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

approach to conveying the appropriate, evidence-based
information to the public.
3.1 Summary of ITS-NANO key expected impacts
• An integrated and agreed upon research strategy to
address prioritary needs of key stakeholders.
• The integration of key stakeholders into the decision
making process towards the definition of the Intelligent
Testing Strategy.
• The definition of a reliable methodology for exposure
assessment, hazard identification and risk assessment
applicable in future research, speeding up the reliable
generation of new knowledge
• The promotion of innovative methodologies and
concepts, to help in the clarification of molecular
mechanisms involved in interactions between
nanomaterials and biological systems
4 Organisation of ITS-NANO
The overall goal of ITS-NANO is to bring together top specialists in
nanoscience and technology, nanotoxicology, ecotoxicology,
Table 1 Workpackages (WP) of ITS-NANO
WP Title Topic
1 Project
Management
2 Goal-setting for
Toxicology, Eco-
Toxicology and
Risk Assessment of
ENM
3 Intelligent testing
strategy design
4 Integration of
Stakeholders and
Dissemination
NanoSafetyCluster - Compendium 2012
environmental impact and risk assessment, from various countries
of Europe (Italy, United Kingdom, Denmark, and Germany), and to
take advantage of the existing broad European cultural wealth and
variety to find best solutions for an integrated testing strategy to
promote sustainable development of this increasingly growing
economic sector.
ITS-NANO has a strong commitment to communication and
openness, and will actively operate to invite all researchers and
stakeholders to participate in the project activities. For this
purpose, different layers of participation are foreseen: a small
group of experts (the project partners) will identify key areas and
knowledge gaps to by addressed by the Intelligent Testing
Strategy, and will organise workshops with a core group of invited
stakeholders (the Core Stakeholder Panel) to develop the initial
strategy, which will be eventually evaluated and integrated by the
widest scientific community of the NanoSafetyCluster, and other
interest groups who wish to collaborate with the project.
The ITS-NANO work plan is broken down into four inter-related and
interconnected work packages (WPs, see table below). Interaction
and communication between the WPs is guaranteed by a network
of inter-relationships, as outcomes of each WP are inputs for the
others. In all work packages, existing data is taken into
consideration and every attempt is made to include results and
contributions from other ongoing projects.
This workpackage deals with the technical, financial, and administrative management. It supports the timely
and efficient implementation of the work plan
This workpackage will identify and set the strategic goals for (eco)-toxicology testing and Risk Assessment
of ENM. The experts represented in the consortium will use their knowledge and other information coming
from other projects and reports, including the European NanoSafetyVision for 2015-2020, to identify which
are the goals that need to be achieved, also integrating them with the foreseen of the potential
development both in nanotechnology (to identify future changes/trends that will impact upon the types of
human and environmental exposures that are likely to occur), and in the developments in biological and
environmental sciences that can impact on how nano(eco)tox research would be performed.
This workpackage aims to develop a structured research framework. The integrated test strategy will be
developed starting from the work performed in WP2. Emphasis will be put on ensuring the inputs coming
from the stakeholders contacted in the development of the testing strategy. The strategy will: i) be tailored
towards the rational grouping of nanomaterials according to physic-chemical characteristics and common
biological descriptors; ii) prioritize future research according to the necessity of the most important
stakeholders, namely regulatory bodies and industries, and to foster the acceleration of the sustainable
transfer of nanotechnology innovation from research to market; iii) propose the adoption of novel concepts
and methods into nanoecotoxicology research, in particular fostering the adoption of innovative
technologies and approaches into (eco)toxicological testing and risk assessment.
This workpackage aims to maximise the communication and the integration of all the stakeholders, by: i)
establishing a Core Stakeholder Panel, which will work in close collaboration with the project partners to
define research priorities; ii) organising a series of workshop, international conference, and roll-out event,
to promote the dissemination of project results, and to stimulate the wider scientific communities to
provide a constructive feedback to project activities; iii) setting up an online consultation to promote the
transfer of opinions, suggestions, and feedback from the widest range of stakeholders; iv) effectively
disseminating project results and achievements, publishing newsletters, reports, articles on scientific
journals.
Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster 61