NANOTECH ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES TO PROMOTE 'SCIENCE OF THE SMALL'
25 February 2005 - Nanoforum

The NA launched on the day science minister Lord Sainsbury unveiled the Government's response to a key report on the subject by the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineers at the Science Museum in London.

The group, which comprises companies ranging from multinational corporations to cutting edge start-ups, has the aim of informing and promoting the uses of nanotechnologies to Government, the media and other interest groups.

The NA will serve as a source of authoritative information on the many uses of this technology, and will be a forum for debate on the subject amongst key stakeholders.

The founder members of the NA include industrial giants such as BASF, Smith & Nephew and QinetiQ Nanomaterials, together with technology-based innovators such as Oxonica, Syrris, JR Nanotech, Innos, Guardline, Semefab and Micromech.

The NA is believed to be unique among trade associations because it brings together companies from entirely different fields.

It will stress the importance of nanotechnology, which was underlined by Lord Sainsbury in his speech at the Science Museum today, when he said a moratorium on the use of manufactured nano-particles would see society 'grind to a halt'. Sainsbury said the UK Government wanted Britain to be a 'world leader' in Nanotech.

In an official launch statement, Kevin Matthews, the chief executive of Oxonica and a founder member of the NA, said: 'The potential of nanotechnology is vast. This technology has already made an impact on cosmetics, electronics and healthcare and the scope for developing further applications is huge.'

'We welcome the Government's response today, which promotes greater investment in research and development in this important area of scientific endeavour. The key thing is that regulation of nanotech should be both proportionate and science-based. We will be working with regulators to ensure the future of this technology is secured in the UK and realises its full potential.'

'The NA encourages others in this sector to join our efforts, and calls on Government to maintain constructive dialogue with the industry's representative body.'

* 'Nanotechnology' is defined as the science of objects and materials that are less than 100 nanometres across. By comparison, a single human hair is roughly 80,000 nanometres in width.

* On 2 July 2003 the Department of Trade and Industry announced a £90m package of investment in nanotechnology research. The money will be made available over the course of six years to help industry harness the commercial opportunities offered by Micro and Nanotechnologies (MNT). It will be spent on collaborative R&D and a new network of Micro and Nanotechnology facilities.

Jessica Frost
Lexington Communications
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