Nanotechnology - Nanotech Regulatory Document Archive - Arizona ...

science, and far less the issue of nurturing new developments and new research by social
scientists. The last EC call called for the creation of a « European Observatory », which
should be organised around three main issues dealing with scientific developments, with
markets expectations and unfolding, and with social impacts.
Before doing this, since I am not familiar with this arena, let me just say a few words about
the context from which I make these developments.
(a) First I am not a specialist on public debate (and all forms of dialogue) though I spent
one decade in a lab famous for its work on scientific controversies. My research foci
are on breakthrough innovation and on research policies, being a professor both in
Paris and Manchester, in two universities that share a similar characteristics, this of
resulting from a recent merger, a quite unusual phenomenon in the university
landscape.
(b) I coordinate the EC funded network of excellence on research and innovation policies
(PRIME, www.prime-noe.org) that gathers 55 European institutions, over 250 active
researchers in its activities. The network has developed links and activities both with
our US and Latin American colleagues, while participating to a number of conferences
in Japan. The network has developed important activities both on knowledge
dynamics (with a specific project on nano sciences and technologies, called
nanodistrict) and on multi-actor governance (especially linking with the development
of the ERA).
(c) I also happen to be the chair of the programme committee of the French ANR
programme on nanosciences and nanotechnologies, a situation which has made me
aware of the difficulties faced by social sciences when dealing with nanotechnology
and converging sciences at large. The interested reader can look at the 2008 call and
how its sixth priority a-has been framed to nurture new research developments in
social sciences 1 .
Let me now turn to the three entry points taken.
(1) Scientific Developments
1 www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr:80/AAPProjetsOuverts?NodId=17&lngAAPId=156
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