Timing, hosts and locations of (grouped) events of NanoImpactNet

context) through to some of the most highly equipped nano‐
characterization centres in Europe.
Joint Research Activity (JRA): 28 partners (including 14 of the TA
partners), have been selected based on their unique contributions
in research, where it pertains directly to new or improved methods
that contribute to the infrastructure of the field. Several of these
are outstanding scientists in particularly relevant research
functions.
Networking Activity (NA): To ensure appropriate dissemination of
the best practice in nanomaterials synthesis and dispersion in
reproducible manners, characterisation of nanomaterials in situ,
methods of presentation of nanoparticles to living systems, and
alternative testing methods (i.e. the JRA topics), QNano has a
strong focus on networking activities, such as training of young
researchers (through the Knowledge Hub), provision of high
quality nanomaterials (through the NanoMaterials Hub),
contributing to research road‐mapping and priority setting for the
field, and supporting the development of internationally agreed
archiving and databasing protocols for data generated within EU
projects.
Overall Strategy of the QNano work plan
The QNano Research Infrastructure workplan and methodology
are linked in terms of their scientific and operational objectives via
the three pillars of activity and the four horizontal themes (which
map to the four categories of Transnational Access), and each of
the JRA and NA work packages (WPs) map onto one or more of
the horizontal themes, as shown in Figure 1 below. The information
and knowledge flow is also seen in this manner – issues that are at
their earliest stage of development are in JRA, and much of that
knowledge is expected to flow directly into application via TA
(particles, protocols, characterization methods), or NA
(characterization and measurement in situ in organisms,
environment, and workplace, nanomaterials supply hub, training
and others).
QNano officially commenced on 1 st February 2011, with the kick‐off
meeting held in Dublin on 15 th and 16 th April 2011. The project will
run for 4 years. During its first year of activity, much of the effort
has been quite operational in nature, focussing on establishing the
online portal for processing the Transnational Access and the
Knowledge Hub, implementing the various management
committees, such as the Networking and Research Steering Group,
the Transnational Access Steering group and the Nanomaterials
Hub Steering Group, and preparing the project support
documentation, such as the Transnational Access User guidelines
and the project Procedures and Quality Assurance Manual, and
preparation for the 1 st Annual QNano conference (being held
jointly with NanoImpactNet CSA) from 27‐29 th February 2012.
A summary of some of the main achievements from the first 12
months of QNano activity includes:
Networking Activities:
� Joint NanoImpactNet‐QNano conference will be held in Dublin
from February 27 th to 29 th 2012 and addresses the topic “From
theory to practice ‐ development, training and enabling
nanosafety and health research’’. This is the four in the series
of NanoImpactNet conferences, and will be continued under
the banner of QNano for three more years. Topics to be
addressed in this years’ conference include:
NanoSafetyCluster ‐ Compendium 2012
o Opening session: Setting the scene – From
NanoImpactNet to QNano.
o Session 1: Materials for the future
o Session 2: Eco‐Hazard Assessment
o Session 3: From Production to Exposure
o Session 4: Characterisation in situ following exposure
o Session 5: Beyond non‐specific hazards
o Session 6: Stakeholder needs and Risk Assessment
The scientific programme and registration details can be
found at http://www.nanoimpactnet.eu/
� QNano Training Schools: the first two QNano training Schools
are being held in conjunction with the QNano for Modelling
and Good Laboratory Practice will be held during the joint
NanoImpactNet‐QNano Conference on March 2 nd and 3 rd 2012.
A full set of learning outcomes and training materials
� A provisional calendar for the upcoming QNano Training
activities has been proposed. The provisional schedule is
shown in Table 1. Full details of all Training Events will be
advertised on the QNano website via the Knowledge Hub, and
the information will be disseminated via the NanoSafety
Cluster and other appropriate channels. Should demand for
the planned courses exceed capacity of the hosts, events will
be ran a second time to facilitate the demand. All training
materials developed for the QNano Traning Schools will be
made available via the QNano Knowledge Hub as Open Access
documents distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
� Round Robins: Round Robins, or interlaboratory comparisons,
are an important mechanism to provide quality assurance
regarding methods, protocols, data and staff proficiency.
Round Robins are performed for various reasons, 6 e.g.
� to validate test procedures,
� to certify reference materials,
� to assess the competence of laboratories (proficiency
testing),
� or more generally, to investigate the degree of
comparability among laboratories.
Within QNano, three types of round robins are being
envisaged for all four of these purposes.
� The first Round Robin (RR) for proficiency testing of the
Transnational Access Facilities (TAFs) in the performance of
simple physico‐chemical characterisation using two
commercially available well dispersed and relatively
monodisperse polystyrene nanomaterials has been completed
and the data are being analysed to assess the intra‐ and inter‐
measurement variability. Overall, the data from all
participants was comparable, which ensures that all
researchers who undertake Transnational Access at any of the
partner institutions can be assured that simple size and size
distribution measurements of their samples on‐site at the host
Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster 247