First Output from the observatoryNANO Project

The observatoryNANO dynamic website is now live. Already available are interim reports on 10 technology sectors (a total of 56 reports will be available by the end of the year) and the first newsletter (which includes interviews with Professor Arie Rip (University of Twente, Netherlands) and Dr Tony Musu (European Trade Union Institute).

The observatoryNANO project is funded under FP7 for four years from April 1st 2008. Its primary aim is to support European decision-makers with information and analysis on developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology (N&N). It will collate and analyse data regarding scientific and technological (ST) trends (including peer-reviewed publications, patents, roadmaps, and published company data) and economic realities and expectations (including market analysis and economic performance, public and private funding strategies). The ST and economic analysis will be further supported by assessment of ethical and societal aspects, impacts on environment, health and safety, as well as developments in regulation and standardisation. Although much of this work will be performed within the consortium, the project is working cooperatively with other initiatives to ensure that effort is not duplicated and that resource sharing and output are maximised. To date liaisons have been established with international organisations including the EPO, OECD, and ISO, and will continue to be established with other relevant organisations such as European Technology Platforms (ETPs), ERA NETs, and other EU-funded projects.

 

The observatoryNANO dynamic website went live on Wednesday 12th November. This is the main point of access for the wider community to the output of the project. Here users will be able to find relevant reports on:

• scientific and technological developments,
• economic and market information,
• ethical and societal issues,
• environment, health and safety issues,
• developments in regulations and standards
• governance, communication and engagement tools

All reports can be downloaded freely from the website, following a simple registration, and users will be able to search for information relevant to their needs through these menus or through keyword searches. In addition, related reports will be indicated on search pages and multiple reports can be downloaded together using the ‘briefcase' option.

At present there are interim reports on scientific and technical developments, and the first interviews with opinion leaders. Over the next six months further content will be added to the website. The consortium wants to ensure that it reports on all relevant activities and welcomes feedback on its work and engagement with the wider community; so please contact the relevant partner or the project coordinator if you have information or comments.

A total of 56 interim reports are being written on scientific and technological developments in the following ten broad sectors: aerospace, automotive, and transport; agrifood; chemistry and materials; construction; energy; environment; health, medicine and nanobio; ICT; security; textiles.

Aerospace, automotive, and transport
Technologies to produce bulk nanostructured metals; Technologies to produce nanocomposites; Technologies to produce and apply tribological coatings.

Agrifood
Agricultural production; Food processing and functional food; Food packaging and distribution.

Chemistry and materials
Carbon based nanocomposites; Nanocomposites; Nanostructured metals and alloys; Nano-polymers; Nano-ceramics; Nano-fabrication technologies.

Construction
Cement based materials; Coatings; Durability of construction elements; Energy consumption; Living comfort; Building safety; Paving

Energy
Photovoltaic; Batteries and supercapacitors; Thermoelectricity; Fossil fuel; Energy harvesting; Nuclear; Renewable energies; Fuel cells; Hydrogen production and storage.

Environment
Air purification; Drinking water treatment; Groundwater remediation; Soil remediation; Waste water purification.

Health, medicine and nanobio
Regenerative medicine; Cosmetics; Diagnostics; Novel bionanostructures; Implants, surgery and coatings; Therapeutics.

ICT
Integrated circuits; Memory; Displays; Manufacturing; Power; Photonics; Beyond CMOS; Materials for electronics.

Security
Anti-counterfeiting, authentication, and positioning; Detection; Incident support; Protection.

Textiles
Nanostructures; Fibre production; Finishing treatments; Textile products.

These represent the first output from the observatoryNANO and are based on extensive literature reviews of: peer-reviewed scientific publications; government and non-governmental organisation reports; company reports; patents; reports from other projects and initiatives. Over the next four months the partners will be engaging with experts in each of these sectors through a series of questionnaires and interviews, culminating with workshops in March. Final reports compiling this analysis will be published online in April 2009.

The consortium welcomes stakeholder input to this analysis. In December 2008, an online questionnaire will be launched which covers the above technology sectors and in addition, economic developments and impacts, societal and ethical aspects, and EHS issues.

The observatoryNANO project is led by the Institute of Nanotechnology (IoN) (UK), and includes: VDI Technologiezentrum (DE), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA) (FR), Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) (UK), Malsch TechnoValuation (MTV) (NL), triple innova (DE), Spinverse (FI), Bax and Willems Consulting Venturing (B&W) (ES), Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) (NL), Technical University of Darmstadt (TUD) (DE), Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca Industriale (AIRI) (IT), Nano and Micro Technology Consulting (NMTC) (DE), Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) (CH), University of Aarhus (DK), MERIT - Universiteit Maastricht (NL), Technology Centre AS CR (CR).

For further information please contact the project coordinator Dr Mark Morrison (mark.morrison@nano.org.uk)

observatoryNANO is funded by the European Union under FP7. Contract number 218528.