Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Communication from the Commission: Towards a European strategy for nanotechnology’(COM(2004) 338 final)
Date: 2004-12-15
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU policy, applied research, cooperation policy, new technology, research and development, scientific research

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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Communication from the
Commission: Towards a European strategy for nanotechnology’

(COM(2004) 338 final)

(2005/C 157/03)

On 12 May 2004, the European Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social
Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the ‘Communication
from the Commission: Towards a European strategy for nanotechnology’.

The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption, which was responsible for preparing the
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 10 November 2004. The rapporteur was Mr
Pezzini.

At its 413th plenary session of 15 December 2004, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted
the following opinion by 151 votes and one abstention.

1. Background

The Committee is conscious of the fact that this opinion
1.1
deals with a partly new subject, whose vocabulary is little
known or at any rate little used. For this reason, it was deemed
useful to provide a brief series of definitions and to detail the
state of nanotechnology research and applications
in the
United States and Asia.

1.2

Index

2. Definitions

3.

Introduction

4. Gist of the Commission proposal

5. Main developments in the USA and Asia

6. General comments

7. Specific comments

8. Conclusions

2. Definitions

Nano — means one billionth of a whole. In this case,

2.1
nano is used to mean a billionth of a metre.

2.2 Micro — means one millionth of a whole. In this case,
it means one millionth of a metre.

Nanosciences — The nanosciences are a new approach
2.3
to traditional science (chemistry, physics, electronic biology,
etc.) and deal with the basic structure and behaviour of mate-
rials at the level of atoms and molecules. These sciences in fact
study the potential of atoms in the various scientific disci-
plines (1).

2.4
Nanotechnologies — These technologies enable atoms
and molecules to be manipulated so as to create new surfaces
and objects that, having a different make-up and arrangement
of atoms, have properties that can be used in day-to-day life (2).
These are technologies that deal with billionths of a metre.

In addition to the above definition, it is worthwhile
2.5
going into greater detail from a scientific point of view.
The term nanotechnology describes
a multidisciplinary
approach to the creation of materials, mechanisms and
systems, by means of the nanometric scale control of materials.

2.6
Nanomechanics — The dimensions of an object begin
to be important in determining its properties when the scale of
its dimensions is of one or a few dozen nanometres (objects
made of a few dozen or a few thousand atoms). Within this
range of dimensions, an object composed of 100 iron atoms
has physical and chemical properties that are radically different
to one composed of 200 atoms, even if they are both made of
the same atoms. Similarly, the mechanical and electromagnetic
properties of a solid made up of nanoparticles are radically
different to those of a traditional solid of the same chemical
composition and are affected by the properties of the individual
constituent units.

This

is a fundamental

2.7
scientific and technological
novelty that changes the approach to making and manipulating
materials in all fields of science and technology. Nanotech-
nology is not therefore a new science,
joining the ranks of
chemistry, physics and biology, but rather a new way of doing
chemistry, physics and biology.

2.8
It follows that a nanostructured material or system is
made of units of nanometric proportions (the structures made
of individual atoms that we are used to are no longer relevant)
and therefore possesses certain properties that can be built into
complex structures. Clearly, therefore, production models based
on the assembly of individual atoms or molecules that are all
alike should be changed and replaced with approaches within
which dimensions are a fundamental parameter.

(1) Interview with Commissioner Busquin (summary in IP/04/820 of

29 June 2004).

(2) See footnote 1.

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2.9
To give an idea of the revolutionary impact of nanotech-
nology, it is equivalent to discovering a new periodic table of
elements that is much bigger and more complicated than the
previous one, and to finding that the limitations imposed by
phase diagrams (for instance the possibilities of mixing two
materials) can be overcome.

2.10
These are therefore bottom-up technologies, that shift
the emphasis from individual functions to a set of functions.
in the
They have an ever-increasing number of applications,
following fields to name but a few: health, information tech-
nology, materials science, manufacturing, energy, safety, aero-
space, optics, acoustics, chemicals, food and the environment.

2.11
Thanks to these applications, some of which are
already possible and used by the public (3), it is realistic to state
that nanotechnologies could significantly improve quality of life, the
competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and sustainable devel-
opment (4).

2.12 Microelectronics — This is a branch of electronics
that deals with the development of integrated circuits, built
within individual semiconductor regions, with minute dimen-
sions. Microelectronics can currently create individual compo-
nents with dimensions in the realms of 0.1 micrometre, or 100
nanometres (5).

2.13
Nanoelectronics — This is a science that studies and
produces circuits that are made using technologies and mate-
rials other than silicon and that work on a substantially
different set of principles (6).

2.13.1
Nanoelectronics is set to become a cornerstone of
nanotechnology, just as electronics today permeates all scien-
tific sectors and industrial processes (7).

and

Scientists

2.13.3
component producers
electronic
quickly realised that the smaller the chip, the faster the flow of
information (9). Nanoelectronics, therefore, enables information
to be managed much more rapidly and contained in extremely
small spaces.

2.14
Scanning tunnelling microscope — This instrument,
which won its inventors the Nobel Prize, has also been defined
as the ‘lens of the 21st century’. It is used to ‘see’ material on an
atomic scale. To work, the tip of the microscope moves in
parallel over a surface. A tunnel effect causes the surface elec-
trons (not the atoms) to move from the surface to the tip. This
creates a current, which intensifies as the distance between the
surface and the tip decreases. This current is converted by
means of an altitude calculation, and gives the nanometric scale
topography of the surface of a material.

it has enough energy to jump out.

Tunnel effect — In traditional mechanics, a particle
2.14.1
with a certain amount of energy cannot get out of a hole
unless
In quantum
mechanics however, owing to the uncertainty principle, the
situation is very different. As the particle is confined to the
hole, the degree of uncertainty as to its position is small, and as
a result, uncertainty as to its speed is great. Therefore, the
particle has a certain probability of having sufficient energy to
escape from the hole, despite the fact that its average energy
would not be sufficient (10).

2.15
Carbon nanotubes — These are the product of a par-
ticular way of assembling carbon atoms. They are among the
most resistant and lightest materials currently known. They are
six times lighter and one hundred times stronger than steel.
They have a diameter of a few nanometres and can be several
microns long. (11)

2.13.2
Development in the field of electric and electronic
components has been very rapid. In the space of a few decades,
valves have given way to semiconductors, chips, microchips
and now nanochips, assembled using elements each made of a
few 100 atoms. A nanochip can hold as much information as
25 volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (8).

(3) See point 6.15 of the conclusions.
(4) See footnote 1.
(5) Micro and nanoelectronics centre at the Politecnico di Milano, Prof.

Alessandro Spinelli.

(6) Ibidem.
(7) Investment

in nanoelectronics currently totals EUR 6 billion,
broken down as follows: 1/3 in nano and micro, 1/3 in diagnostics,
1/3 in materials (source: European Commission, Research DG).

(8) Source: European Commission, Research DG - 2003

2.16
Self-assembly of macromolecules — This is the
‘every living
procedure used in laboratories to imitate nature:
thing is self-assembled’. The self-assembly procedure creates
interfaces between electronic circuits and biological tissues and
makes a connection between informatics and biology. The goal,
which scientists believe is not so far off, is to give hearing to
the deaf and sight to the blind (12).

(9) See point 3.3.1.
(10) Tullio Regge: ‘Il vuoto dei fisici’, L'Astronomia, No. 18 September-

October 1982.

(11) Source: European Commission, Research DG 2003
(12) Various experiments are at an advanced stage, and an interface
‘dialogue’ has already been established between a snail neuron and
an electronic chip.

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Biomimetics (13) — This is the science that studies the
2.17
laws underpinning molecular structures existing in nature.
Knowledge of these laws could enable artificial nanomotors
to be created, based on the same principles as those existing in
nature (14).

pean Union. Taken as a whole, data on turnover suggest an
increase from the current EUR 50 billion to approximately
EUR 350 billion in 2010, reaching EUR 1,000 billion in
2015 (16).

3. Introduction

3.1
The EESC appreciates the clarity with which the nano-
technology communication has been drafted and shares the
Commission's desire to waste no time in making a valid contri-
bution to the debate. It also welcomes the many texts that have
been published, including the CD ROMs, aimed at both experts
and young people.

3.1.1
The educational CD ROMs in particular are extremely
useful cultural vehicles for disseminating the necessary informa-
tion on nanotechnology to a vast, sometimes uninformed,
often young public.

The EESC takes the view that

information on this
3.2
subject, which may spawn new and fruitful discoveries in many
areas of everyday life, should be disseminated using the most
universally accessible vocabulary. Furthermore,
research on
new products must be geared to consumers' needs and
demands, never losing sight of sustainable development.

Journalists and mass media operators, particularly
3.2.1
from the specialised press, have a special role to play, as they
are the first to spread news of success stories as researchers
challenge science to obtain real results.

3.2.2
Current progress indicators for nanotechnology focus
on four main strands: 1) publications (15); 2) patents; 3) new
business start-ups; 4) turnover. The EU is in the lead on publi-
cations, with a percentage of 33 %, followed by the USA with
28 %. There are no precise figures for China, but publications
are seemingly on the increase there. The USA is in first place
on patents, with 42 %, followed by the EU with 36 %. As far as
company start-ups are concerned, of every 1,000 genuine
nanotech firms, 600 start life in the USA and 250 in the Euro-

(13) From the Greek mimesis, to imitate nature.
(14) For instance the independent movement of spermatozoa.
(15) These are quantitative rather than qualitative data. A more in-depth
assessment would be useful, such as that referred to by the UK's
Royal Society.

3.3
Not only do nanotechnology and nanoscience constitute
a new approach to materials science and engineering, they are,
above all, among the most promising and important multidisci-
plinary tools for coming up with production systems, highly
for the
innovative inventions and far-reaching applications,
various sectors of society.

On nanometric scale, conventional materials acquire
3.3.1
different properties to their macroscopic counterparts,
thus
enabling the creation of systems that work and perform better.
The radical novelty of nanotechnology lies in the fact that by
reducing the scale of a material, its physical and chemical prop-
erties are changed. This makes it possible to achieve production stra-
tegies similar to the approach used by nature to make complex
systems, with a rational use of energy, minimising the raw material
needed and waste products (17).

The production processes associated with nanotech-
3.3.2
nology should therefore be marked by a new approach, taking
full account of these new properties, in order to ensure that the
European economic and social system draws the maximum
benefit.

The nanotechnological approach pervades every produc-
3.4
tion sector. The sectors currently applying nanotechnology to
certain productive processes are: electronics (18); chemistry (19);
pharmaceuticals (20); mechanics (21); and the automotive, aero-
space (22), manufacturing (23) and cosmetics sectors.

3.5
Nanotechnologies could go a long way towards helping
the EU to achieve the objectives set by the Lisbon European
Council, by developing the knowledge-based society, and to
become the most dynamic and competitive force in the world,
while protecting the environment, promoting cohesion, and
generating new businesses, more skilled jobs and new profes-
sional and training profiles.

(16) Source: European Commission, Research DG
(17) Source: University of Milan, Physics Department, Interdisciplinary

centre for nanostructured materials and interfaces.

(18) See Technology Roadmap for Nanoelectronics, European Commis-
sion, IST Programme, Future and emerging technologies, Second
edition, 2000.

(19) Nanostructured additives for polymers, paints and lubricants.
(20) Nanostructured vectors for active ingredients, diagnostic systems
(21) Surface treatments for mechanical parts, to improve durability and

performance.

(22) Pneumatics, structural materials, control and monitoring systems
(23) Technical and intelligent materials.

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3.6
According to the Commission, Europe could enjoy pole
position in the field of nanotechnologies, but it must first
succeed in clinching a real competitive advantage for European
industry and society and secure sufficient returns on the neces-
sarily high investment in research.

— the development of basic and applied research facilities and
high-quality university facilities open to companies, SMEs
in particular;

The real issue is the need to understand the strategic
3.6.1
importance of these technologies, which concern broad sectors
of the economy and society. Properly joined-up policy is also
essential in the field of nanotechnologies and nanosciences and
the
must be given substantial resources and be certain of
support of the private, industrial, financial and training sectors.

4. Gist of the Commission proposal

The Commission's communication seeks to launch an

4.1
institutional-level debate on a coherent initiative to:

— heavy investment in human resources, at EU/Member State

level;

— support for industrial innovation, patenting, metrology and
regulation, and protection of
the environment, consumers and

standardisation systems,
safety, public health,
investors to secure responsible development;

— the consolidation of a science/society dialogue, based on

trust and an ongoing open dialogue;

— maintaining and stepping up strong and structured interna-
tional cooperation, with common nomenclatures and codes
of conduct, and a concerted effort to avoid exclusion from
nanotech development;

— increase investment and coordination of R&D to reinforce
the industrial exploitation of nanotechnologies whilst main-
taining scientific excellence and competition;

— Community-level coordination of strategy and joint policy
measures, backed up by adequate financial and human
resources.

— develop world-class competitive R&D facilities (‘poles of
the needs of both
take into account

excellence’)
industry and research organisations;

that

— promote the interdisciplinary education and training of
research personnel, together with a stronger entrepreneurial
mindset;

— ensure favourable conditions for technology transfer and
innovation to ensure that European R&D excellence is
translated into wealth-generating products and processes;

— integrate societal considerations into the R&D process at an

early stage;

— address any potential public health, safety, environmental
and consumer risks upfront by generating the data needed
for risk assessment, integrating risk assessment into every
step of the life cycle of nanotechnology-based products, and
adapting existing methodologies and, as necessary, devel-
oping novel ones;

— complement the above actions with appropriate coopera-

tion and initiatives at international level.

4.2 More
following:

specifically,

the Commission proposes

the

— the establishment of a European Research Area for nano-

technology;

5. Main developments in the USA, Asia and Oceania

In the USA,

5.1
the National Nanotechnology Initiative
(NNI), a basic and applied research programme launched in
2001, coordinates the activity of a number of American agen-
cies working in the field. It received funding of over a billion
dollars for the 2005 financial year, doubling its initial 2001
budget. The main targets for this funding are: basic and applied
research, the development of centres of excellence and facilities,
and the evaluation and verification of
the implications for
society, particularly from an ethical, legal and public health and
safety point of view, in addition to the development of human
resources.

5.1.1
The NNI directly finances 10 federal agencies and
coordinates various others. The National Science Foundation
(NSF), the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the Department of
the Department of Defense (DoD), and the
Energy (DOE),
National
Institutes of Health (NIH) have all seen significant
increases in their budgets, aimed specifically at nanotechnology.
The DOE in particular has invested massive sums and has
managed to set up five major facilities, i.e. nanoscale science
research centres, open to researchers from the entire scientific
community. The DoD's nanotechnology programme meanwhile
has grown over the years as a result for instance of the services
required by the US armed forces.

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5.1.2
These major developments were made possible by the
passing in December 2003 of basic legislation on American
nanotechnology policy with the 21st Century Nanotechnology
Research and Development Act. Among other things, this law
established a National Nanotechnology Coordination Office,
with the following tasks:

— to redefine evaluation objectives, priorities and parameters;

— to coordinate the agencies and other federal activities;

— to invest

in R&D programmes in nanotechnology and

related sciences;

— to set up, on a competitive basis,

interdisciplinary nano-
technology research centres, in various geographical loca-
tions, without ruling out State and industrial sector partici-
pation;

5.1.4
an information clearing-house, with the task of:

The above law also provides for the establishment of

— managing the commercialisation of nanotechnology and
into

technologies and new concepts

transfer of

the
commercial and military products;

— demonstrating the best practice of universities and govern-
ment and private sector laboratories, with a view to transfer
to commercial use.

There are also plans for an American Nanotechnology
5.1.5
Preparedness Center, with the task of conducting, coordinating,
collecting, and disseminating studies on the ethical,
legal,
educational, environmental and workforce implications of
nanotechnology and anticipating any problems so as to prevent
potential negative fall-out.

5.1.6
The organisational framework set up by law is made
complete by the establishment of a Center for Nanomaterials
Manufacturing, to encourage, conduct and coordinate research
into new manufacturing technologies and to collect and disse-
minate the results, in order to facilitate their transfer to United
States industries.

— to step up the development of applications in the private

sector, including company start-up activities;

5.1.7
The law also provides for the relevant 2005-2008
financial appropriations for the main agencies and federal
departments, such as NSF, DOE, NASA and NIST (24).

— to provide for education and certified training, generating
and consolidating a technological and engineering culture
in the nanosciences;

— to ensure that the ethical, legal and environmental aspects
are respected in nanotechnology development and to orga-
nise consensus conferences and debates with the public and
civil society;

— to promote the pooling of information between academia
and industry, the State, central government and regional
governments;

— to develop a plan to use the federal programmes, such as
the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the
Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program, to
sustain an all-pervasive spread of nanotechnological devel-
opment throughout the business fabric, however small the
companies involved.

5.1.3
To reinforce the above legislation, the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a
specific programme to develop manufacturing in the nanotech-
nology sector, centring on: metrology, reliability and qualitative
standards, process control, and manufacturing best practice.
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership will also enable the
results of the programme to be disseminated to SMEs.

5.2
After the announcement of the American NNI, there
were significant changes in scientific research and technological
development policy in Asia and the Pacific, with decisions
designed to enable the region to take up a strong position in
nanotechnology development. Nanotechnology became top
priority in a number of Asian and Pacific countries, with
overall spending in 2003 of over USD 1.4 billion. Of that
figure, 70 % refers to Japan, but major investments were also
made in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
India,
Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore, not to mention
Australia and New Zealand.

(24) The multi-annual financial appropriations set out by the law of 3

December 2003 break down as follows:
(a) National Science Foundation

(1) USD 385,000,000 for 2005
(2) USD 424,000,000 for 2006
(3) USD 449,000,000 for 2007
(4) USD 476,000,000 for 2008

(b) Department of Energy

(1) USD 317,000,000 the fiscal year 2005
(2) USD 347,000,000 the fiscal year 2006
(3) USD 380,000,000 the fiscal year 2007
(4) USD 415,000,000 the fiscal year 2008

(c) National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(1) USD 34,100,000 for 2005
(2) USD 37,500,000 for 2006
(3) USD 40,000,000 for 2007
(4) USD 42,300,000 for 2008

(d) National Institute of Standards and Technology

(1) USD 68,200,000 for 2005
(2) USD 75,000,000 for 2006
(3) USD 80,000,000 for 2007
(4) USD 84,000,000 for 2008
(e) Environmental Protection Agency

(1) USD 5,500,000 the fiscal year 2005
(2) USD 6,050,000 the fiscal year 2006
(3) USD 6,413,000 the fiscal year 2007
(4) USD 6,800,000 the fiscal year 2008

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five-

In 2003,

the budget

Japan has launched a number of

5.3
to ten-year
programmes in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology
since the mid-1980s.
the R&D
for
stood at
for nanotechnology and materials
programme
USD 900 million, but nanotechnology-related themes are also
present in life science, environment and information society
programmes. This brings the total budget earmarked for the
sector in 2003 to nearly USD 1.5 billion, with an increase of
approximately 20 % in 2004. The Japanese private sector is
also very much present, represented by two major trading
houses, Mitsui & Co and the Mitsubishi Corporation. Most of
the major Japanese companies, such as NEC, Hitachi, Fujitsu,
NTT, Toshiba, Sony, Sumitomo Electric, Fuji Xerox, etc. have
invested heavily in nanotechnology.

5.3.1
Under its current five-year plan for 2001 to 2005,
China has set aside a budget of approximately USD 300
million for nanotechnology. According to the Chinese minister
for science and technology, about 50 universities, 20 institutes
and over 100 companies are active in the sector. To secure an
adequate platform for commercialising nanotechnology, an
engineering centre and a nanotech industry base have been set
up between Beijing and Shanghai. Furthermore, the Chinese
government has set aside USD 33 million for the establishment
of a national research centre on nanoscience and technology,
in order to better coordinate scientific and research efforts in
the sector.

In 2002,

5.3.2
the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
founded Casnec (the CAS Nanotechnology Engineering Centre),
with an overall budget of USD 6 million, as a platform to accel-
erate the commercialisation of nanoscience and nanotech-
nology.
In Hong Kong, the two main sources of nanotech
financing are the Grant Research Council and the Innovation
and Technology Fund, spending an overall budget of USD 20.6
million in the period from 1998 to 2002. For 2003 and 2004,
the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the
Hong Kong Polytechnic University have granted their own
nanotech centres nearly USD 9 million.

In Australia

and New Zealand meanwhile,

the
5.3.3
Australia Research Council (ARC) has doubled its funding for
competitive projects over the last five years, and has plans to
set up eight centres of excellence in various locations, with a
view to more in-depth research into themes such as quantum
computer technology, quantum atom optics, photovoltaics,
advanced photonics and advanced optics systems.

In New Zealand,

the MacDiarmid Institute

5.3.4
for
Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology is the national coordi-
nator for advanced research and training in materials science
and nanotechnology, working on the basis of close cooperation
between universities and various partners,
including Industry
Research Ltd (IRL) and the Institute of Geological and Nuclear
Sciences (IGNS).

5.3.5
The MacDiarmid Institute is focusing on the following
sectors in particular: nanoengineered materials, optoelectro-
nics (25), superconductors, carbon nanotubes,
light materials
and complex fluids, sensorial and image systems, and lastly,
new energy-storing materials.

6. General comments

The explosion of nanotechnologies around the world, in
6.1
America, Asia and Oceania alike, is proof that it is high time
that Europe took systematic and coordinated action to secure
joint Community and national financing for basic and applied
research and its speedy transfer to new products, processes and
services.

6.2

A joint European strategy should be based on:

— boosting joint efforts in the field of scientific and technolo-
gical research, demonstration and training, as part of the
establishment of the European Innovation and Research
Area;

— maximising interplay between industry and academia

(research, education and advanced training);

— speeding up the development of

industrial and multi-
sectoral applications, and of the economic, social,
legal,
regulatory, fiscal and financial context to accommodate the
work of
innovative new businesses and professional
profiles;

— safeguarding ethical, environmental, health and safety inter-
ests
scientific applications;
promoting the relationship with civil society and regulation
of metrological and technical standardisation matters;

the lifecycle of

throughout

— stepping up the European coordination of policies,
measures, structures and networks, so that they are able to
maintain and improve on current competitive levels of
scientific, technological and applications development;

— immediately involving the new Member States in the
process of studying and applying nanoscience, by means of
appropriations
targeted measures, using the
provided by the ERDF
and joint
programmes, managed with existing accredited EU research
centres (27).

financial
and the ESF (26)

(25) Optoelectronics is a technique that combines the disciplines of
optics and electronics. It studies mechanisms that convert electrical
signals into optical signals and vice versa (CD players,
laser
systems, etc.).

(26) ERDF, European Regional Development Fund: one of the Structural
Funds that, under Priority IV (local development systems), can be
used to finance research facilities and equipment.
ESF, European Social Fund, another Structural Fund that, under
Priority III (human resources), can be used to finance training for
researchers and information for entrepreneurs.

(27) The CD ROMs and recent publications of the Research DG provide
a broad panorama of European research centres and their speciali-
sations. For more information see:
http://cordis.lu/nanotechnology

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6.3
The achievement of a large critical mass and high value
added should pave the way for the establishment and develop-
ment of a joint strategy. Manufacturing and service companies,
small ones in particular, should be able to use the results of
such a strategy for their innovative and competitive develop-
ment while also contributing by spawning trans-European
networks of excellence together with universities, public and
private research centres and financial bodies.

this

The development of

6.4
strategy must be firmly
anchored in that of society. This means that the strategy must
be firmly warranted by the major contribution it can make not
only to the competitiveness of the European knowledge-based
economy but also and above all to the health, environment,
safety and quality of life of the European public. This also
means working on the demand side of nanotechnologies, to
solve the problems faced by the public, businesses and organi-
in need of practical
sations, as these are the areas most
responses.

6.5
The commitment of society as a whole must be secured.
This will require transparency and safety in the nanotechnolo-
gical process, from basic research all the way to the application
of results and their demonstration and development in innova-
tive market products and services. It will also require agree-
ments that are clear and comprehensible for the general public,
providing an assurance that the entire life cycle of the products,
including disposal, is subject to checks and constant risk assess-
ment.

6.6
A positive relationship must be forged between science
and society in this sector in order to avoid the emergence of
in
barriers to or stagnation in nanotechnology development,
contrast to what happened during the growth of other new
technologies recently.

being altered, increased, reduced or eliminated at nano level,
with consequences that may have an — at times radical —
impact on applications. New manufacturing techniques, new
approaches, different types of service and new professions to
manage them are developing.

6.8.1
This rapid transformation demands a strategy for the
creation and/or reskilling of senior managers to manage the
transition, set up a new form of governance for the process,
generate new professional profiles and attract the best brains,
at world level.

The Community's financial perspectives for 2007-2013,
6.9
as recently proposed by the Commission, should be assessed
and remoulded in the light of the challenges posed by this new
technological revolution. Suffice it to say that the American
Congress has approved a nanotechnology budget of over
EUR 700 million for the 2004 fiscal year alone. According to
the estimates of the US National Science Foundation (NSF), civil
investment in the sector by various governmental organisations
around the world in 2003 exceeded EUR 2,300 million,
broken down as follows:

— approximately EUR 700 million in the USA (added to
which a further EUR 250 million managed by the Defense
Department, DoD);

— EUR 720 million in Japan;

— less than EUR 600 million in Europe,

including Switzer-

land;

— approximately EUR 720 million in the rest of the world.

As far as the future is concerned, the growth of world
6.10
industrial output in the sector has been estimated at around
EUR 1,000 billion over 10 to 15 years, calling for over two
million skilled people to join the sector's workforce.

6.7
The creation of European facilities and of new multidis-
ciplinary scientific and academic profiles is also essential. This
too will mean winning the full trust of the tax-payer and of
policy-makers, who need to be fully aware of the positive
potential of the nanotechnological revolution.

6.10.1
This confirms the principle that nanotechnology =
progress for the employment strategy (28). The development of
the knowledge-based society will be measured against its capa-
city to tap sensitively and intelligently into the new sources of
employment and progress.

The development of nanotechnologies is therefore not
6.8
only a major challenge intellectually and scientifically, but also
and above all a challenge for society as a whole. Phenomena
for which the scientific principles are known at macro level are

6.11
success,
is essential
human resources and coordination at Community level.

For the EU's strategy in this area to be certain of
to build up financial and
therefore,

it

(28) See the Luxembourg (1997), Cardiff (1998), Cologne (1999) and
Lisbon (2000) processes, on the use of development to increase
and improve employment.

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6.12
In both Asia and the USA, a joined-up approach to the
various policies directly or indirectly concerning the sector's
development has proved indispensable, in order to be proactive
vis à vis the need for new entrepreneurship, new training, and
a new regulatory and technical-legal framework.

— special paints to protect walls and buildings;

— graffiti-proof paint

for walls,

train carriages and other

objects.

As has been shown by the many studies already
6.13
carried out (29), nanotechnology enables the production, manip-
ulation and positioning of objects, while also securing a proac-
tive technological approach on a large scale at competitive
processing and production costs.

in addition to those
6.15.1 Many new applications,
described above, are already in use or are at the fine-tuning
stage and will very soon be part of everyday life. They point to
progress or even a revolution in ‘domotics’ (33) and will contri-
bute to improving the public's quality of life.

In the long term, science will be able to provide instru-
6.14
ments
they can form
to assemble nano-objects,
complex systems able to carry out functions that the individual
parts cannot. The time-to-market of this ultimate goal is as yet
difficult to estimate, but it must be pursued with the appro-
priate support instruments.

so that

6.16
Thanks to biomimetics, the study of the possibility of
interfacing electronic circuits with biological tissues, in the near
future it will be possible to restore hearing to hearing-impaired
and sight to sight-impaired organisms.

Various ‘intelligent’ materials (30) have been made and

6.15
are already available to consumers:

— highly durable materials for the automotive and aerospace

sectors;

Various types of micromotor (34) are already at the
6.16.1
laboratory stage. They are able to reach a predetermined target,
such as an infected cell, and destroy it in order to prevent it
from contaminating other cells. Currently however, the action
taken on unhealthy cells also affects healthy cells, often causing
considerable damage to organs.

— high-performance lubricants;

— friction-reducing nanoparticles;

— the surface processing of mechanical parts;

— extremely small Intelligent Sticks, with memory capacity of

1,000 MB (31);

— flexible CDs that can hold over 20 hours of music;

— self-cleaning fabric, ceramic and glass surfaces (32);

— glass with electrically-adjustable transparency;

— heat-proof glass that can withstand extremely high tempera-

tures;

— scratch- and corrosion-resistant nanostructured sheet metal;

— diagnostic systems;

(29) European Commission, Research DG
(30) These are nanostructured surfaces that have different properties to

traditional surfaces.

(31) These are extremely useful instruments that can store an enormous

quantity of data, photographs and music.

(32) The way the surfaces are structured and enriched with certain types
of atoms prevents dirt and dust from coming into direct contact
with the fabric, ceramic or glass.

6.16.2
Scientific applications of the technique are already
able to supply a number of practical results that are directly
applicable to daily life. Unfortunately, the costs are still too
high however. In order for them to become affordable, aware-
ness of these new possibilities must become common knowl-
edge, in order to alter deep-rooted procedures and habits that
more often than not obstruct and delay change.

The traditional

textiles/clothing/footwear

6.17
sector has
been in crisis throughout the European Union not least because
of competition from products from countries that do not
uphold basic labour standards or take into consideration the
cost of environmental protection or of health and safety in the
workplace.

Intelligent and/or technical fabrics,

6.17.1
including those
designed with the help of nano powders, are on the increase in
many European countries and showing growth of around 30 %
a year. Particularly important are fabrics designed to enhance
all aspects of safety: from road safety to protection from pollu-
tion, chemical agents, allergenic products and atmospheric
agents, etc. (35).

(33) From the Latin domus (house), domotics is the science that studies

all aspects of development in the home.

(34) The University of Grenoble has already run experiments on a

number of types of micromotor, based on kinesin.

(35) See Opinion CESE 967/2004 (OJ C 302, 7.12.2004) and studies
conducted by the Universities of Ghent and Bergamo (textiles
sector).

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6.18
Nanotechnology is also revolutionising medicine, espe-
cially regarding the early diagnosis and treatment of serious
tumours and neurodegenerative diseases associated with old
age. Specifically designed nanoparticles can be used as markers
for the highly effective diagnosis of infectious agents or meta-
bolite properties, or as vectors for drugs to be deposited in
certain areas or organs affected by highly localised diseases.
Systems of this kind are already being used in various experi-
ments.

7.1.3
Nanostructured materials and coatings, whose ingredi-
ents are of nanometric dimensions, can significantly reduce the
above percentages. For instance, a decrease of 20 % in the fric-
tion coefficient in a car's gearbox could reduce energy losses by
a percentage varying between 0.64 % and 0.80 %, yielding
savings of EUR 26 billion a year in the transport sector alone.

7. Specific comments

7.1
The nanotechnological approach to new materials
means creating new functions by using nanoscale components.
A good example is that of technologies for the production and
processing of durable and efficient materials for the automotive
and aeronautics sectors, areas in which Europe has the edge
over its main competitors. It has been clearly demonstrated
that nanostructured systems can significantly reduce friction
between two connecting surfaces, and thus reduce wear and
tear.

7.1.1
Just one of many examples of nanotechnology's
various commercial applications is that of the development of
nanostructured materials and surfaces to reduce friction and
wear and tear. These systems play a key role in the develop-
ment of new, highly efficient industrial processes with a low
environmental impact. Approximately 25 % of the energy used
in the world is lost through friction (36), and losses owing to
mechanical parts becoming worn out are estimated at between
1.3 % and 1.6 % of an industrialised country's GDP. The costs
associated with problems of friction, wear and tear and lubrica-
tion can be estimated at approximately EUR 350 billion a year,
broken down between the following sectors:
land transport
industrial processes (33 %), energy supply (6.8 %),
(46.6 %),
consumption (0.5 %), other
aeronautics
(10.3 %) (37).

(2.8 %), domestic

7.1.2
New technological platforms must therefore be created
on the basis of approaches that take into account the peculiari-
ties of nanotechnologies and, in particular, the fact that func-
i.e. control over dimensions
tions and dimensions coincide,
coincides with control over functions. For instance, in the
case of lubrication:
if nanometric particles of the right
dimensions are built into a surface, there is no longer any
need to lubricate, as that function is carried out by the
nanoparticles, by means of their dimensions.

(36) Source: Oakridge National Laboratory, USA.
(37) Ibidem.

7.1.4
Surface testing and engineering is a key technology in
terms of sustainable growth. A report from the UK's Depart-
ment of Trade and Industry describes the state of the surface
engineering industry in the 1995-2005 period and in 2010 (38).
The report shows that in 1995, the English market for surface
modification processes totalled approximately EUR 15 billion,
and involved the production of goods for a value of around
EUR 150 billion, of which EUR 7 billion was linked to the
development of
technologies for the protection of surfaces
from wear and tear. The prediction for 2005 is that in the UK
this sector will be worth approximately EUR 32 billion, invol-
ving industrial processes valued at around EUR 215 billion.

7.1.5
Projecting these figures on to the European market
gives EUR 240 billion for surface processing, and spin-offs to
other production sectors of approximately EUR 1,600 billion.

In order to benefit from nanotechnology (39), industrial
7.2
development must be based on the capacity to marry tradi-
tional manufacturing processes and technologies (top-down)
with innovative processes able to create, manipulate and inte-
grate the new nanometric ingredients, using existing or new
platforms.

7.2.1
An approach based on governance is of fundamental
importance. In addition to general initiatives taken with consu-
mers in mind, others must be developed and aimed at industry
associations, local administrators and non-profit organisations,
so as to tie in the warp and weft of the economic, political and
social fabric. Competence centres could play an important role
here (40),
laying the foundations for greater coordination of
local and European initiatives and generating a climate that is
conducive to nanotechnological
In this context,
action must be taken to assess the impact of nanotechnologies
on health and the environment, and any EU (top-down) initia-
tives should dovetail with action determined and promoted
locally (bottom-up).

innovation.

(38) A. Matthews, R. Artley and P. Holiday, 2005 Revisited: The UK

Surface Engineering Industry to 2010, NASURF, Dera, 1998.

(39) NB: There is no such thing as the industrial development of nano-
technology, but rather development that benefits from nanotech-
nology.

(40) Cf. the experience of Servitec, the Dalmine ‘innovation pole’

in

Bergamo.

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7.3
The EESC wishes to stress the great potential of devel-
oping nanoscience and nanotechnology as part of the applica-
tion of the Lisbon Strategy. Uniting the scientific disciplines
around an approach based on nanoscale units of matter will lay
new foundations for the integration of knowledge, innovation,
technology and development.

the birth of

The EESC welcomes

7.7
the ‘Nanoforum’
network (41) and hopes that the network's publications will be
translated and disseminated in all the Member States. As far as
possible, the language used in the publications must be simple
and accessible to a wide audience. Universities and research
centres should be able to use the forum's findings.

7.4
Coordination is still rather fragmented at European level
despite efforts made under the sixth framework programme.
The focus appears to be on rationalising the use of resources.
While there is strong backing for basic research and also for
the development of new industrial processes, there is as yet a
lack of direction and backing for initiatives to generate real
progress in mass production technologies. Support for efforts
to develop European governance in the area is more embryonic
still.

7.7.1
The EESC is also convinced that the ‘European nanoe-
lectronics technology platform’, suggested by the high level
group (42), will be all the more successful providing it can avoid
unnecessary and costly overlaps in research, working in close
cooperation with the Commission.

It is also the EESC's opinion that by 2008 investment in
7.8
these sectors in the EU will have to rise from the current
EUR 3 billion a year, to EUR 8 billion, with periodical checks
by the Commission on the following aspects:

7.5
In the Member States, genuine coordination is essential
but it has thus far been absent, especially when it comes to
In many European countries, businesses,
applying research.
SMEs especially, are encountering the following difficulties:

— increase in market quotas,

— public and private investment in research,

— increase in the number of students studying nanotech-

nology.

— a lack of basic knowledge of nanoscience and nanotech-

nology,

— a lack of professionals able to relate to companies' needs,

8. Conclusions

— an incapacity to assess the impact of the new technologies

in terms of technological and market processes,

— difficulties in locating and assessing nanostructured raw

materials,

— the inability to insert nanotech processes into traditional

production processes,

— difficulties in assessing the development of the market for

nano products,

— inadequate links with universities and innovation centres.

The EESC believes it is very important to use research to
7.6
design useful systems in the field of public health and everyday
life, always adhering to the principle of mimesis, i.e. imitating
nature.

8.1
the
The EESC fully agrees with the conclusions of
Competitiveness Council of 24 September 2004 on the impor-
tant role and potential of nanoscience and nanotechnology.
The results achieved to date suggest that it is important to
sharpen up the expertise and build the instruments that enable
atoms to be worked on, in order to produce new structures
and modify the properties of existing ones.

8.2
In this respect, the EESC recommends the immediate
launch of a joint, integrated, responsible, European-level
strategy, to focus in particular on: the development of joint
efforts in RTD and scientific and technological demonstration
and training;
interaction between industry and the academic
world; the accelerated development of industrial and multisec-
toral applications; and greater European coordination of poli-
cies, measures, structures and networks. As part of this strategy,
a special effort must be made from the outset at international
level too, to safeguard ethical, environmental, health and safety
interests throughout the lifecycle of scientific applications and
to promote appropriate technical standardisation.

(41) The Nanoforum network's members are: the Institute of Nanotech-
nology (UK), which is acting as coordinator; UDI Technologiezen-
trum (DE); CEA-LETI (FR); CMP Científica (ES); Nordic Nanotech
(DK); and Malsch Techno Valutation (NL).
http://www.nanoforum.org.

(42) See previous footnote: ‘Vision 2020’ report, published on 29 June

2004.

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8.3
The EESC would emphasise the need for this strategy
to be firmly anchored in the development of society,
making a positive contribution not only to the competitiveness
of the European economy but also, and above all, to human
health, the environment and safety, not to mention quality of
life.

8.3.1
On this note, the EESC would stress the importance of
securing the responsible and sustainable development of
nanotechnology, from the outset, in order to meet the justifi-
able expectations of civil society with regard to environmental,
health, ethical, industrial and economic aspects.

8.3.2
The EESC recommends a substantial increase in the
resources earmarked for basic research, as technological and
industrial excellence is always based on scientific excellence.

The 3 % (43) objective decided at Barcelona should
8.3.3
be implemented, making a priority of concentrating resources
in the field of nanoscience, the development of its applications,
and the convergence between nano-, bio- and info- technology
and knowledge-based technology.

The Community's financial perspectives for 2007-
8.3.4
2013,
should be
recently published by the Commission,
assessed and remoulded in the light of the challenges posed by
this new nanotechnology revolution.

The increase in funds hoped for must be reflected in
8.3.5
an appropriate financial provision under
the forthcoming
seventh framework programme. The figures should reflect
those earmarked in other countries, such as the USA.

8.4
The EESC is convinced that Europe should launch a
high-level action plan with a definite road map and time-
table and a joined-up approach, securing the necessary
consensus among all civil society players on a shared vision.
This vision must be translated into clear and transparent objec-
tives for responding to the requirements of economic and
social progress, and improved quality of life, safety and health
for all.

8.5
In the Committee's opinion, there is a need to establish
technological platforms with a large critical mass and high
European value added, bringing together public and private
players from the worlds of science, finance and administration
who are active in the various specific fields of application.

8.6
The Committee would reiterate the urgent need to set
up high-level European facilities and to strengthen the
competence centres (CCs). Their location and specialisation
would be determined on the basis of close coordination

(43) 3 % of European gross domestic product should be spent on
research and development by the public sector (the Member States
and the Community) and industry.

between European and local bodies, so as to pinpoint homoge-
neous industrial areas for local product specialisation, where a
critical mass of R&D may already have taken root.

8.6.1
The CCs should be able to carry out and transfer
high-quality research aimed at application and innovation,
using nanotechnology, particularly in fields such as nanoelec-
tronics, nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine.

8.7
Researchers must be certain that their intellectual prop-
erty is protected, particularly in such a sensitive field. The EESC
believes that solving the patenting issue in a clear and satisfac-
tory way is a top priority if the success of applied research in
the field of nanotechnology is to be secured. No time must be
wasted in establishing a European-level Nano-IPR helpdesk,
to meet
the needs of researchers, companies and research
centres.

The Commission,

in conjunction with the Member
8.8
States, must step up its efforts and promote in-depth studies in
universities and research centres, to ensure that the patenting
process appears feasible, with straightforward and inexpensive
procedures, particularly in such an innovative sector.

As far as international cooperation is concerned, work
8.8.1
on safety and the standardisation of measures and processes
should be stepped up in conjunction with non-EU countries.
Special attention should be given to China, which is investing
heavily in the field of nanotechnologies. The USA and Japan,
meanwhile, have a very aggressive policy in this area (cf. the
agreement between China and the State of California on the
development of centres of excellence for biomedical nano-
technologies).

8.8.2
The EESC believes that an additional effort must be
made, not least through the European initiative for growth
launched in December 2003, to increase the number of
nanotech companies in the EU. To this end, the relationship
between universities, nanotechnological innovation centres
and companies must be constantly promoted and improved.

the development of
8.8.3 Measures are needed to target
(from nanotech-
nanotechnology-based industrial processes
nology to nanomanufacturing), for companies both large and
small. Europe should follow the American example of devel-
oping a plan to use federal programmes such as the Small Busi-
ness Innovation Research Program and the Small Business
Technology Transfer Research Program, in order to sustain an
all-pervasive
development
throughout the business fabric, however small the companies
involved.

nanotechnological

spread

of

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8.8.4
Industry associations can play an important part here
both nationally and locally. The Research and Enterprise DGs
could jointly promote a number of
intensive awareness-
raising campaigns, involving all the economic and social
players, on the basis of the positive experience developed in
Trieste (44).

8.8.5
In the EESC's view, the establishment of a European
information clearing-house (45) would be a very important
mechanism to facilitate:

— the commercialisation of nanotechnology and the transfer
of technologies and new concepts into commercial and
military products,

— the dissemination of the best practice of universities and
public and private laboratories, with a view to transfer into
commercial use.

Alongside and in connection with the European forums,
8.9
there should be a number of worldwide forums, open to UN
countries, and able to deal with issues relating to:

— patents,

— ethical rules,

— social consensus,

— environmental aspects,

— sustainable development,

— consumer safety.

8.10
The European Investment Bank (EIB), possibly with
the practical support of the European Investment Fund (EIF),
should set up credit facilities, to be managed in conjunction
with credit institutions, regional financing bodies specialised in
company loans, venture capital companies and guarantee coop-
eratives, in order to facilitate the birth and growth of compa-
nies that are centring their production on nanotech products.

8.10.1
The Growth and Environment Programme was a posi-
tive experience that yielded excellent results in the past (though
mainly in the environmental sector). It could be imitated, in

Brussels, 15 December 2004.

order to encourage growth in new types of nanotechnology-
based production (46).

Research and its spin-offs for products should be
8.11
geared towards the requirements of the public and sustainable
development. In this context, action must be taken to assess
the impact of nanotechnologies on health and the environ-
ment, and any EU (top-down) initiatives should dovetail with
action determined and promoted locally (bottom-up).

8.12
There must be an ongoing and scientifically well-
founded dialogue with the public. The new technologies that
are growing out of the use of atoms must be transparent and
provide the public with an assurance that there are no hidden
dangers for health or the environment. History has taught us
that, very often, fear and concern regarding new products are
born more out of ignorance than reality.

This is one of the reasons why the EESC hopes that
8.12.1
there will be an unceasing and direct connection between
research results and universally-recognised ethical principles,
for which an international dialogue will be necessary.

As the technology forums (47) are in their formative
8.13
stage, special attention must be given to the new members
of the European Union, ensuring they are fully represented
and that they have a direct link with the European centres of
excellence.

8.14
The EESC believes that the coordination of research
in the vast field of nanoscience should be the responsibility of
the Commission — albeit with basic research activity being
the responsibility of the future European Research Council ESR.
The Commission, in agreement with the Parliament and the
Council, can secure the best possible added value for the Euro-
pean public including a wider and more far-reaching and objec-
tive use of research results.

The EESC asks the Commission to provide it with a
8.15
biennial report on nanotechnological development, in order to
check the progress of the action plan adopted and to suggest
possible changes and updates.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

(44) Nanoforum in Trieste, in 2003, attended by over 1,000 people.
(45) See: American nanotechnology legislation of December 2003.

(46) The Growth and Environment Programme, managed by the EIF in
conjunction with various European financial institutions, helped to
small and
improve the environmental credentials of micro-,
medium-sized enterprises, by means of co-financing and credit
facilities.
(47) See point 6.3.