Picture NanoForum 2019

NANORIGO presented at “Nanotechnology for Society” Session during the EuroNanoForum 2019 in Bucharest, Romania

EuroNanoForum 2019 in Bucharest, Romania

NANORIGO was presented by Socieade Portuguesa de Inovação (SPI), one of the NANORIGO project partner which was invited to the EuroNanoForum 2019 (https://www.euronanoforum2019.eu/) as NANO2ALL project Coordinator to present the NANO2ALL (http://www.nano2all.eu/) project ROADMAP: FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE NANOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE. The presentation was delivered by Dr. Olga Glumac, SPI consultant in the International Area under the Pillar 2 – NANO for People and within session 2.3 Nanotechnology for Society on June 12th in Bucharest, Romania.

Over the past decades, awareness has grown that the impact of technologies is not always predictable, and unintended or unforeseeable consequences might occur. This unpredictability is inherent in the increasing complexity of new and emerging technologies (including nanotechnology) and their development processes. Inclusive (societal engagement) approaches implemented under the terms of responsible research and innovation (RRI) can enable the identification and integration of inputs from stakeholders and the public into decision-making on research and innovation (R&I), contributing to the development of socially acceptable and desirable research and products.

NANO2ALL included diverse mapping and participatory activities (including citizen and multi-stakeholder dialogues across Europe) to explore what is required to foster the implementation of such inclusive approaches in nanotechnology development in Europe. NANO2ALL found that there are several conditions that have to be in place simultaneously in order to truly enhance societal engagement across nanotechnology R&I value chains. Outcomes from the mapping and participatory activities and the identified conditions were further explored through desk research and expert consultation. Key findings and recommended actions were developed into a roadmap. The recommended actions are to be undertaken by EU-level and national decision-makers for creating the necessary conditions for enhanced inclusiveness in nanotechnology R&I decision-making processes.

NANORIGO was presented as an example of on-going Horizon 2020 project that can be used as a platform to implement continuous societal engagement and trust building in Society as the project aims at developing and implementing a transparent, transdisciplinary and science-based Risk Governance Framework (RGF) and related Council for managing nanotechnology risks regarding social, environmental and economic benefits. The project will work closely with other two projects: RiskGONE (https://riskgone.eu/) and Gov4Nano (https://www.gov4nano.eu/).

Some session during EuroNanoForum 2019 in Bucharest, Romania
Participants of EuroNanoForum 2019 in Bucharest, Romania
During a session at EuroNanoForum 2019
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Horizon 2020 Project “NANORIGO: NANOtechnology RIsk Governance” officially launched during the kick-off meeting at Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus, Denmark

Moesgaard Museum, Aarhus Denmark, location of NANORIGO Kick-off Meeting.

A new Horizon 2020 Project “NANORIGO: NANOtechnology RIsk Governance” officially launched during its kick-off meeting which was held on the 7th – 8th of February 2019 at Moesgaard Museum in  Aarhus, Denmark.

The 4-year long, €4.7 million project is coordinated by Aarhus University from Denmark and received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under the Grant Agreement nº 814530. NANORIGO project aims to develop and implement a transparent, transdisciplinary and active Risk Governance Framework (RGF) and establish the basis a related Council (RGC) for manufactured nanomaterials and nano-enabled products.

The RGF will be developed through engagement with stakeholders across research, industry, regulation and civil society, and will be based on high-quality scientific data and tools for the physicochemical characterization of nanomaterials, and the assessment of exposure, hazard and risk for humans and the environment.

The two-days meeting discussed in details each of the Work Package within the project, dissemination exploitation, and collaboration with other projects (including other governance projects), and implemented breakout group sessions for interrelated Work Packages.    

The project will be started with an in-depth research on of risk management approach for nanotechnology; to integrate available knowledge on ethical, social, environmental and economic concerns into a user-friendly format that can be easily adapted and transferred into regulation for hazard, exposure and risk assessment and management of nanomaterials.

The expected results of NANORIGO project are the following:

  • A transparent, self-sustained and science-based Risk Governance Council;
  • Transparent Risk Governance Framework (RGF) tools for managing possible nanotechnologies risks;
  • Availability of high quality data for decision making;
  • Consistency of approaches in all EU Member States and internationally.

The partnership of NANORIGO is involving 28 partners from 14 different European countries and a global advisory board. The partnership consists of the following organisations: Aarhus University (DK – Coordinator), Environmental Assessments (DE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH), Tyoterveyslaitos (FI), Eidgenössischer Materialprüfungs- und forschungsanstalt (CH), Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (DE), Instituto tecnológico del tmbalaje, transporte y logística (ES), ‘Fraunhofer Society; Institute for Molecular Biology & Applied Ecology’ (DE), Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (DE), National Technical University of Athens (EL), Paris-Lodron-Universität Salzburg (AT), University of Bremen (DE), Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (AT), University of Aveiro (PT), Univerza v Ljubljani (SI), Transgero Ltd. (IE), Onderzoek en Adviesgroep Questions (NL), ‘Answers and More BV: Bureau KLB’ (NL), De Proeffabriek – Schuurbiers Daniel (NL), Engineering, Technical & Scientific Services (CH), ‘Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology e.V – DECHEMA’ (DE), Optimat Ltd (UK), Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação (PT), Fundación Gaiker (ES), Grupo Antolin Ingeniería (ES), ‘Oeko-Institut e.V. Institute for Applied Ecology (DE), European Environmental Citizen Organisations for Standardisation – ECOS (BE), Quercus ANCN (PT), and Women Engage for a Common Future France – WECF (FR).

The NANORIGO consortium will work closely with the two other projects funded under the NMBP-13-2018 call: RiskGONE (https://riskgone.eu/) and Gov4Nano (https://www.gov4nano.eu/), to ensure a sustainable and equitable RGF and NRGC is developed for all.

NANORIGO project partners at the kick-off meeting
Dr. Janeck James Scott-Fordsmand from AU, NANORIGO Project Coordinator, opened the Kick-off Meeting
Dr. Rudolf Reuther from ENAS, NANORIGO Scientific Coordinator, presented the project overview.
NANORIGO partners exchanged ideas and discussion during the Kick-off Meeting