NANO2ALL

What are benefits and risks of advancing nanotechnology research? What are the expectations and concerns of the different people impacted by the development of this fast-growing field? Could we gather this knowledge and design recommendations to shape future policies that will drive these advancements in a more responsible way? This is what NANO2ALL was about: promoting mutual learning, informed dialogue and societal engagement in responsible nanotechnology.

What are benefits and risks of advancing nanotechnology research?

What are the expectations and concerns of the different people impacted by the development of this fast-growing field?

Could we gather this knowledge and design recommendations to shape future policies that will drive these advancements in a more responsible way?

NANO2ALL was an initiative funded by the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme of the European Commission which supported the cultivation of a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) governance ecosystem by enhancing transparency and public confidence, co-production of knowledge, societal engagement and informed dialogue as key factors in addressing societal concerns regarding the use of nanotechnology.

Led by SPI, a Portuguese consultancy organization that aims to support and promote innovation, NANO2ALL involved 12 partners including Ecsite.

The first goal of the project was to develop an online platform for mutual learning and societal engagement in responsible nanotechnology as the starting point of the many actions foreseen in the scope of the project.

Secondly, we designed activities to address knowledge gaps between the various people interested in advancing responsible nanotechnology. These many stakeholders included scientists, research funders, policy-makers, industries, the media and, of course, citizens.

To identify a shared understanding of the benefits and risks of advancing responsible nanotechnology, we organised constructive citizens-only and later national multi-stakeholder dialogues. Six Ecsite members hosted and promoted these local initiatives that feed an EU-level dialogue whose objective was to develop an innovation agenda to be used by policy-makers at national and EU level that is based on and starts from societal needs, values and purposes.

Our final goal was to suggest evidence-based recommendations and develop a roadmap to enhance societal engagement in responsible nanotechnology: the NANO2ALL Roadmap for more inclusive nanotechnology development in Europe.

We believe that NANO2ALL improved citizens’ awareness, increase public trust, led a better acceptability of nanotechnologies’ based products and solutions, and finally, contributed to a more inclusive European society.

NANO2ALL received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no.685931

Keywords

#rri
#h2020
#nanotechnology
Multiple stakeholders
Mutual Learning

List of project partners

Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação (SPI), Portugal
VILABS, Greece
Malsch TechnoValuation (MALSCH), Netherlands
Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea (APRE), Italy
Ecsite, Belgium
NANOfutures (NfA), Belgium
L’Union Europeenne des Associations de Journalists Scientifique Association (EUSJA), France
European Materials Research Society (E-MRS), France
STICHTING VU-VUMC (VUMC), Netherlands
SYSTASI CONSULTING, Greece
UNINOVA – Instituto De Desenvolvimento De Novas Tecnologias, Portugal
Joint Research Centre - European Commission (JRC), Belgium

Resources

Report

Nanotech in the EU: an overview

Are you a science engagement organisation planning to work on nanotechnology? A researcher in the field? A policymaker looking for some context on citizen perceptions of nanotechnology? Either way, NANO2ALL mapped the landscape: you’ll find the latest data on nanotech policy, research, social and societal impacts and citizen perceptions. Good reading!

Category:

Education & learning, Topics in science

Keywords:

nano2all, nanotechnology, emerging technologies, europe, EU, governance

Practical guide or toolkit, Report

Societal engagement practices on nanotechnology

Are you looking to engage your community on nanotechnology or new technologies in general with the help of actors working in the field? The EU-funded NANO2ALL project has you covered. Dive into fourteen case studies to find the format best suited to your context, tips on what to do and to avoid, and more.

Category:

Education & learning

Keywords:

nanotechnology, new technologies, nano2all, science communication model, science engagement

Practical guide or toolkit, Report

The NANO2ALL Roadmap: engaging society in nanotechnology

The result of a long process of research, dialogue and stakeholder consultation by the NANO2ALL consortium, the NANO2ALL Roadmap gives decision-takers and policymakers feedback from stakeholders and advice from experts to foster Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and social engagement in nanotechnology research and innovation.

Category:

EU and governance

Keywords:

nano2all, nanotechnology, new technologies, europe, EU, governance, roadmap