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Sustainable Production: The Role of Nanotechnologies
September 23, 2002Invitation to a special media briefing
Danish Technical University, Copenhagen (Lyngby)
Monday 7 October 2002, 9:30- 17:30
Ten years after the Rio Summit and a few weeks after the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development, the key question remains how to favour economic growth while preserving the environment, health and security? Nanotechnologies - a key priority of EU Research - provide innovative answers. As they revolution production processes and product design, nanotechnologies are making a key contribution to sustainability. In short, nanotechnologies deliver on a triple goal: they can make industries more competitive, enhance the safety of products and processes and the security of citizens, and improve our environment.
Building on the highly successful briefing on Nanotechnologies held at the MINATEC Centre in Grenoble in June, the European Commission will organise a follow-up briefing which will focus on the promises - and deliverables - of micro and nanotechnologies in the specific area of sustainable production.
Organised at one of Europe's leading centres of excellence for micro and nanotechnologies, the Technical University of Denmark, in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, this event will bring together leading EU experts from research and industry. It will take place in the presence of European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Helge Sander, Danish Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
OBJECTIVE
This special technical briefing aims at providing participants with the latest "state of play" in two closely interrelated areas where Europe is building world leadership - nanotechnologies and sustainable production. It will offer a comprehensive picture of specific challenges and opportunities for scientists, entrepreneurs and investors, as well as for citizens.
The briefing will comprise a series of presentations by EU scientists, industry leaders, and policy makers, to be followed by question and answers sessions. It will also include onsite visits to two cutting-edge laboratories, and a new business incubator - all of these situated on the campus of the Danish Technical University
Presentations and visits will showcase recent advances in nanomanufacturing and sustainable production and their commercial applications. They will illustrate the new organisation strategies and innovative public/private partnerships crucial to the success of sustainable production. They will also exemplify the growing need for a "holistic", interdisciplinary and cross-industry approach - i.e. between biotechnology and nanotechnology. Ample interview opportunities will also be provided.
BACKGROUND: NANOTECHNOLOGIES: A REVOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABILITY?
Described as "a new industrial revolution", nanotechnology is already fuelling innovative applications in industries as diverse as information technologies, automotive, cosmetics, chemical and transport. Impacting traditional industries and production processes. Nanotechnology also holds considerable promise to generate radical new applications and new sectors of activity in areas such as energy storage and distribution, detection, measurement and testing, processors and display technologies, bioanalysis and drug delivery, robotics and prosthetics.
Most importantly, nanotechnologies are making a key contribution to sustainability. By delivering cleaner, more energy-efficient and more competitive production processes, nanomanufacturing directly fosters sustainability in such critical areas as water, transport and energy - three key areas covered in this briefing. At the same time, nanomanufacturing can enhance safety, security and the quality of life of citizens. The result is not only cleaner, safer and more durable products, but also better designed, "smarter" products which can be traced, maintained and upgraded throughout their life cycle, thus reducing waste and energy consumption.
Nanotechnologies and sustainable production are undoubtedly two of the 'hottest' issues in research and innovation today. Central to many companies' strategies, nanotechnologies and sustainable production also occupy a pivotal role in European research. They are at the crossroads of two key priorities of the recently adopted 6th Framework Programme for Research - "New production processes and devices, new materials, nanotechnologies" (priority 3) and "Sustainable technologies, global change and ecosystems" (priority 6). A total of EUR 3.42 billion over the next four years will be devoted to these two priorities, with a strong emphasis on sustainable technologies.
European Commission, Research Directorate
Organised at one of Europe's leading centres of excellence for micro and nanotechnologies, the Technical University of Denmark, in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, this event will bring together leading EU experts from research and industry. It will take place in the presence of European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Helge Sander, Danish Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
OBJECTIVE
This special technical briefing aims at providing participants with the latest "state of play" in two closely interrelated areas where Europe is building world leadership - nanotechnologies and sustainable production. It will offer a comprehensive picture of specific challenges and opportunities for scientists, entrepreneurs and investors, as well as for citizens.
The briefing will comprise a series of presentations by EU scientists, industry leaders, and policy makers, to be followed by question and answers sessions. It will also include onsite visits to two cutting-edge laboratories, and a new business incubator - all of these situated on the campus of the Danish Technical University
Presentations and visits will showcase recent advances in nanomanufacturing and sustainable production and their commercial applications. They will illustrate the new organisation strategies and innovative public/private partnerships crucial to the success of sustainable production. They will also exemplify the growing need for a "holistic", interdisciplinary and cross-industry approach - i.e. between biotechnology and nanotechnology. Ample interview opportunities will also be provided.
BACKGROUND: NANOTECHNOLOGIES: A REVOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABILITY?
Described as "a new industrial revolution", nanotechnology is already fuelling innovative applications in industries as diverse as information technologies, automotive, cosmetics, chemical and transport. Impacting traditional industries and production processes. Nanotechnology also holds considerable promise to generate radical new applications and new sectors of activity in areas such as energy storage and distribution, detection, measurement and testing, processors and display technologies, bioanalysis and drug delivery, robotics and prosthetics.
Most importantly, nanotechnologies are making a key contribution to sustainability. By delivering cleaner, more energy-efficient and more competitive production processes, nanomanufacturing directly fosters sustainability in such critical areas as water, transport and energy - three key areas covered in this briefing. At the same time, nanomanufacturing can enhance safety, security and the quality of life of citizens. The result is not only cleaner, safer and more durable products, but also better designed, "smarter" products which can be traced, maintained and upgraded throughout their life cycle, thus reducing waste and energy consumption.
Nanotechnologies and sustainable production are undoubtedly two of the 'hottest' issues in research and innovation today. Central to many companies' strategies, nanotechnologies and sustainable production also occupy a pivotal role in European research. They are at the crossroads of two key priorities of the recently adopted 6th Framework Programme for Research - "New production processes and devices, new materials, nanotechnologies" (priority 3) and "Sustainable technologies, global change and ecosystems" (priority 6). A total of EUR 3.42 billion over the next four years will be devoted to these two priorities, with a strong emphasis on sustainable technologies.
European Commission, Research Directorate
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