Posted: March 19, 2010

UK launches nanotechnology strategy

(Nanowerk News) The UK Nanotechnologies Strategy: Small Technologies, Great Opportunities was launched on 18th March 2010 .This Strategy sets out how Government will take action to ensure that everyone in the UK can safely benefit from the societal and economic opportunities that these technologies offer, whilst addressing the challenges that they might present.

Some key actions included in the Strategy are:

Government Chief Scientific Advisers to review coordination of nanotechnologies research across Government including research on safety issues A new website to keep the public informed about Government work on nanotechnologies A new Nanotechnologies Collaboration Group to facilitate ongoing communication and collaboration between Government, academia, industry and other interested parties A new Ministerially led Nanotechnologies Leadership Group to address barriers to commercial growth in this area Government to explore a new industry reporting scheme with a broader scope covering nanomaterials as well as products containing them.

The Strategy was informed by the evidence gathering exercise Nanotechnologies: Influence and Inform the UK Strategy , which ran from July 2009-October 2009. The data collected was analysed and considered during the development of the UK Nanotechnologies Strategy: Small Technologies, Great Opportunities. Full summaries can be downloaded in PDF format, and very brief summaries can be found to each question on the cross-cutting theme and sector pages. In addition, the SWOT analyses have all been updated based on the feedback received.

Alongside the UK Nanotechnologies Strategy, a new website sets out five overarching themes identified for the evidence gathering exercise (anticipating opportunities and concerns; business and innovation climate; managing risks and uncertainties; measurement and standards; and public and stakeholder dialogue). For each of these themes we have given a snapshot of the current situation and our perception of the UK’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

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