Nanotechnology capacity building NGOs - NANOCAP

Project duration: September 2006 - August 2009

Nanotechnology is a major growth area in research and industry. Applications of nanotechnology include advanced materials, textiles, prosthetic implants, food and drugs. Nanosizing products have or may have many benefits. However, there is also a serious debate about the potential hazards of nano-particles (<100 nm), when introduced into the environment and the workplace.

Nanocap is a European project, financed by the European Commission within the 6th Framework Programme. The three-year project started in September 2006.

The project aims at:

deepening the understanding of environmental, occupational health and safety risks and ethical aspects of nanotechnology by organising a structured discussion between NGOs, academic researchers and other stakeholders;
enabling environmental NGOs and trade unions to participate in a debate on nanotechnology at the European level;
improving their understanding of this new technological field and, supported by scientific input, it will give them the opportunity to formulate their positions within the context of the actual science & society policy and the political background of the organisation, to inform their members and the general public, and to discuss the various issues.

Nanocap is a consortium of 5 environmental NGOs, 5 trade unions and 5 universities from different EU-areas covering a large part of Europe.

It will hold a series of focused working conferences, in which a structured enhancement of stakeholder capacities is planned. The universities take care of scientific input for the conferences. NGOs and trade unions will bring in their preliminary positions after discussions with their members. A portfolio on ethical issues and a position concerning “responsible nanotechnology” will be prepared and actively disseminated.

In addition to enhancing the capacities of NGOs and trade unions, Nanocap will develop recommendations to enable public authorities to address the health, safety and environmental risk issues related to the rapid introduction of nanotechnology into society. At the same time it is the goal of this project to give industry the tools to introduce a “responsible nanotechnology”, i.e. to stimulate industrial and academic R&D performers to focus on source reduction of emitted nano-particles and to make risk assessment an important dimension in their work.

Nanocap is carried out along a series of four working conferences for the project team, followed by an international conference for a wider range of stakeholders.
The following themes for the conferences will be considered:

building a level playing field of nanotechnological definitions, techniques, setting borderlines, addressing fields of interests, identifying interesting new developments
fundamental and applied nanotechnological R&D at universities and in industry
environmental implications, external risks
occupational safety and health, risk assessment
test systems for nano particles, implications for agreed testing systems within REACH and for standard setting (OELs)
ethics, nanotechnology and nano-R&D
role of NGOs versus role of R&D and role of the industry
drawing criteria for the assessment of nanotechnology materials: research, production and use

In this respect contacts will be made with industry, international consortia and boards involved in discussions about nanotechnology. Dissemination of points of view and policy advises will be spread by the partners within their own organisations and by using their own existing channels towards the authorities making European policy.

More information on Nanocap will be available on the website www.nanocap.eu, in the air by the end of 2006.