Daniela Fuchs

Zur Entwicklung der Nanotechnologie in Richtung Nachhaltigkeit gilt es, abstrakte Konzepte zu konkretisieren und in den Produktionsprozess, angefangen bei der Forschung und Entwicklung, einzubinden um eine langfristige Ausrichtung zu ermöglichen (Leitbild-Konzept). Im vorliegenden Artikel wird die Entwicklung eines solchen Konzepts zur grünen Nanotechnologie, die green nano Designprinzipien, kurz umrissen um sich in der Folge ihrer Umsetzung im Forschungsalltag im Bereich Nano-Umwelttechnik und einigen beispielhaften Anwendungen in diesem Bereich zu widmen.
Trotz einer zunehmenden Wichtigkeit von Umwelt- und Risikofragen auch in der Nanotechnologieforschung bleibt der Transfer von einer konzeptuellen Ebene im Fall der Designprinzipien in die Forschungslabors beschränkt.

The present report provides an overview of the current policy context, recent developments and debates regardingrisk governance and regulations of nanotechnologies in Europe as well as the main research and innovationpriorities by European policies(H2020)and industries(European Technology Platforms). Thereport is Deliverable 1 of Work Package 5 “Governance andPolicy Outreach and Alignment” (Task 5.1 “Policy Monitoring and Alignment”)of the project GoNano and serves to ensure a strong degree of policy alignment of the project, specifically between the design of the pilot studies and relevant policy initiativesand debates.
The screening of R&D policiesand industry priorities shows that nanotechnologies are supported to improve industrial competitivenessandto tackle several societalchallenges. Two of the areas covered by GoNano, i.e. health and energy, play an important role in the H2020’ssupport for nanotechnologies.Research and innovation of nanotechnologies havealsoentailed a range of new debates and institutions to deal with the uncertainties and potential side-effects of this technology. The screeningof EU risk governancereveals that many risk and regulatory issues are still unresolvedand will likely continue to exist.Therefore, it is a key task of the pilots to avoid a technology-fix position, in which nanotechnologies are framed as the (only)solution to a range of problem and risk and regulatory issues are understood as easily manageable.Rather than presuming that complete knowledge on the impacts of nanotechnologiescan be acquired and regulatedaccordingly, the pilots should raise questions along the line of “which uncertainties and risks are we willing to take in exchange of the benefits of nanotechnologies for food, health and energy?”
In respect to the three pilot sectors, food, health and energy, the report provides the following conclusions: The envisioned applications of nanotechnology in the food industry appear rather limitedand in the short-term are related to food safety and security and food packaging. In the longer-term, nanotechnologies are expected to be used to realize functional foods. Debates on EHS issues and regulations, however,are particularly pronounced in the food sector with a range of sectoral regulations explicitly addressing nanotechnologies.
The health sector is expected to experience major advancements thanks to nanotechnology. In therapeutics nanotechnologies offer the possibility for aprecise control on the release of drugs, reduce the side effects of therapies and to maximise the personalization and efficacy of therapies. Nano-electronics are expected to contribute tomore efficient, fast and site-specific, minimally invasive diagnostic and monitoring systems. Nano-assisted regenerative medicine is targete atimprovingtissue regeneration, develop cell-based therapies and new intelligent biomaterials. Also in the health sector, a range of EHS, unresolved uncertainties and risks to human healthare debated and included in existing and new regulations.
The energy sector is expected tobenefit from nanotechnology mainly in terms of new structural and functional materials and devices, in particular for energy production (e.g. advanced photovoltaics), energy storage (batteries), and various applications for energy saving. Alarge group of applications in different sectors can be found that will allow to enhance energy efficiency, reduce energy in industrial processes, improve power distribution and miniaturize energy supply systems. So far, no specific regulations concerning nanotechnologies exist forthe energy sector.

Full list of authors: Chonkova, Blagovesta; Asenova, Desislava; Kozarev, Ventseslav; Bauer, Anja; Bogner, Alexander; Fuchs, Daniela; Hofmaier, Christian; Hampel, Jürgen; Seabra, Susana; Gonçalves, João; Porth, Emily; Timotijević, Lada; Raats, Monique

The green nano design principles developed by the German NanoCommission constitute an attempt to establish consensus-based guidelines for environmentally friendly and sustainable production. This initiative fits into the objective of international research and development policy (e.g., Responsible Research and Innovation, RRI) and shall enable to incorporate desired societal aspects into technology developments as soon as possible. The present dossier is concerned with the question to what extent a concept along those lines can contribute to environmentally friendly developments in the area of nanotechnology. For this purpose, it introduces research projects which have implemented certain aspects of the green nano design principles. Moreover, on the basis of technological and scientific research and development, the question is raised whether or not, and if so, to what extent concepts such as green nano design principles can support the incorporation of environmental aspects into research.

-> Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) calls for continuous societal engagement.
-> Up until now, citizens and third sector actors are not routinely involved in the governance of research and innovation.
-> Citizens and third sector actors face specific barriers to engagement in research and innovation. 

-> Policies and practices in support of societal engagement should address questions of relevance, impact, trust, knowledge and skills, time and financial resources, and legitimacy.

-> Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) fordert die kontinuierliche gesellschaftliche Beteiligung an Forschung und Innovation.
-> BürgerInnen und zivilgesellschaftliche Organisationen sehen sich mit spezifischen Hindernissen für die Beteiligung konfrontiert.
-> Politiken und Praktiken zur Unterstützung der gesellschaftlichen Beteiligung sollten sich mit Fragen der Relevanz, der Wirkung, des Vertrauens, des Wissens, der zeitlichen und finanziellen Ressourcen sowie der Legitimität befassen.

-> An increasing number of products contain nanomaterials which end up in the waste sooner or later. To this day, their effects are still unknown.
-> There is hardly any information on substances and quantities of nanomaterials used in mass products.
-> This poses challenges for both Austrian waste management and legislation.
-> Proposed solutions include the introduction of a standardised register for quantities of nanomaterials in products, consumer-friendly labelling and control of work safety in the waste sector.

-> Immer mehr Produkte enthalten Nanomaterialien. Diese landen früher oder später auch im Abfall. Wie sie sich dort verhalten, ist ungewiss.
-> Es liegen kaum Informationen über die in Produkten eingesetzte Nanomaterialien und deren Mengen vor.
-> Das stellt die österreichische Abfallwirtschaft und Gesetzgebung vor Herausforderungen.
-> Lösungsansätze sind unter anderem ein einheitliches Register zur Angabe von Nanomengen in Produkten, eine verbesserte Kennzeichnung sowie die Überprüfung der Arbeitsplatzsicherheit im Abfallbereich.