European Parliament resolution on nanosciences and nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe 2005-2009 (2006/2004(INI))
Date: 2006-09-28
Institutions: Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, European Parliament
Subjects: nanotechnology, research and development, research policy, scientific research, technological change

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9.
Calls on the Commission to present to the European Parliament and the Council no later than 30 June
2007 a Community Plan of Action for the conservation of sharks and seabirds, as proposed in its Commu-
nication (COM(2006)0216) entitled ‘Halting the Loss of Biodiversity by 2010 — and Beyond’;

10.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

P6_TA(2006)0392

Nanoscience and nanotechnology

European Parliament resolution on nanosciences and nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe
2005-2009 (2006/2004(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission Communication of 7 June 2005 entitled Nanosciences and nano-

technologies: An action plan for Europe 2005-2009 (COM(2005)0243),

— having regard to the joint report by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering of 29 July

2004 entitled Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties,

— having regard to the Presidency Conclusions of the Brussels' Competitiveness Council of 24 September

2004,

— having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Commission
Communication: Towards a European strategy for nanotechnology (1) and its opinion regarding the
above-mentioned Commission Communication of 7 June 2005 (2),

— having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the opinions of the
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Committee on Legal Affairs
(A6-0216/2006),

A. whereas the Commission has adopted an Action Plan for the immediate implementation of a safe,

integrated and responsible strategy for nanosciences and nanotechnologies,

B. whereas nanosciences and nanotechnologies have the potential — as multidisciplinary sectors — to
benefit society hugely by the development of new products, materials, applications and services, thereby
raising productivity and the quality of life in the EU as a whole,

C. whereas the Council recognises the important role of nanotechnologies in many areas and stresses the
importance of continuing to generate scientific and technological knowledge in this area and of
encouraging its use in industrial applications,

D. whereas the European Economic and Social Committee believes nanotechnologies could greatly help the

EU to achieve the objectives set by the Lisbon Strategy,

1. Welcomes the above-mentioned Commission Action Plan, which defines a series of concrete and
interconnected actions for the immediate implementation of nanosciences and nanotechnologies, based on
priority areas determined according to future needs;

(1) OJ C 157, 28.6.2005, p. 22.
(2)

INT/277 — CESE 1237/2005.

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2.
Recognises the important role that nanosciences and nanotechnologies can play as breakthrough tech-
nologies in stimulating the achievement of the economic, social, and environmental goals of the EU;
acknowledges the fact that nanotechnologies can address the needs of citizens (public health, energy, trans-
port, sustainable development, etc.), as well as contribute to the EU's competitiveness and sustainable devel-
opment objectives;

3.
Notes that technology platforms, expert advisory groups, and action plans are useful instruments for
helping to develop commonly agreed research agendas and deployment strategies in the field of nano-
technologies and nanosciences, thereby creating new jobs and enhancing economic growth;

Supports the objectives and initiatives set out in the above-mentioned Commission Communication of

4.
7 June 2005; welcomes the clear focus in that Communication and in the above-mentioned Action Plan;

5.
At the same time, stresses the need to increase publicly funded investment in R&D; realises that the
fragmentary nature of the European research landscape reflects the easy availability and relatively low cost
of nanoscience research, but is also aware that funds need to be set aside for the establishment and main-
tenance of the necessary large-scale facilities, including, in particular, clean rooms, lithographic processes
and very costly analytical procedures; in this regard, expresses its concern at the current level of European
public investment in nanosciences and nanotechnologies, recommends that the ambitions set out in the
above-mentioned Action Plan be appropriately matched in financial terms and supports the Commission's
readiness to very substantially increase the resources devoted to research in this field, which is of funda-
mental importance to Europe's future development;

6.
Considers that Europe needs a coherent system of world-class R&D infrastructure in order for the EU
to remain competitive in the field of nanosciences and nanotechnologies; draws attention to the fact that, in
order to enjoy possible economies of scale, and owing to its interdisciplinary and complex nature, the
infrastructure for R&D in nanotechnologies calls for a critical mass of resources that are beyond the
means of local governments and industry; recognises, on the other hand, that smaller-scale national R&D
policies may often be in a better position to react adequately to changing opportunities and market devel-
opments; therefore, urges the Commission and the Member States to reinforce and coordinate their R&D
efforts in this field; to this end, recommends, in each Member State and in accordance with each country's
characteristics, the creation of a minimum critical mass of infrastructure and scientists with specific exper-
tise in nanosciences and nanotechnologies, leading ultimately to the creation of specialised centres of excel-
lence in some countries which would be coordinated at EU level;

Draws particular attention to nanomedicine as a promising interdisciplinary domain with break-
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through technologies such as molecular imaging and diagnostics, which can offer impressive benefits for
the early diagnosis and smart and cost-effective treatment of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular pro-
blems, diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's; urges the Commission and national and regional authorities to
boost their R&D investments in this domain and to coordinate their efforts by means of the Nanomedicine
European Technology Platform proposed in the Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological
development and demonstration activities (Seventh Framework Programme), and by means of other instru-
ments,
including the Regions of Knowledge proposed in the Seventh Framework Programme, so as to
achieve critical mass in this field;

Stresses the major role to be played by nanosciences and nanotechnologies in developing molecular

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biology;

9.
Is convinced that multidisciplinary nanosciences and nanotechnologies should be geared to the devel-
opment of hydrogen energy, including the development of new and effective means of storing hydrogen and
efficient fuel cells, as well as information-carrying technologies with much greater capacity than at present;

10.
Stresses the considerable progress made in Europe in the field of nanotechnologies, based on a top-
down approach, particularly in areas such as nanocomposites, abrasion — and corrosion — proof coatings
and layers, and also the production of catalysers and photodiodes, including the so-called blue laser, as well
as in the field of nanomedicine, nanocosmetics and nanodiagnosis of diseases;

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Believes that the level of basic European research can make it possible to find technological tools that

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will enable a bottom-up approach to be adopted, particularly in nanoelectronics;

12.
Believes that actions to accelerate technology development must be complemented by policy mea-
sures to ensure the market penetration of existing technologies; notes that standards can provide a level
playing field for markets and international trade and are prerequisites for fair competition, comparative
risk assessments and regulatory measures; calls therefore on the Commission and the Council to remove
any barriers in the form of absent standards or unclear legislation, which unnecessarily hold back the
adoption of nanotechnologies and nanosciences in Europe, and to do so without imposing any new bureau-
cratic hurdles;

Stresses the importance of generating the ‘triangle of knowledge’ (i.e. education, research and innova-
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tion) needed for the European Research Area; considers that in order to achieve the necessary synergy
between research, education and innovation, a comprehensive knowledge transfer approach, and also the
development of cross-sector human resources, are needed; calls therefore on Member States to develop
strategies to improve knowledge transfer and to address the skills shortage by increased emphasis on natural
science training and by attracting more students into nanoscience and science-related, multidisciplinary
subjects; welcomes the Commission's effort to support research training networks in nanotechnologies and
calls on the Member States to create, both in isolation and in close cooperation with each other, multi-
disciplinary networks to combine nanotechnologies with a broad spectrum of research areas, with the aim
of developing new hybrid technologies;

14.
Considers that industry, research institutes and financial institutions should work together to ensure
that excellent R&D in nanosciences and nanotechnologies is translated into new products and processes;
believes that Member States should accelerate and stimulate this process by focusing on improving the
business climate for companies in the nanotechnology sector in their country, especially start ups, SMEs
and innovative companies; considers, in this regard, that the protection of intellectual property rights is
essential for innovation, in terms both of attracting initial investment and of ensuring future revenue; calls
on the Commission to develop standards for the protection of intellectual property rights and models for
licensing agreements;

15 Regrets the fact that the patenting of nanoscience and nanotechnology inventions in Europe is
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developing slowly; calls on the EU to create a nanoscience and nanotechnology patent monitoring system
governed by the European Patent Office;

16.
Encourages general reforms in the field of the European patent system in order to cut the costs of
patenting and to improve accessibility to patents for SMEs; stresses the need for greater transparency and
clear limits to the scope of patent protection;

17.
Is convinced that Europe's chances of being and staying at the forefront in this field hinge upon its
capacity for coordination; reiterates the need for a single Community focal point for coordination and the
importance of the EU's speaking with one voice on the international stage, particularly in the light of the
challenges presented by patent protection in China; calls therefore on the Commission and Members States
to devise mechanisms to effectively coordinate actions in this field; urges the Commission to take into
account in its policy making all activities within the OECD (e.g. definitions, nomenclature, risk management)
and Unesco (ethics);

Recognises that an essential element of a responsible strategy is the integration of social, health and
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safety aspects into the technological development of nanosciences and nanotechnologies;
in this regard,
urges the Commission, the Member States and European industry to engage in an effective dialogue with
all stakeholders, so as to steer developments along a sustainable path;

19.
Stresses that the technological risks posed (from conception to disposal or recycling) to human
health, consumers, workers and the environment must be assessed throughout the life cycle of nanoscience
and nanotechnology products;

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Recommends that lists of ingredients in consumer products identify the addition of manufactured

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nanoparticulate material;

Thursday 28 September 2006

Emphasises the need to respect high ethical principles and welcomes the planned reviews on issues
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such as non-therapeutic human enhancement and links between nanosciences and nanotechnologies and
individual privacy; expects the reviews to be public and to include a thorough analysis of nanomedicine;

Supports the setting up of ethical committees which, by providing independent scientific advice, will
22.
help ensure that the public is properly informed and help create a climate of trust based on awareness of
the possible risks and benefits associated with the use of discoveries in the field of nanotechnologies;

23. Welcomes the consultation conducted for this proposal and encourages the Commission to continue
improving its work in order to respond to the increasing demand for better regulation;

24. Welcomes the intention of the Commission to develop appropriate multilingual information material
for different age groups in order to raise awareness of the progress and expected benefits of nanosciences
and nanotechnologies; encourages the Commission to do so in close collaboration with Member States;
urges the Commission to devise a communications strategy to raise the public's awareness of the enormous
opportunities offered by nanotechnology, and to allay their fears; considers that, as part of this communica-
tions strategy, the Commission should also make use of ideas such as a roadshow (featuring a ‘Nanoscience
Truck’) or a nanotechnology award;

25.
Calls on industry to share in the joint effort and urges it to participate in developing nanotechnolo-
gies, taking into account their wider economic, societal, health, safety and environmental effects and acting
in accordance with the principles of corporate social responsibility; in this regard, stresses that businesses
should help disseminate objective information about scientific discoveries in the nanoscience and nano-
technologies field, about their intended uses, their risks and benefits for society;

26.
Emphasises that all applications and uses of nanosciences and nanotechnologies must comply with
the high level of protection of human health, consumers, workers and the environment prescribed by the
EU and insists on the need for the codification of nanomaterials, which lead to the drawing up of standards,
which would in turn boost efforts to identify any risks; calls on the Commission to take the necessary
initiatives to this end;

Emphasises the importance of the miniaturisation of products with regard to helping reduce waste

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and ensuring better use of energy;

28.
Emphasises that understanding of the potential damage to health and the environment of new, syn-
thetic nanoparticles is still limited and that, consequently, the effects of nanoparticles that are not readily
soluble or biodegradable should be investigated, in accordance with the precautionary principle, before such
particles are put into production and placed on the market;

29.
Calls on the Commission to pay special attention to the development of nanosciences and nano-
technologies in the new Member States, by providing them with the means to define research profiles of
their own, while at the same time further enhancing the cutting-edge position of the main European loca-
tions with a view to creating a leading global role for Europe;

30.
Stresses the importance of international cooperation in the field of nanosciences and nanotechnolo-
gies; calls on the Commission to intensify further the already excellent relations with Russian scientists in
particular and to investigate the possibilities and limitations of cooperation in this area with the USA, Japan,
China and India; calls on the Commission to enhance international cooperation with a view to harmonising
nanoscience and nanotechnology patent application processing between the EU, the USA and Japan; stresses
that dialogue should be intensified in compliance with the WTO obligations;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, and to the govern-

31.
ments and parliaments of the Member States.