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

NanoSafetyCluster - Compendium 2012
• The efficient identification of knowledge gaps from this
data set, helping to clearly and efficiently specify goals
for current and future transnational research
programmes so that they may be developed in a
concerted way,
• Efficient use and leverage of resources (such as
knowledge, capital and investment at European level)
through common calls, thereby avoiding duplicity in
projects (unless specifically required) and enhancing the
common use of knowledge, capital and investment at
European level,
• The possibility of the rapid assessment and management
of potential risks is a crucial success factor for industry to
enable the more rapid adoption of N&N for the
development of safe products,
• A higher standard of safety and confidence for the
population and the environment which will help promote
acceptance for applications of nanotechnology.
5 Organisation of SIINN
The project is strategically organized into six workpackages:
Workpackage 1 Identification of sources and inventory of
available information
Workpackage 2 Liaison with European and global initiatives;
networking and information management and exchange;
roadmapping
Workpackage 3 Validation of Existing Characterisation and EHS
Assessment Methods (Including Life-Cycle Validation) and
Identification of Knowledge Deficiencies
Workpackage 4 Contractual Framework and Implementation of
Joint Calls
Workpackage 5 Dissemination, Exploitation and Sustainability
Workpackage 6 SIINN Coordination and Management
The overall strategic concept of SIINN when applied to the
example of nanosafety is to first catalogue which information is
available to researchers and what state is it in (e.g. is the available
data specified for a particular, defined NM in a defined system?).
This is the central task of Workpackage 1 (WP1).
Parallel to this, Workpackage 2 (WP2) will establish close liaisons
with organisations working in the EHS risk assessment of NMs,
both within Europe and elsewhere, in order to form a close
network and to exchange information. This cooperation will also
include various strategically important tasks such as the
identification of best practices, synergy potentials and the
elaboration of recommendations for future collaborations on the
strategic and operational level addressing NM EHS including
precautionary measures, pre-normative work, steps towards
regulations, common actions and projects. Together with this
information, WP2 will also develop a roadmap to describe these
future activities necessary in the risk assessment of NM.
Starting a little later than the first two WPs, WP3 will closely look at
the EHS risk assessment of NM and (following on from WP1) will
establish the reliability of the available data. Noting any
irregularities or deficiencies, this WP will set down a list of research
objectives which will be used as input to WP4, the WP charged
with establishing the joint transnational research programme and
carrying out tenders for R&D projects to assess these deficiencies.
For the first time in the nanomaterials sector in Europe, joint
transnational calls will be carried out in WP4 to overcome
identified deficiencies in current nanosafety knowledge for
assessing the risks of NM and NM-containing products. All the
stages associated with the carrying out of a research call will be
undertaken in this WP, which will also have a “fast-track”
mechanism which will allow for some small projects to be quickly
undertaken in order to obtain critical results rapidly (rather than
under normal project funding conditions).
WP5 will be responsible for the dissemination of information both
within the project itself as well as to external recipients and
stakeholders such as government bodies, industry, research
organisations, standardisation bodies and importantly, the public
at large.
Finally, WP6 will oversee the complete work of the SIINN project
and ensure that the tasks and deliverables are undertaken
according to timetable and within the scopes required for the
success of the project. WP6 will thus undertake the technical and
administrative management of the project and will also include any
horizontal issues such as Quality Management.
Figure 1 Interplay of SIINN Workpackages (WPs)
The SIINN management structure has been defined to allow for
clear responsibilities and rapid decision making whilst still
maintaining the flexibility required with respect to its membership
structure and to participation in the transnational calls and other
planned activities. This structure is based on experience gathered
in similar large international projects and in other ERA-NETs.
274 Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster