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Promotion of the Responsible Handling of Nanotechnology |
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In:
What's new?
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Within the EU project ObservatoryNANO - running from 2008 to 2012 - triple innova developed two business tools in the field of nanotechnology.
The self-assessment tool "NanoMeter" supports the early detection of
potential opportunities and risks related to specific applications
during the development phase of technology.
Furthermore the Guide für responsible nano-business offers support,
particularly to small and medium-sized enterprises, in identifying and
managing nanotechnology issues that are performance-relevant. Both
instruments were presented at conferences in Grenoble and Vienna during
2010 and were discussed with different experts in the field of
nanotechnology.
The NanoMeter ...
is an internet based self-assessment tool. It helps organisations to
identify risks, as well as additional opportunities, that relate to
products already in the development phase and to manage these actively.
The following aspects are covered:
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Environment, health and safety (EHS)
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Resource requirements
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User benefits and acceptance
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Benefits and risks for society
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Product responsibility
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Stakeholder engagement
The NanoMeter specifically supports:
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application-specific analyses of opportunities and risks
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re-evaluations of existing knowledge through extended perspectives (ethical, legal and societal)
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a selection and assessment of the relevant range of issues
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the identification of critical knowledge gaps
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the sharing of knowledge and of individual perceptions among employees
Within the internal research process, and furthermore in the interaction
with external stakeholder groups and societal actors, the tool can help
to make a product-related assessment of societal acceptance
and to meet the requirements for transparency and responsibility.
The NanoMeter has been available in a test version since December 2010.
The Guide for responsible nano-business …
is currently being tested. These guidelines, specifically aimed at SMEs,
deal with opportunities for identifying relevant corporate
nanotechnology issues as well as tools to specifically manage these
issues. Three fields of action are prioritised:
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self -regulation mechanisms such as codes of conduct
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instruments for monitoring performance-measuring and control of goal achievement
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communication of opportunities and risks
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