Commission launches consultation on responsible nano research

The European Commission has launched a consultation on responsible research in nanosciences and nanotechnologies.

The consultation is part of the Commission's plan to suggest that the EU Member States sign up to a Code of Conduct for this emerging area of science. A broad spectrum of society is addressed by the consultation, from the scientific community and industry to civil society, policy-makers, media and the general public.

"Nanosciences and nanotechnologies have the potential to drive growth and jobs in Europe, and their development and use should not be delayed, unbalanced or left to chance," said EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. "It is important that we pursue this knowledge with full understanding of the possible implications of these new areas of science, and that we do so openly and involving all concerned."

The Commissioner also stressed that the consultation demonstrates the Commission's commitment to 'developing the potential of nanosciences with appropriate safeguards'.

Estimates as to the market potential of nanotechnology products vary, but are all very positive. The Mitsubishi Institute estimated in 2002 that the market would be worth USD 150 billion (around €110 billion) by 2010, while in 2004 the Lux Research group predicted that the market would be worth USD 2.6 trillion (around €1.9 trillion) by 2014.

If this latter estimate is proved to be accurate, it will mean the nanoscience and nanotechnology market overtaking the information and communication technologies (ICT) market, and growing to 10 times the size of the biotechnology market.

However, concerns over safety have put the brakes on some research into the nanosciences and nanotechnologies. The principal concerns cover the ability of nanoparticles to cross natural bio-boundaries, and the prospect of connecting living creatures and human-made materials and systems.

These concerns have led to the development of a new area of research: the responsible management and control of nanosciences. This involves ethics, safety, the environment, individual rights, and the protection of personal data.

The Code of Conduct would encompass basic principles on which to base future developments in nano research, and would invite signatories to take concrete action to ensure that nanotechnologies are developed in a safe manner.

The consultation will close on 21 September.

For further information, please visit:
http://europa.eu/sinapse/directaccess/
science-and-society/public-debates/nano-recommendation/

Copyright ©European Communities, 2007
Neither the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, nor any person acting on its behalf, is responsible for the use, which might be made of the attached information. The attached information is drawn from the Community R&D Information Service (CORDIS). The CORDIS services are carried on the CORDIS Host in Luxembourg - http://cordis.europa.eu. Access to CORDIS is currently available free-of-charge.

Most Popular Now

Open Medical Works with Moray's Dig…

Open Medical is working with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre’s Rural Centre of Excellence on a referral management plan, as part of a research and development scheme to...

Generative AI on Track to Shape the Futu…

Using advanced artificial intelligence (AI), researchers have developed a novel method to make drug development faster and more efficient. In a new paper, Xia Ning, lead author of the study and...

AI could Help Improve Early Detection of…

A new study led by investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) could help detect interval breast cancers - those that develop between...

Reorganisation, Consolidation, and Cuts:…

NHS England has been downsized and abolished. Integrated care boards have been told to change function, consolidate, and deliver savings. Trusts are planning big cuts. The Highland Marketing advisory board...

AI-Human Task-Sharing could Cut Mammogra…

The most effective way to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) when screening for breast cancer may be through collaboration with human radiologists - not by wholesale replacing them...

AI Tool Uses Face Photos to Estimate Bio…

Eyes may be the window to the soul, but a person's biological age could be reflected in their facial characteristics. Investigators from Mass General Brigham developed a deep learning algorithm...

Siemens Healthineers infection Control S…

Klinikum Region Hannover (KRH) has commissioned Siemens Healthineers to install infection control system (ICS) at the Klinikum Siloah hospital. The ICS aims to effectively tackle nosocomial infections and increase patient...

Philips Future Health Index 2025 Report …

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today unveiled its 2025 Future Health Index U.S. report, "Building trust in healthcare AI," spotlighting the state of...

AI-Powered Precision: Unlocking the Futu…

A team of researchers from the Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Ultrasonography at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, have published a review in Cancer Biology & Medicine...

AI Model Improves Delirium Prediction, L…

An artificial intelligence (AI) model improved outcomes in hospitalized patients by quadrupling the rate of detection and treatment of delirium. The model identifies patients at high risk for delirium and...

Building Trust in Artificial Intelligenc…

A new review, published in the peer-reviewed journal AI in Precision Oncology, explores the multifaceted reasons behind the skepticism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in healthcare and advocates for approaches...

SALSA: A New AI Tool for the Automated a…

Investigators of the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology's (VHIO) Radiomics Group, led by Raquel Perez-Lopez, have developed SALSA (System for Automatic Liver tumor Segmentation And detection), a fully automated deep...