Big budget heads for the nanoworld

Around €1.4 billion was spent on 550 different nano projects between 2002 and 2006. That is set to more than double on a year-by-year basis under the latest long-term R&D budget known as Framework Programme 7 (FP7), which runs until 2013.

Cash over the coming seven years will come from budgets for research into health, food, energy, the environment and transport, as well as from budget lines dedicated to nanosciences and nanotechnologies, the Commission said, pushing home the message that it wants to build on the position of strength Europe has in these new areas of research.

“Nanotechnology is an area where Europe is an acknowledged world leader. This is an opportunity we must grasp with both hands,” said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik in a statement.

However, while the Commission claims it is the single biggest investor in nanotechnology, it admitted that a failure to galvanise the private sector in Europe may result in other parts of the world taking the lead.

Weaknesses showing

“Some weaknesses are becoming apparent in Europe, in particular a shortage of private investment in research and industrial innovation,” the Commission said in a study it submitted to national governments from the 27 countries in the Union this week.

“In terms of private funding, Europe is at a significant disadvantage to the US and Japan,” it said.

The European Union has set a target of investing 3 per cent of its GDP in R&D, with two-thirds of that money coming from industry. However, private spending on R&D only accounts for about 55 per cent across all research areas, but also specifically for the nanotechnology sector, the Commission said.

The Commission wants to take the lead in setting ethical and safety guidelines for nanotechnologies across Europe, as well as funding research. It aims to come up with a code of conduct for researchers by the end of this year.

It is also talking with other organisations including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations and the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) about trying to agree international rules for nanotechnologies and products.

While scientists are fascinated by nanotechnologies’ potential in a swathe of different areas of research, some consumer groups and environmental groups are worried by how much isn’t known about the fledgling area.

To address these concerns the London-based Institute of Nanotechnology conducted a survey to identify the skills gaps and training needs in nanoscience and nanotechnology. “The aim is to inform education and training institutions of the gaps and latent needs,” the institute said in a statement last week.