European Commission - Research

14/06/2004

  European research | Nanotechnologies

Commission outlines strategy to boost EU competitiveness in nanotechnology

On 12 May 2004, the Commission adopted an EU strategy to help Europe to become world leader in nanotechnology — from nanoelectronics to self-cleaning nano-fibres and nano-materials for high-performance coatings.

In its Communication Towards a European strategy for nanotechnology, the Commission provides a series of recommendations and initiatives on how to strengthen EU research and development (R&D) in the nanotechnology sector. It proposes an integrated and responsible approach to strengthen European nanosciences and help turn nanotechnologies into commercially viable products for the benefit of society.

Key actions include:

  • Boosting R&D investment and infrastructure;
  • Improving training for research personnel;
  • Enhancing technology transfer in Europe and its financing
  • Taking into account the impact of nanotechnology on society; and
  • Increasing international co-operation towards a responsible approach to nanotechnology R&D globally.

Commercially viable products and processes

“Nanotechnology is fast becoming one of the most promising and rapidly expanding fields of R&D. To make the most of European excellence in nanosciences, research must be translated into commercially viable products and processes,” insists European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin.

“To provide new impetus towards the knowledge-based objectives in the Lisbon process and turn the EU into the most dynamic powerhouse on the world stage, Europe must increase its collective efforts and investment in this field. It is crucial that we help to create a favourable environment for innovation, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Strong public-private partnerships in this emerging technology are also needed. At the same time, we have to ensure nanotechnology applications are developed in a responsible and transparent way.”

Nanotechnology research aims to control the fundamental structure and behaviour of matter at the level of atoms and molecules so as to improve the performance and added value of existing products and processes. The worldwide market for nanotechnology products and processes is currently estimated to be around €2.5 billion. Analysts predict it could be worth hundreds of billions of euro by 2010, later exceeding €1 trillion.

Europe invested early in R&D and has made valuable progress. However, without constant and increasing investment in R&D and co-ordination at European level, it appears unlikely that the EU can remain internationally competitive

Investment essential to compete internationally

The EU has an excellent nanotechnology knowledge base, sharing 32% of international publications in 1997 to 1999, compared with 24% in the USA and 12% in Japan. But Europe is now investing proportionately less than its main competitors, and this gap is expected to widen if Europe does not take appropriate initiatives.

The Commission recommends tripling overall public investment in nanotechnology R&D by 2010 to maintain and strengthen the EU’s position. In the Sixth Research Framework Programme (FP6), around €350 million has been allocated to nanotechnology-related projects in 2003, and the Commission aims to step up this effort in the broader context of the proposed doubling of EU research budget in the 2007 to 2013 period.

A number of other measures are also proposed as part of an integrated strategy. These include encouraging both the coordination of national research programmes in Europe, and transnational collaborations between R&D organisations in the public and private sectors to ensure that a critical mass is achieved in nanotechnologies.

Need for world-class poles of excellence

Member States are called on to develop a world-class competitive R&D infrastructure in Europe through ‘poles of excellence’; promoting interdisciplinary education and training for research personnel with a strong emphasis on an entrepreneurial mindset; ensuring favourable conditions for technology transfer and industrial innovation, including appropriate financial mechanisms and the development of common standards. These are all key factors to ensure that research excellence can be translated into wealth-generating products and processes.

The Communication also highlights the need to identify and address safety, health and environmental concerns associated with nanotechnologies directly, and to promote risk assessment procedures at all stages of the technology’s life cycle. Such issues could also be addressed at international level to ensure that nanotechnology is developed in a safe and responsible manner worldwide, to the benefit of all citizens.

Note : Everybody is invited to provide comments on the European Commission Communication on nanotechnology via email to: rtd-nano-strategy@ec.europa.eu

Key data - Background