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6 Conclusions
This report has described nanotechnology applications in civil security in three broad
categories: detection, protection, and identification. In addition, it has described some of
the ethical and societal concerns surrounding these applications and the organizations
that are involved in this debate.
Civil security issues are becoming more important to governments across the globe, and
the EU is no exception. The EC sees security research as an important policy objective,
which started in 2001 with a Preparatory Action on Security Research (PASR) and now is
the 10th Theme of the Collaboration programme of FP7. The Commission sees three
important strands to security research enabling an increase in: industrial
competitiveness; scientific research capabilities; and security for society. Although many
of the technological advances described in this report were not originally designed for
security purposes, they have demonstrated clear adaptation to such applications.
Civil security covers both physical and virtual aspects. Physical risks include the
protection of individuals, property and critical infrastructure (such as emergency services,
power and water supplies) from both intentional and natural damage and disruption. This
can take the form of biological or chemical agents, projectiles, explosives, or other
interference such as electromagnetic pulses. Applications can be at the level of detection
(through various types of sensor, and surveillance equipment, as described in chapter 2),
verification of identity (through biometrics for example) and protection such as filters,
shielding and other forms of barrier (e.g. bullet-proof vests, as described in chapter 3).
Identification and anti-counterfeiting measures (such as nano barcodes, chapter 4),
support virtual security aspects such as identity and financial theft, and help prevent
unauthorised access to systems and physical sites. Cryptography measures based on
quantum effects are expected to massively increase the security of data transfer (chapter
4).
Civil security, however, is an area that raises many ethical and societal issues. The
balance to be achieved by governments is between a secure environment for citizens
where the risk from intentional or natural damage is minimised, and ensuring that
personal freedom and civil rights are not compromised. Although many of the ethical and
societal issues are not specific to nanotechnology applications, some will be heightened
as a result of such developments (for example the development of ambient sensor
systems). These issues were discussed in chapter 5.
The implications of nanotechnology developments for civil security were the theme of a
recent workshop organized by Nanoforum in collaboration with the "Nano- Converging
Sciences and Technologies" Unit of DG Research, and APRE (Agenzia per la Promozione
della Ricerca Europea). Participants at the workshop discussed both the technological and
societal issues surrounding research and its applications. A full report of the workshop is
available from the Nanoforum website, 33 however the following specific recommendations
were made:
Technology issues
• the creation of a repository of materials and research publications (particularly
those arising from framework programmes) within the EU labelled by topic (e.g.
"security"); in order to facilitate new research and continued development of
existing materials by researchers. This could also include information regarding
specific project deliverables; so that new research can take full account of what
has been performed already (whether it has been published or patented or not,
33 Proceedings from the Nanotechnology and Security Workshop
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