| Posted: November 9, 2009 |
A new governance framework for nanotechnology |
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(Nanowerk News) Many involved stakeholders share the opinion that the benefits promised by nanotechnologies will fully materialise only if their development takes place responsibly.
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With this in mind, businesses, researchers, civil society representatives and regulators involved or interested in nanotechnologies are invited to take part in the final International Conference of the FramingNano FP7 project (registration free of charge) whose primary objective has been the development of a sustainable governance framework for nanotechnologies.
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This event on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel, will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the Governance Plan developed, on the basis of key stakeholder input, within the FramingNano Project. The Governance Plan will be subsequently proposed to the European Commission (EC) as a model of management to be followed by European policy makers and stakeholders. Its aim is to ensure that the development of nanosciences and nanotechnologies takes place responsibly, and to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.
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Key elements of the Governance Plan will include recommendations and actions to be implemented at different levels. In particular:
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Technical and organizational: prioritising actions and research needs in EHS/ELSI areas;
Institutional: indicating how to manage and sustain a European policy for NS&T development;
Trans-boundary: identifying the tasks to be faced at international level;
Communication: suggesting how to involve and inform the public and how to channel stakeholders' opinions and proposals into the European policy on nanotechnology.
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The draft FramingNano Governance plan will be presented and described in the light of:
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The present state and challenges of NS&T governance at both national and international levels;
the available governance options and stakeholders' opinions of them;
upcoming needs, expectations and responsibilities in EHS risk assessment and management;
communication and inclusiveness;
societal implications (ELSI).
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Internationally renowned experts will introduce these relevant topics with keynote speeches. Break-out sessions will examine the relevant themes in-depth and give participants the opportunity to present their positions in shaping the final Governance Plan that will subsequently be presented to the EC to support actions to address governance and regulation of nanotechnologies.
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