Nanotechnology is a discipline with rapid growth in terms of basic scientific knowledge and technololgical applications. The European Commission is dedicated to supporting nano-related research activities, as well as to promoting a policy for their safe, integrated and responsible development. For this purpose, the active and constructive engagement in dialogue of a wide range of stakeholders is necessary.

As part of its committment to addressing the "10 actions on Nanotechnology" identified at the 2nd Safety for Success Dialogue, the Health and Consumers Directorate General of the European Commission (DG SANCO) presents a list of the ongoing and completed projects promoting dialogue in the area of nanotechnology. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. All stakeholders are invited to send information on new dialogue-promoting initiatives or updates on on-going dialogues to this mailbox, in order to ensure that this webpage offers accurate and current information.

Ongoing projects

Dialogue	Country	General info
Annual Nano Safety for Success Dialogue: Building Trust in Nanotechnologies	EU	This year, the 3rd Annual Nanotechnology “Safety for Success” Dialogue Workshop will again bring together scientists, risk assessors, public authorities, industry, and consumer and environmental NGOs to examine and discuss issues related to the use of nanotechnologies, and to identify appropriate means to strengthen guidance in support of the safe, integrated, and responsible development of nanotechnologies. This time, the focus will be put on building trust in nanotechnologies and the conference will provide a platform to discuss specific applications that are already on the market.
Nanotechnology Issues Dialogue Group	UK	The Nanotechnology Issues Dialogue Group (NIDG), chaired by Go – Science, is enabling the responsible development of nanotechnologies and co-ordinating the activities described in the Government's response on nanotechnologies across departments, agencies and Research Councils.
Forumnano	Germany	Forumnano engages in dialogue with politics, the industry and society, and leads the debate on how nanotechnology can be applied in a more beneficial way. Only sustainable nanotechnology solutions will deliver the benefits which society expects to reap from this technology. Forumnano has participated in the development of a number of codes of conduct, e.g. the “Responsible Nano Code”.
EMPA	Switzerland	NanoSafe Textiles Dialog Several activities, see for example: http://www.ncb.ch/documents/nanosafe_71116web.pdf 385 kB http://www.ncb.ch/documents/78833.pdf 150 kB
		Nanoconvention (EMPA, Switzerland) [Nanotechnologie und ihre Auswirkungen auf Medizin, Wirtschaft, Umwelt und Gesellschaft Dialog, Diskussionen, Erfahrungsaustausch, Impulse, Denkanstösse, Visionen] http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/*/82191
2nd Annual Massachusetts Nanotechnology Workshop. Promoting the Safe Development  of Nanotechnology in Massachusetts	US	This workshop provides a forum for a continuing dialogue with stakeholders from industry, government, research, academia, and others on approaches to protecting workers, public health and the environment from exposure to engineered nanoparticles.  The focus is on existing Best Practices and Good Current Practices, the opportunities they present to support safe nanotechnology in Massachusetts, and techniques to measure airborne nanoparticle releases in the workplace.
NISE Net Nanoscale. Informal Science Education Network	US	The US National Science Foundation has supported a 20 million dollars program over five years (2005– 2010) to promote a network of science museum to foster public dialogue on nanotechnology. The NISE organisation coordinates the activities of five science museums to organise a series of exhibitions and public forums (about 3 a years) to inform and engage the public about N&N its related societal and environmental impact.
International Dialogue on a global co-operation in nanotechnology	Belgium	Third International Dialogue on Responsible Research and Development of Nanotechnology. Brussels, March 11-12 2008 ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/nanotechnology/docs/report_3006.pdf 7.5 MB
BASF	Germany	In dialogue: Nanotechnology at BASF
Nanotechnologien – Bedeutung für Gesundheit und Umwelt	Switzerland	Publifocus «Nanotechnologien und ihre Bedeutung für Gesundheit und Umwelt»
Meridian Institute - Series of global dialogues on nanotechnology	US	- Global Dialogue on Nanotechnology and the Poor: Opportunities and Risks - International Dialogue on Responsible Research and Development of Nanotechnology - Dialogue Series on Nanotechnology and Federal Regulation
Centers for nanotechnology in society	US	Arizona state university: http://cns.asu.edu/  University of California, Santa Barbara: http://www.cns.ucsb.edu/
Evonik/Degussa Dialogue	Germany	Degussa fosters dialogue with authorities, consumers, journalists, politicians and environmental protection organizations at special events organized for this purpose. It fosters debate on the risks and benefits of nanotechnology and endeavors to make this technology transparent and to show the general public how this new technology can be beneficial.
Débat Public	France	Public debate on the general options in the development and regulation of nanotechnologies

Completed projects

Dialogue	Country	General info
Nanotechnology Engagement Group (NEG) 809 kB	UK	The NEG was established in 2005 to document the learning from a series of groundbreaking attempts to involve members of the public in discussions about the development and governance of nanotechnologies. The NEG studied six UK projects that sought to engage members of the public in dialogue about nanotechnologies. Completed in 2007
EU funded specific support actions (FP6)	Nano Dialogue	Enhancing dialogue on nanotechnologies and nanosciences in society at the European level
	Nanologue	Facilitating the dialogue between research, business and the civil society to improve the quality of life, create wealth and reduce impacts to society
NanoDialog	Germany	EN: http://www.bmu.de/english/nanotechnology/ nanodialog/doc/37402.php DE: http://bundesumweltministerium.de/ gesundheit_und_umwelt/ nanotechnologie/nanodialog/doc/37262.php
Nanodialogues	UK	Experiments in public engagement with science
Framing Nano	IT	Mapping study on regulation and governance of nanotechnologies. A multi stakeholder dialogue platform framing the responsible development of Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies
CONANO -  Comparative Challenge of Nanomaterials	Switzerland, Austria, Germany	Vergleichende Nutzen-Risiko-Analysen von abbaubaren und nicht abbaubaren Nano-Delivery-Systemen sowie konventionellen Mikro-Delivery-Systemen in pharmazeutischen und kosmetischen Anwendungen
Small talk	UK	The project looked at the benefits for the science communication community in working together on dialogue activities for an ‘upstream’ issue – nanotechnology
Nano Risk Framework	US	To develop an approach to manage risks that come with the promise of nanotechnologies. The Framework helps to organize and evaluate what you already know; to assess, prioritize and address data needs; and to communicate clearly how to mitigate risks
Dialogue on Nanoparticles	Germany	Identification and evaluation of the environmental and health hazards posed by nanoparticles
NanoJury	UK	A contribution towards presenting a non-specialist perspective on these dilemmas, as well as being an  opportunity for citizens to have a voice on an issue that they had chosen