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This page is directly accessible at the following address: www.oecd.org/sti/nano
Nanotechnology is the set of technologies that enables the manipulation, study or exploitation of very small (typically less than 100 nanometres) structures and systems. Nanotechnology contributes to novel materials, devices and products that have qualitatively different properties. Like information technology, nanotechnology advances have the potential to affect virtually every area of economic activity and aspect of daily life. The number of products and the diversity of nanomaterials and nanosystems are predicted to increase rapidly in the coming decade as a result of continuous innovation in many sectors.
Nanotechnologies pose new opportunities and challenges to governments. Nanotechnologies are likely to offer a wide range of benefits, including in helping address a range of societal and environmental challenges, e.g. in providing renewable energy and clean water, and in improving health and longevity, as well as the environment. However, unlocking this potential will require a responsible and co-coordinated approach to ensure that potential challenges are being addressed at the same time as the technology is developing.
OECD is playing its part in this process and developing a large body of work. Under the Committee on Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP) a Working Party on Nanotechnology was established in March 2007. The objective of this Working Party is to promote international co-operation that facilitates research, development, and responsible commercialisation of nanotechnology in member countries and in non-member economies. Click here for slides describing the objective, structure and activities of the Working Party.
The Working Party has initiated six projects to achieve its objectives:
Indicators and Statistics, aiming at providing an overview of nanotechnology trends based on available comparable indicators and statistics, while identifying policy makers needs for further indicators, and establishing a framework for the development and collection of new indicators and statistics.
Impacts on Companies and Business Environments, which complements the statistical work with a large set of company case studies across different application areas and countries. It analyses the impacts and business environment of nanotechnology to identify possible new challenges for the business community.
International Research Collaboration, designed to facilitate research collaboration in the field by mapping available research infrastructures and S&T agreements globally.
Outreach and Public Engagement, aiming at promoting the exchange of experience in outreach and public engagement through questionnaires, possible country case studies and a set of workshops.
Policy Dialogue, aiming at facilitating a policy dialogue and help develop an overall synthesis of the WPN work. It relies on a questionnaire and other material to highlight policy responses and challenges across countries, combining this with workshops dedicated to specific policy themes.
Global challenges: water, which focuses on the contribution of nanotechnology to the purification of water and the barriers that will need to be addressed. The purification of water is a key global challenge, especially for developing countries.
Click here for an update on the Working Party’s 2nd meeting held in November 2007. Click here for an update on the Working Party’s 3rd meeting held in April 2008.
The work of the Working Party on Nanotechnology complements other activities underway in OECD. The OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials was established in September 2006 and is looking at international co-operation in health and environmental safety related aspects of manufactured nanomaterials.
In essence, by working together, member countries will better understand the potential challenges and opportunities related to nanotechnology so that they can support the responsible development of this technology.
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