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The Working Party on Nanotechnology (WPN) examined the scientific and economic development of nanotechnology, the policy environment for nanotechnology, its perception and understanding by the public and public engagement in nanotechnology development. In this area, it is addressed three themes:
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Monitoring statistics, indicators and policies
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Examining national policy systems for nanotechnology through case studies
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Working to foster an international policy dialogue on public engagement with nanotechnology.
Theme 1: Monitoring Statistics, Indicators and Policies
An overview of nanotechnology developments, based on indicators and statistics, was produced by the WPN in 2008. Monitoring will continue and will be reported to the WPN. Work to develop an agreed framework for gathering and analysing statistics and indicators relating to nanotechnology began in 2007 and is continuing under the "Statistical Framework for Nanotechnology" Project area. This will support the monitoring activities.
Policy monitoring began at WPN in 2008 with the completion of a questionnaire by the majority of WPN countries. The questionnaire responses were analysed by the Secretariat, work which was complemented by a literature review. The findings are published in the report on Policy Dialogue. Policy monitoring were complemented by the Project area Policy Roundtables.
Theme 2: Case Studies of National Policy Systems
Building on the policy dialogue work in 2007 and 2008, it is proposed that pilot case studies be undertaken to explore in greater depth the national policy systems around nanotechnology. Initially a small number of studies would be piloted with volunteer countries.
Theme 3: Communication, Outreach and Public Engagement with Nanotechnology
Work on this topic began with a Nanotech Outreach Workshop in Leuven, Belgium in May 2007. A survey of national experiences of challenges and practices was then undertaken using two questionnaires on nanotechnology-specific public engagement, outreach and communication. The analysis of the questionnaires, a Conference and a WPN Workshop in Delft, the Netherlands in October 2008 all led to the development of a set of eight “points for consideration” by policy makers when planning and managing or commissioning public engagement activities.
Countries have volunteered to use the points for consideration from the WPN work in forthcoming public engagement, communication and outreach activities and to report their experiences back to the WPN with a view to refining the findings and analysis to date and disseminating it widely.
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