology; and a shared understanding of the responsibility of researchers within an ethical framework.
To promote safe and responsible nanotechnology research and pave the way for its safe and responsible application and use, the Commission is planning to adopt a voluntary Code of Conduct for Responsible N&N Research.
Following its review of current legislation, the Commission may propose regulatory changes, on the basis of scientific developments, or regulatory needs in specific areas where such needs may be identified.
The Commission intends to submit the next implementation report on the N&N Action Plan by the end of 2009.
[1] Towards a European Strategy for Nanotechnology , COM(2004)338
[2] Nanosciences and nanotechnologies : An action plan for Europe 2005-2009 , COM(2005)243
[3] http://www.eniac.eu/
[4] http://cordis.europa.eu/nanotechnology/nanomedicine.htm
[5] In this scheme the EC contributes to both coordination and the funding of the joint trans-national call, up to 1/3 of the total.
[6] http://www.nanoquanta.eu/ http://www.etsf.eu/
[7] http://www.nanotolife.com/
[8] http://www.emm-nano.org/http://www.u-picardie.fr/mundus_MESC/http://www.ens-cachan.fr/monabiphot/
[9] http://ec.europa.eu/european_group_ethics/avis/index_en.htm
[10] http://www.ec.europa.eu/research/press/2006/pdf/pr1906_eb_64_3_final_report-may2006_en.pdf
[11] http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_003b.pdf
[12] http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_010.pdf
[13] http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_nano_en.pdf
[14] http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_099.pdf
[15] www.suschem.org
[16] www.industrialsafety-tp.org
[17] e.g. Basf and Bayer
[18] http://www.oecd.org/about/0,3347,en_2649_37015404_1_1_1_1_37465,00.html
[19] http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2007/2007_star_nanotech.html
[20]ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/nanotechnology/docs/lca_nanotechnology_workshopoct2006_proceedings_en.pdf
[21] www.oecd.org/sti/nano
[22] http://www.fmnt.fi/ntss/
[23] Towards a European research area , COM(2000)6