Nano-nano: US strategy sighting
November 2, 2011
On October 20, 2011 the US Federal Government released a national strategy towards ensuring that environmental, health, and safety research needs are fully identified and addressed in the fast-growing field of nanotechnology.
The research strategy will help the NNI (see below for more on NNI) leverage Federal resources and infrastructure to most efficiently produce research data on nanotechnology. The resulting data are expected to be used to protect public health and the environment, while continuing to fuel innovations and capture the value of those innovations for public good.
Currently, this is strictly a research effort. We are a long way off from applying what we know, we are a long way off from nano-regulations.
That is, aside from product ingredient oriented nanomaterial regulations that are bundled in with macro-material regulations. (This is often the case of nano under REACH in Europe.)
About the NNI The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) was established in 2001 with aspirations to coordinate Federal nanotechnology research and development. The NNI provides a vision of the long-term opportunities and benefits of nanotechnology. By serving as a central locus for communication, cooperation, and collaboration for all Federal agencies that wish to participate, the NNI brings together the expertise needed to guide and support the advancement of this broad and complex field.
More information Ecomundo puts out a good newsletter on the general subject of molecules and policy, credit where it's due (kudos, guys).
To find out more about this NNI research effort, read the supporting nanotech documentation, and stay tuned here or here for updates.
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