ICSTI Statement on Nanotechnology - Forfás

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8.0 NANOTECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 8.1 Background To this point we have focused on the opportunities represented by the emergence of nanotechnology as a key enabling technology. However, it must be recognised that in tandem with these opportunities there exist a number of challenges. In this chapter we focus on the challenges, in particular, on the challenge of ensuring that the above opportunities are exploited in a responsible and transparent manner that benefits society at large. 8.2 Short Term Challenges It is widely accepted that there are no significant short-term regulatory issues in respect of nanotools. Current knowledge suggests that there are few significant shortterm regulatory issues in respect of nanomaterials, nanodevices and nanosystems. Furthermore, it is the opinion of the Task Force, that these regulatory issues can be addressed by the relevant government agencies 8, at a national and international level, working with scientists and engineers in research organisations and companies. The above agencies will need to focus on two key issues. First, is the establishment of standards, particularly in the area of legal metrology and the accreditation of laboratories providing independent testing services. Second, is ensuring that existing health and safety regulations are sufficiently robust to provide for the protection of individuals involved directly or indirectly with the preparation, handling and disposal of nanomaterials or products incorporating these materials. In respect of the first issue, as companies and individuals purchase a wider range of nanotools and nanomaterials, or products incorporating nanotools or nanomaterials, from a growing number of sources; it will be essential to ensure that the goods are as represented by the vendor and that the procedure by which this is established to be so is agreed upon. 8 Examples of these agencies include the Health & Safety Authority, the Irish National Accreditation Board and the National Metrology Laboratory. 67
68 In respect of the second issue, the fact that the properties of materials, devices and systems structured on the nanometer scale are size dependent and may differ significantly from those of the corresponding bulk material needs to be addressed. In short, a more sophisticated approach to implementation of existing regulations may be required. It is important to note, in stating that the properties of a nanomaterial may differ significantly from those of the corresponding bulk material, we are not stating that they will necessarily be more harmful. Indeed, they may be less harmful, but that this is the case which will need to be established. 8.3 Long Term Challenges It is thought that there will be few if any significant long-term regulatory issues in respect of nanotools. It is believed that there will be a number of significant long-term regulatory issues in respect of nanomaterials, nanodevices and nanosystems. Furthermore, it is the opinion of the Task Force, that these regulatory issues will need to be addressed by the relevant government agencies, at a national and international level, working with scientists and engineers in research organisations and companies and with representatives of the wider community in various national and international forums. These regulatory issues will include those at the interface of biotechnology and nanotechnology, and relate to the development of nanodevices and systems that can emulate or intervene in important biological pathways with potential ethical or environmental implications. These issues will also include those at the interface between information and communication technology and nanotechnology relating to the development of nanodevices and nanosystems that enable ambient communication and computating with implications for privacy and security rights.
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I C STI I R E L A N D Irish Council
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FUNCTIONS OF THE IRISH COUNCIL FOR
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2 CONTENTS 6.5 Healthcare - Medical
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4 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Knowledge e
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6 Nanotechnology - National Roadmap
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8 Assuming that the recommendations
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10 A significant increase in the nu
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12 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Background
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14 2.5 Acknowledgements The Council
Page 19 and 20: 16 and lowered as it scans across t
Page 21 and 22: 18 Figure 3.3: Nanocrystals of the
Page 23 and 24: 20 4.0 ROADMAP 4.1 Background The n
Page 25 and 26: 22 4.4 Nanotechnology Enabled Produ
Page 27 and 28: 24 5.0 OPPORTUNITY 5.1 Background I
Page 29 and 30: 26 5.3 Improved Products and Proces
Page 31 and 32: 28 Figure 5.2: The launch of vehicl
Page 33 and 34: 30 An example of a multinational co
Page 35 and 36: 32 5.6 Conclusions Based on the abo
Page 37 and 38: 34 The above work for each sector w
Page 39 and 40: 36 Year of Production 2002 2004 200
Page 41 and 42: 38 Ireland should examine its curre
Page 43 and 44: 40 At the present time the photonic
Page 45 and 46: 42 6.4.2 Sector Roadmap From a tech
Page 47 and 48: 44 The growth of the medical device
Page 49 and 50: 46 Table 6.4: Challenges facing the
Page 51 and 52: 48 STAGE ONE: 1980 - 2000 STAGE TWO
Page 53 and 54: 50 it is possible that there will b
Page 55 and 56: 52 6.7.3 Intersection with Nanotech
Page 57 and 58: 54 6.8 Construction Sector 6.8.1 Se
Page 59 and 60: 56 More importantly, nanotechnology
Page 61 and 62: 58 7.0 CAPABILITY 7.1 Background Th
Page 63 and 64: 60 Higher Education Authority; thro
Page 65 and 66: 62 Enterprise Ireland is seeking to
Page 67 and 68: 64 Elan Corporation develops and ma
Page 69: 66 There are at least six establish
Page 73 and 74: 70 9.0 NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY FORU
Page 75 and 76: 72 9.3 Conclusions The immediate es
Page 77 and 78: 74 The co-ordination of the funding
Page 79 and 80: 76 10.4 Conclusions The above strat
Page 81 and 82: 78 APPENDIX II Appendix II: Task Fo
Page 83 and 84: 80 Wednesday, 5th March 2003, Gover
Page 85 and 86: 82 Europe - Commission Nanotechnolo
Page 87 and 88: 84 Another important aspect of fund
Page 89 and 90: 86 Enterprise Ireland has already d
Page 91 and 92: 88 2. What is Nanotechnology? Nanot
Page 93 and 94: 90 For example the application of n
Page 95 and 96: 92 3.1.1 Electronics The electronic
Page 97 and 98: 94 3.2. Market development timescal
Page 99 and 100: 96 There are two start-up nanotechn
Page 101 and 102: 98 4.3 Established EI Clients A num
Page 103 and 104: 100 6. Primary targets for the deve
Page 105 and 106: 102 Objective 3. Increase the numbe
Page 107 and 108: 104 Objective 7. Assist researchers
Page 109 and 110: 106 Potential industrial adopters n
Page 111 and 112: 108 Section 2 - National and Intern
Page 113 and 114: 110 ii. Technology Development Rese
Page 115 and 116: 112 UCD Prof. Donald 961,000 Using
Page 117 and 118: 114 5. European Union Funding via F
Page 119 and 120: 116 UCD HPMD-CT-2000-00014 0.45 Cha
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118 Communications Communications i
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120 (b) SMEs that are inventors of
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122 Dr. Pat Morgan Dean, Faculty of
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124 A Partnership Approach to Resea
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July 2004
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ICSTI Statement on Nanotechnology - Forfás

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