Safety and Risks of Nanotechnology Conclusion of the meeting and next steps

Conclusion Transparency of all activities Communicate with stories focusing on customer value Assure an excellent scientific level of research on risks of nanotechnologies Balanced communication between risks and benefits Framework conditions for fruitful communications: Create a “Gene Suisse” like organization Raise awareness of the Nano science community for the need of communication to the public Learn from Biotech: divide Nanotechnologies in green and red Use existing frameworks like ‘science et citée’ as communication platform to the public Maintain an ongoing dialog with all stake holders

Conclusion (additional remarks) Avoid yuck words such as: “atomically modified” rice “terminator technology” Communication topics: Take care of the losers Stories, not education Attract viewers Science is self correcting, the press not! Solve important problems with science, not without! Give the correct and adequate answers!

Conclusion (additional remarks) Road Map addressing safety and risk issues of: fullerences, nanotubes and other nanoparticles, that have already been developed, commercialised and distributed in the environment in the past ongoing and future research, aiming at the development and implementation of new nanomaterials or other nanotechnological products

Conclusion of the meeting and next steps The core group will analyse the outcome of the workshops and will initiate the next steps Recommendations for funding agencies will be prepared to handle “Nano safety and risk” issues together with supported projects New funds to continue the activities have to be organized The meeting in autumn 2004 with representatives of the industry (Lead SVMT/SATW), will be prepared

Inherent risks of different nanotechnological fields Overview Inherent risks of different nanotechnological fields (a draft overview) - Light Sources Sensors Photovoltaics Devices Economic uncertainty Environment Risks Societal Impacts Toxicity Data Storage Instrumentation Machining Self Assembly Nanofactory/ Replication Biomaterials Life Sciences Nanobio / NanoMedicine Nano Particles Surfaces Materials/ Powders No or little risks Medium risks High risks Optical Devices Energy Storage Tips and Probes Novel Materials

Safety and risk issues of Nanotechnologies: National and international network USA EU Unit Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies JAPAN Federal Agencies: Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) GWF, Science and Research Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) Federal Office for Environment, … (BUWAL) others Swiss core group Safety and Risks of Nanotechnologies (SRN) Interest Groups: Foundation Risikodialog Insurances TA, Centre for Technology Assessment …………………. Public national Science, Technology national and international

Assessing the toxicological risks of nanotechnology Initial assessment of risk potentials in ongoing and future R&D-projects: Proposal for a short-test route as a prerequisite for R&D projects

Safety and Risks of Nanotechnology Thank you for your participation