| May 01, 2012 |
FP7 QNano nanomaterial characterization 2nd Call for Transnational Access is now open
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(Nanowerk News) QNano is a European Research Infrastructure (ERI) funded as a 4-year project by the European Commission (EC) within the FP7 "Capacities" Programme. QNano integrates the analytical and nanomaterials characterisation capacities together with the scientific and technological skills of 15 laboratories from 10 European countries to create an analytical research infrastructure whose purpose is to drive high quality research and testing practices in the assessment of the safety (or otherwise) of nanomaterials in order to support the European Commission's vision of the innovation economy within which nanotechnologies are an enabling technology that will underpin advances across a wide range of technology sectors, as long as they can be implemented in a safe and responsible manner.
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Users of the QNano Transnational Access services will have the opportunity to develop their own research proposals in conjunction with technical experts from the various analytical laboratories, as well as being able to access a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of nanomaterials quality and in-situ characterisation, the latest protocols and best practice for nanomaterials characterisation for safey assessment, and, if required, nanomaterials from the QNano Nanomaterials Hub, which are undergoing rigorous testing and characterisation for development as positive and negative control nanomaterials for a range of biological impact end-points. The focus of the research proposals must be on characterisation however, as QNano is an analytical infrastructure, rather than a nanosafety testing facility.
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The Transnational Access (TA) component for QNano is dedicated to providing Users from the European nanosafety community access to nanomaterials processing, characterisation and exposure assessment facilities (TAFs). Access to 15 major European research sites () is via a single application and evaluation process. Collectively, these sites will enable Users to access small to medium scale equipment and facilities (with the appropriate knowledge to apply them in this context) through to some of the most highly equipped nano-characterization centres in Europe. The central principle of access provision is to offer the Users a full range of services from standard nanomaterials, tuition in best practice, laboratory support and training, and a suite of protocols for all aspects of nanomaterials processing and characterisation in a biological context.
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