NanoData landscape compilation : construction.
Date: 2017-06-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Subjects: EU Member State, Framework Programme for Research and Development, building technique, construction policy, nanotechnology, report

NanoData Landscape 
Compilation 

Construction 

Written  by  the  Joint  Institute  for  Innovation  Policy,  Brussels,  Belgium,  in  co-operation  with         
CWTS, University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands; Frost & Sullivan Limited, London, United Kingdom; 
Joanneum  Research  Forschungsgesellschaft  mbH,  Graz,  Austria;  the  Nanotechnology  Industries 
Association,  Brussels,  Belgium;  Tecnalia  Research  and  Innovation,  Bilbao,  Spain;  and  TNO,  The 
Hague, Netherlands.    

August 2016 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 
Directorate Industrial Technologies 
Unit D.3 - Advanced Materials and Nanotechnologies 

E-mail:  RTD-PUBLICATIONS@ec.europa.eu 

European Commission 
B-1049 Brussels 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

NanoData Landscape 
Compilation 

Construction 

Written by: 

Jacqueline E M Allan 
Babette Bakker 
 Harrie Buist 
Guillaume Flament 
Christian Hartmann 
Iain Jawad 
Eelco Kuijpers 
Hanna Kuittinen 
 Ed Noyons 
Claire Stolwijk 
Xabier Uriarte Olaeta 
 Alfredo Yegros 

Additional contributions: 

Iker Barrondo Saez 
Robbert Fisher 
Milica Misojcic  
Luca Remotti 

2017 

Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 
Key Enabling Technologies 

EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2017. 

PDF 

       ISBN 978-92-79-68381-7 

         doi: 10.2777/04250 

KI-01-17-403-EN-N 

© European Union, 2017. 
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Contents 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 11 

1 

2 

BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................... 15 

INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION AND THE ROLE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY ............... 16 

Introduction to construction .......................................................................... 16 
2.1 
2.2  Role of nanotechnology in construction .......................................................... 17 
2.3 

Benefits,  barriers  and  drivers  of  the  application  of  nanotechnology  to  the 
construction sector ...................................................................................... 18 
2.4  Main nanotechnology application areas in construction ..................................... 20 

3 

EU POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION ......... 26 

3.1 
The EU Framework Programmes: supports for nanotechnology ......................... 26 
The EU Framework Programme: funding and participation data for FP6 and FP7 .. 28 
3.2 
3.3  Other EU policies and programmes ................................................................ 40 

4 

5 

POLICIES  AND  PROGRAMMES  IN  MEMBER  STATES  FOR  NANOTECHNOLOGY  AND 
CONSTRUCTION ................................................................................................... 43 

POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN OTHER COUNTRIES ................................................ 50 

5.1 
Europe ....................................................................................................... 50 
5.2 
The Americas .............................................................................................. 51 
Asia ........................................................................................................... 56 
5.3 
5.4  Oceania...................................................................................................... 66 
Africa ......................................................................................................... 67 
5.5 

6 

PUBLICATIONS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION ..................................... 68 

6.1  Overview .................................................................................................... 68 
Activity by region and country ....................................................................... 70 
6.2 
Activity by organisation type ......................................................................... 72 
6.3 

7 

PATENTING IN NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION .......................................... 74 

7.1  Overview .................................................................................................... 74 
7.2  Number  and  evolution  over  time  of  nanotechnology  and  construction  patent 

families ...................................................................................................... 74 
Activity by filing country and region ............................................................... 75 
Activity by country of applicant ..................................................................... 76 
Patenting activity by organisation type ........................................................... 81 

7.3 
7.4 
7.5 

8 

INDUSTRY AND NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR CONSTRUCTION ......................................... 86 

8.1  Overview of the construction industry ............................................................ 86 
8.2  Nanotechnology in the construction industry ................................................... 91 

9 

PRODUCTS AND MARKETS FOR CONSTRUCTION THROUGH NANOTECHNOLOGY........... 93 

9.1 
Introduction................................................................................................ 93 
9.2  Global markets and forecasts for construction products using nanotechnology .... 93 
9.3  Commercialised products for construction through nanotechnology .................... 94 

10  THE WIDER ENVIRONMENT FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION ............... 123 

10.1  Regulation and standards for nanotechnology ............................................... 123 
10.2  Environment, health and safety and nanotechnology ..................................... 127 
10.3  Communication, public attitudes and societal issues ...................................... 137 

11  CONCLUDING SUMMARY ..................................................................................... 141 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

ANNEXES .................................................................................................................. 142 

ANNEX 1: METHODOLOGIES FOR LANDSCAPE COMPILATION REPORTS ............................ 143 

ANNEX 2: CONSTRUCTION KEYWORDS ........................................................................ 156 

ANNEX 3: ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................... 157 

ANNEX 4: TERMINOLOGY ............................................................................................ 159 

ANNEX 5: ADDITONAL INFORMATION ON MEMBER STATE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES .... 161 

ANNEX 6: PRODUCTS FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION ............................... 177 

ANNEX 7: HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY ....................................................................... 186 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Figures 

FIGURE 3-1: FUNDING OF CONSTRUCTION NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR FP6 AND FP7 TOGETHER, FOR FP7 AND 

FOR FP6 ....................................................................................................................................................... 30 

FIGURE 3-2: SHARES OF EC CONTRIBUTION BY ORGANISATION TYPE FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND 

CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 34 

FIGURE 3-3: PERCENTAGE SHARES OF FP FUNDING BY COUNTRY IN FP, IN NANOTECHNOLOGY AND IN 

CONSTRUCTION NANOTECHNOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 38 

FIGURE 3-4: EC FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION NANOTECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES IN FP6 AND FP7 IN MEUR AND 

COUNTRY SHARES ....................................................................................................................................... 39 

FIGURE 6-1: ANNUAL NST CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATION OUTPUT, WORLDWIDE AND EU28&EFTA, 2000-2014

 .................................................................................................................................................................... 69 
FIGURE 6-2: NST CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATIONS AS A PERCENTAGE OF NST WORLD TOTAL, 2000-2014 ......... 69 
FIGURE 6-3: NUMBER OF NST CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATIONS BY COUNTRY (TOP 10), 2014 ............................ 70 
FIGURE 6-4: NUMBER OF NST CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATIONS BY EU&EFTA COUNTRIES, 2014 ........................ 71 
FIGURE 7-1: NUMBER OF PATENT FAMILIES BY FILING AUTHORITY (PCT, EPO, AND USPTO) ............................. 75 
FIGURE 7-2: EVOLUTION OVER TIME OF WIPO (PCT), EPO AND USPTO CONSTRUCTION NANOTECHNOLOGY 

PATENTING .................................................................................................................................................. 75 
FIGURE 7-3: NUMBER OF PATENT FAMILIES BY COUNTRY OF APPLICANT .......................................................... 77 
FIGURE 7-4: NUMBER OF PATENT FAMILIES BY COUNTRY OF APPLICANT EU28/EFTA ....................................... 78 
FIGURE 7-5: NUMBER OF PATENT FAMILIES BY COUNTRY OF APPLICANT FOR NON-EU28/EFTA ....................... 79 
FIGURE 7-6: GRANTED PATENTS BY COUNTRY OF APPLICANT FOR EU28/EFTA .................................................. 80 
FIGURE 9-1: GLOBAL MARKET OUTLOOK FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTION TO 2019 ....................... 93 
FIGURE 9-2: GLOBAL SALES ESTIMATES FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION BY MATERIAL TYPE, 

2013 AND 2019 ........................................................................................................................................... 94 
FIGURE 9-3: NANOTECHNOLOGY IN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION BY PRODUCT TYPE ................................... 95 
FIGURE 9-4: GLOBAL MARKET FOR COATINGS AND ADHESIVES TO 2019 ............................................................ 97 
FIGURE 9-5: GLOBAL MARKET FOR HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL COATINGS TO 2019................................................. 99 
FIGURE 9-6: GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILM MATERIALS IN OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIA ............................ 101 
FIGURE 9-7: GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILM CATALYTIC COATINGS TO 2019 ................................................. 105 
FIGURE 9-8: GLOBAL MARKET FOR OLED LIGHTING TO 2019 ............................................................................ 109 
FIGURE 9-9: GLOBAL MARKET FOR NANOSTRUCTURED POLYMER ERV FILTERS TO 2019 ................................. 111 
FIGURE 9-10: GLOBAL MARKET FOR AEROGELS IN BUILDING INSULATION TO 2019 ........................................ 113 
FIGURE 9-11: GLOBAL MARKET FOR HYDROPHOBIC/OLEOPHOBIC NANOCOMPOSITES TO 2019 .................... 115 
FIGURE 9-12: GLOBAL MARKET FOR CONDUCTIVE FIBRES TO 2019 .................................................................. 118 
FIGURE 9-13: GLOBAL MARKET FOR NANOCOMPOSITE WIRE AND CABLE SHEATHING TO 2019 ..................... 119 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Tables 

TABLE 3-1:NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND SHARES FOR TOTAL PROJECTS AND FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY .............. 29 
TABLE 3-2: NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND SHARES FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND NANOTECHNOLOGY AND 

CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 29 
TABLE 3-3: FP6 CONSTRUCTION NANOTECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES BY PROGRAMME AND SUB-PROGRAMME .... 31 
TABLE 3-4: FP7 CONSTRUCTION NANOTECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES BY PROGRAMME AND SUB-PROGRAMME .... 32 
TABLE 3-5: PARTICIPATIONS IN FP6 AND FP7 INCLUDING FUNDING AND SHARE OF FUNDING .......................... 33 
TABLE 3-6: ORGANISATIONS PARTICIPATING IN FP6 AND FP7, TOP 25 RANKED BY FUNDING RECEIVED ........... 35 
TABLE 3-7: COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN FP6 AND FP7, TOP 25 RANKED BY FUNDING RECEIVED .................. 36 
TABLE 3-8: TOP FIFTEEN COUNTRIES FOR FP PARTICIPATION RANKED BY FUNDING RECEIVED ......................... 37 
TABLE 3-9: COUNTRY RANKING BY FP FUNDING FOR TOP TEN IN FP, NT AND CONSTRUCTION 

NANOTECHNOLOGY .................................................................................................................................... 37 
TABLE 4-1: MEMBER STATE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY ......................................... 46 
TABLE 6-1: ANNUAL NST PUBLICATION OUTPUT FOR CONSTRUCTION WORLDWIDE AND IN THE EU28&EFTA, 

2000-2014 ................................................................................................................................................... 68 

TABLE 6-2: MOST COMMON JOURNALS BY NUMBERS OF NST CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATIONS (NPUB), 2000-

2014 ............................................................................................................................................................ 70 
TABLE 6-3: MOST PROLIFIC REGIONS FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATIONS, 2014 ............. 70 
TABLE 6-4: NUMBER OF NST CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATIONS BY COUNTRY (TOP 20), 2014 .............................. 71 
TABLE 6-5: PUBLICATION NUMBERS FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 

AND RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS, 2014 ..................................................................................................... 72 
TABLE 6-6: NUMBER OF NST CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATIONS BY EU&EFTA ORGANISATION (TOP TWELVE), 2014
 .................................................................................................................................................................... 73 
TABLE 6-7: NUMBER OF NST CONSTRUCTION PUBLICATIONS BY COMPANY (TOP 5), 2014 ............................... 73 
TABLE 7-1: ABSOLUTE NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES OF PATENTS ON CONSTRUCTION AND 

NANOTECHNOLOGY .................................................................................................................................... 74 
TABLE 7-2: NUMBER OF NANOTECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION PATENT FAMILIES BY PCT RECEIVING AUTHORITY
 .................................................................................................................................................................... 76 
TABLE 7-3: ORIGIN OF PATENT APPLICANTS, EU/EFTA AND REST OF WORLD (1993-2011) ................................ 76 
TABLE 7-4: PATENT FAMILIES BY COUNTRY OF APPLICANT, NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES (1993-2011) .......... 76 
TABLE 7-5: PATENT FAMILIES BY COUNTRY OF APPLICANT FOR EU28/EFTA (1993-2011) .................................. 78 
TABLE 7-6: COUNTRY OF APPLICANT AND NUMBER OF PATENTS GRANTED AT EPO AND USPTO ...................... 79 
TABLE 7-7: COMPARISON OF PATENT FILINGS AND PATENTS GRANTED BY COUNTRY OF APPLICANT (1993-

2011) ........................................................................................................................................................... 80 
TABLE 7-8: ESTIMATE OF RELATIVE PATENTING SUCCESS BY COUNTRY OF APPLICANT ..................................... 81 
TABLE 7-9: COUNTRY OF APPLICANT AND COUNTRY OF INVENTOR TABLE FOR CROSS-COMPARISON .............. 81 
TABLE 7-10: NUMBER OF PATENT FAMILIES FOR TOP TEN UNIVERSITIES AND PROS (1993-2011) ..................... 82 
TABLE 7-11: NUMBER OF PATENT FAMILIES IN THE TOP 20 EU28/EFTA UNIVERSITIES AND PROS (1993-2011) 82 
TABLE 7-12: UNIVERSITIES / RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS GRANTED PATENTS, BY EPO PATENT NUMBERS ....... 83 
TABLE 7-13: UNIVERSITIES / RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS GRANTED PATENTS, BY USPTO PATENT NUMBERS .. 83 
TABLE 7-14: NUMBER OF PATENT FAMILIES FOR TOP TEN COMPANIES (1993-2011) ......................................... 84 
TABLE 7-15: COMPANIES GRANTED USPO AND EPO PATENTS (SORTED BY EPO PATENTS) ................................ 84 
TABLE 7-16: USPTO AND EPO GRANTED PATENTS BY COMPANY (SORTED BY US PATENTS) .............................. 85 
TABLE 8-1: OVERVIEW OF NACE CATEGORIES FOR MANUFACTURING SUB-SECTORS OF CONSTRUCTION ........ 86 
TABLE 8-2: NUMBER OF COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR ............................................................... 87 
TABLE 8-3: NUMBER OF COMPANIES IN THE MANUFACTURING SUB-SECTORS RELEVANT FOR CONSTRUCTION

 .................................................................................................................................................................... 87 
TABLE 8-4: TURNOVER, PRODUCTION VALUE AND VALUE ADDED IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR(EU28) ....... 88 
TABLE 8-5: TURNOVER, PRODUCTION VALUE AND VALUE ADDED BY SUB-SECTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION ......... 88 
TABLE 8-6: NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, MILLIONS (EU28) .................................. 89 
TABLE 8-7: NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN CONSTRUCTION SUB-SECTORS IN WHICH NANOTECHNOLOGY CAN BE 

APPLIED ....................................................................................................................................................... 90 
TABLE 9-1: GLOBAL MARKET FOR NANOPARTICLES IN LED PRODUCTION ........................................................ 107 
TABLE 9-2: GLOBAL MARKET FOR NANOPARTICLES IN OLED PRODUCTION (USD MILLION) ............................. 109 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

TABLE 10-1: OVERVIEW OF REGULATIONS FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY USE IN EUROPE ...................................... 124 
TABLE 10-2: HAZARD BANDS FOR THE SPECIFIED NANOPARTICLES .................................................................. 128 
TABLE 10-3: PRIORITY BANDS IN THE STOFFENMANAGER SYSTEM ................................................................... 135 
TABLE 10-4: PRIORITY BANDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR ...................................................................... 136 
TABLE 10-5: FREQUENCY OF ARTICLES ON THE WEB, IN THE NEWS FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION 

TOPICS ....................................................................................................................................................... 137 
TABLE 10-6: FREQUENCY ON GOOGLE SCHOLAR OF NANOTECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION TOPICS ................. 137 
TABLE 10-7: BIBLIOMETRIC DATA FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY .............................................................................. 138 
TABLE 10-8: FACEBOOK LIKES AS A MEASURE OF INTEREST IN NANOTECHNOLOGY ........................................ 138 
TABLE 10-9: ASSESSMENTS BY THE PUBLIC OF VARIOUS APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY .................... 140 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  

The authors of this report wish to acknowledge the valuable guidance and support received 

from the numerous experts from research, industry and policy who were consulted during 

the project, through interviews, in workshops  and other meetings, and via surveys and 
questionnaires. 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Background 

This report offers a snapshot of the status of the environment for nanotechnology in the context of 
construction. The construction industry covers the building, maintaining and repairing of buildings 
and  infrastructures  for  living,  working  and  transport,  including  providing  materials  for  those 
purposes.  The  sector  is  a  major  consumer  of  raw  materials,  chemicals,  energy  and  intermediate 
products such as electrical equipment, as well as services. 

Role of nanotechnology 

Nanomaterials can be found in many ordinary construction materials and products such as cement, 
mortar and concrete, paints, coatings, insulation materials and glass. The nanomaterials (including 
polymers, particles, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots and thin films) can be used on their own or, 
more typically, in combination with other materials. Their functions include self-cleaning and non-
wetting,  photocatalytic  cleaning,  weight  reduction,  energy  efficiency,  safety,  longevity,  fire 
resistance and thermal stability.  

Currently, nanotechnology is largely applied only to niche markets in the construction industry and 
much of its potential is not yet being used, the construction industry being rather conservative in 
nature.  There  are  applications  of  nanotechnology  in  various  areas  of  the  construction  industry, 
including coatings, insulation materials, fire-resistant materials and cement-based products, but the 
penetration of these products on the market is limited. 

Policies 

National policies to support nanotechnology tend to be generic at Member State level in that they 
may support nanotechnology within broad science and technology initiatives (e.g. Innovate UK in 
the United Kingdom, which funds across the board) or support it as a designated priority but usually 
do not single out construction specifically (e.g. NanoNext in the Netherlands).  

European supports are concentrated in the EU RTD Framework Programmes (see below) as these 
have the greatest role in EU funding of nanotechnology R&D. Other policies include those for industry 
and for construction. There are many examples of collaborative and co-ordination mechanisms at 
European level including ERA-NET1s, European Technology Platforms and Networks of  Excellence, 
not  least,  for  construction  the  ERA-NETs  ERABUILD  and  ERACOBUILD  and  the  EeB  public-private 
partnership (for energy-efficient buildings), NANOFUN-POLY and EPNOE, looking at polymer-based 
materials for applications including construction. 

In terms of available data, this report tracks research and development activities through projects, 
publications  and  patents  to  products  and  markets  in  the  context  of  the  wider  socio-economic 
environment.  

EU R&D projects 

For projects at the European level, nanosciences and nanotechnologies (NT) were first provided for 
at a significant level in FP6, taking about 10% of the budget (EUR 1,703 million for nanotechnology 
out of EUR 16,692 million for FP6) mainly under the headings of NMP (EUR 870 million), Information 
Society  (EUR  346  million)  and  Life  Sciences  (EUR  54  million),  as  well  as  Human  Resources  and 
Mobility (Marie Curie Actions, EUR 219 million).  

65  projects  (80%  in  FP7)  were  found  to  be  related  to  nanotechnology  and  construction, 
approximately 2% of all nanotechnology projects in the two Framework Programmes. They received 
EUR 192 million in funding, EUR 49 million in FP6 and EUR 143 million in FP7. The largest proportion 
of funding by theme was under the NMP theme of the Co-operation Programme in both FP6 (88%) 
and FP7 (80%).  

Participants  from  Germany  (16%),  Spain  (15%),  the  United  Kingdom  (11%)  and  Italy  (10%) 
received  more than  half  (52%)  of total  nanotechnology  and  construction  funding  throughout  FP6 
and FP7.  

Research  organisations  dominate  (32%  of  funding),  followed  by  SMEs  (27%),  higher  education 

1 Also ERA-NET plus 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

establishments (22%) and large companies (16%). This is in contrast to the case of nanotechnology 
projects and overall FP6-FP7 projects, where higher education institutes are those that receive the 
highest  shares  of  funding  (47.5%  and  41.8%  respectively)  followed  second  by  research 
organisations and third by enterprises (both SMEs and larger private companies). 

In terms of individual organisations in the EU28, the countries of Germany (Fraunhofer Gesellschaft) 
and  Spain  (Tecnalia  and  Acciona  Infraestructuras  S.A.)  are  strongly  represented.  The  top  ten 
participants also include more than one organisation per country from each of Italy and Sweden. 
Switzerland is the strongest non-EU28 country represented in the top ten organisations. 

Looking  at  companies  by funding,  Acciona  Infraestructuras  S.A.  of  Spain  and  D’Appolonia  Spa  of 
Italy participate in 14 projects (EUR 14.5 million) and 8 projects (EUR 3.28 million) respectively, the 
next highest participating in three (c. EUR 1 million).   

Publications 

Of 1.8 million publications globally related to nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST) between 2000 
and 2014, about 17,000 were related to construction, around 1% of total output.   

The strongest publishing countries in 2014 were China and the US, followed by Spain, France, the 
United Kingdom and Korea. Of the EU28, the strongest in publications in 2014 after Spain, France 
and the United Kingdom were Germany, Italy and Portugal.  

Six of the top ten publishing organisations were in China. Of the top ten, six were from China and 
one each from the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Korea.   

Looking at EU&EFTA organisations in 2014, these are led by the University of Sheffield (UK), the 
University of Aveiro (PT) and the Polytechnical University of Valencia (ES). However, there has been 
no normalisation of the data to take into account factors influencing publication output such as the 
number of researchers/technicians/students or the research budgets. The companies with the most 
nanotechnology  and  construction  publications  globally  in  2014  were  SINTEF  Building  and 
Infrastructure, Lafarge Group, Zeobond PTY Ltd, HeidelbergCement AG and Daewoo E&C. 

Patenting 

The US dominates patenting in terms of patent applications, followed by Japan and Germany. Using 
patenting  families2  as  the  measure,  the  top  EU28  countries  for  construction  nanotechnology 
patenting between 1993 and 2011 were Germany (with over 200), and the Netherlands, France, and 
the United Kingdom (with over 50 each).  

The top ten countries by number of applications are the same as the top ten countries by patents 
granted to applicants for EU and EFTA countries in the same order (DE, NL, FR, UK, IT, CH, SE, DK, 
BE,  FI  and  AT).  It  is  noteworthy  that,  of  these,  only  the  United  Kingdom  is  in  the  top  ten  for 
publications  on  nanotechnology  and  construction  and  that  Spain  is  missing  despite  its  strong 
performance in both FP projects and publications.  

Globally,  the  leading  EU  organisation  for  patents  on  nanotechnology  and  construction  (by  patent 
families) was the CEA3 in France in third place globally after the University of California and MIT, 
with the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (DE), the Leibniz Materials Institute (DE) and the CNRS4 (FR) also 
in the top ten. Four out of the top ten organisations filing patents were in the US, and one each from 
China and Japan.  

Of the top 15 universities and research organisations ranked by the highest number of EPO patents 
granted  between  1993  and  2011,  three  are  from  the  EU28/EFTA  countries  (KU  Leuven  (BE), 
University of Munster (DE) and ETH Zurich  (CH) (ranked 2nd, 3rd  and 4th  respectively). The other 
organisations are all from the US. 

Of the top ten companies with the highest number of patent families (with percentages for PCT, US 
and EP applications), three are in the United States and two are in Japan. Germany (two companies, 
Evonik Degussa and Merck in 8th and 9th places) and the Netherlands (one company, Degussa, in 4th 

2 At the European Patent Office, US Patent and Trademark Office or World Intellectual Property Office 
3 Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives 
4 Centre national de la recherche scientifique 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

place) are the only EU28 countries that feature. It should be noted that some companies may be 
holding companies rather than research-performing companies or manufacturers.  

While the numbers are very low, it is worth noting that Evonik Degussa (DE) ranks first amongst 
companies with highest number of patents granted by the EPO. Wacker Chemie (DE) and Rhodia 
Chemie (FR) are also in the top ten.  Sorting the data by US patents, ASML (NL) is highest of the EU 
country companies in 3rd place while Evonik Degussa (DE) ranks 8th.  

Products and markets for construction through nanotechnology 

The global market for products5 in nanotechnology and construction is expected to grow from USD 
1.8 billion in 2013 to USD 4.7 billion in 2019. Most of the growth is expected to come from products 
that already exist in some form.  

Nanotechnology can be used in construction in the form of particles, films and coatings, composites, 
etc. Global sales estimates show that solid nanoparticles accounted for the largest share (65%) by 
type of nanomaterial in 2013, with a decrease (to 33%) forecast to 2019, while sales of nano-scale 
thin films and nano-structured monolithics are expected to almost double their share by 2019, from 
c. 15% to c. 27%. Sales of nanocomposites are projected to almost triple in relative share (4.3% to 
11.7%). Carbon nanotubes are currently forecast to play only a marginal role in terms of shares of 
sales. 

95 building and construction-related products using nanotechnology have been identified as being 
commercially available on the market. About one quarter of those are in the area of lighting (organic 
light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), 16%, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), 11%), and one fifth in the 
area of coatings (photocatalytic coatings, 11%, and anti-stick coatings, 9%). Paints, coatings and 
adhesives account for 17% of products and insulation products 16%. 

Regulation and standards 

European regulations for nanotechnology  are  well-advanced with  definitions and  many  regulatory 
documents.  Nanomaterials  used  in  construction  must  comply  with  the  overarching  regulatory 
framework  in  place  for  chemical  substances:  REACH  -  the  Registration,  Evaluation,  Authorisation 
and restriction of CHemicals.  

The  use  of  nanotechnology  in  construction  has  implications  for  three  main  areas  of  regulation: 
construction products; occupational health and safety aspects of construction work; and compliance 
with environmental performance legislation for new construction. In Europe, construction products 
are covered by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) 305/2011. This regulation evaluates the 
environmental impact of construction products but does not specifically cover nanomaterials. Under 
occupational health and safety legislation, specifically the European Framework Directive on Safety 
and Health at Work (Directive 89/391 EEC), employers are required to assess and manage the risks 
of nanomaterials for their workers. While nanomaterials are not expressly covered by the Directive, 
the  European  Agency  for  Safety  and  Health  at  Work  (EU-OSHA),  dedicates  part  of  its  work  to 
nanomaterials. 

Some European Member States have put in place additional ways to regulate nanotechnologies, e.g. 
using databases and reporting schemes for nanomaterials. Non-EU countries have their own controls 
under which nanotechnology and construction may fall. In general, marketing authorisations have 
to  be  applied  for  on  a  country-by-country  basis.    No  country  has  currently  developed  specific 
legislation to cover the use of nanomaterials in construction. 

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) technical committee on nanotechnologies, 
ISO/TC  229  Nanotechnologies,  has  not  directly  addressed  construction  in  its  work.  However,  a 
number of technical committees cover areas linked to construction e.g. ISO/TC 59 Buildings and civil 
engineering  works.  Standards  covering  construction  developed  in  these  and  other  technical 
committees  are  gathered  under  the  International  Classification  for  Standards  (ICS)  code  91: 
Construction  materials  and  building.  At  the  moment,  these  do  not  provide  for  the  use  of 
nanotechnologies in these products. 

In  Europe,  the  European  Committee  for  Standardisation  (CEN)  committee  on  nanotechnology 

5 Sources including BCC Research 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

(CEN/TC 352) is currently working on a technical report dealing with the construction sector and, in 
total, over 80 CEN technical committees are dealing with construction. However, these have not yet 
produced standards dealing with the use of nanotechnology in construction.  

Environment, health and safety 

Exposure to nanomaterials in the construction sector may be quite diverse during the four-stage life 
cycle of construction materials: production, building, use and demolition. Since the industry does 
not manufacture the  nanomaterials itself, the building phase generates the highest exposure and 
the  use  phase  the  lowest,  with  the  demolition  phase  intermediate.  Due  to  the  high  expected 
exposure, all nanomaterials reach the highest risk priority during the building phase.  

In  the  use  phase,  all  nanomaterials  are  contained  in  a  solid  matrix,  meaning  exposure  will  be 
negligible and thus health risks will be low. Amorphous silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, spherical 
silicon  carbide  and  zinc  oxide  nanoparticles  have  a  low  risk  priority  while  carbon  nanotubes, 
molybdenum,  nano-scale  graphite,  silicon  carbide  fibres  and  whiskers,  crystalline  silicon  dioxide, 
tungsten  oxide  and  vanadium  pentoxide  have  the  highest  risk  priority  and  the  remainder  of  the 
nanomaterials have an intermediate risk priority in their risk management.  

In the demolition phase, building materials containing carbon nanotubes, molybdenum, nanoscale 
graphite, silicon carbide fibres and whiskers, crystalline silicon dioxide, tungsten oxide and vanadium 
pentoxide should receive the highest priority, while amorphous silicon dioxide and zinc oxide have a 
low risk priority in their risk management.  

14 

 
 
 
 
  
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

1  BACKGROUND 

The ability to measure and manufacture at the nanoscale is opening up many new avenues within 
industry and across society including construction. 

This  report  is  a  Landscape  Compilation  of  facts  and  figures  related  to  nanotechnology  and 
construction. It offers a snapshot of the status in 2016 of the environment for nanotechnology in 
the context of construction.  

This  document  reports  on  past  and  current  policies  and  programmes  for  nanotechnology  (in 
particular  but  not  exclusively  those  relating  to  construction);  the  outputs  of  research  (projects, 
publications and patents) and how those outputs are used in the application of nanotechnology to 
construction (products and markets). Being a landscaping of nanotechnology, it does not provide 
detailed analysis of the data or its trends or draw policy conclusions.  

The outline of this report is as follows: 

Introduction to construction and the role of nanotechnology; 
Policies and programmes for nanotechnology and construction; 

• 
• 
•  Research projects, the EU Framework Programmes; 
Publications in nanotechnology and construction; 
• 
Patenting in nanotechnology and construction; 
• 
Industry and nanotechnology for construction; 
• 
Products and markets for construction through nanotechnology; and 
• 
The  wider  environment  for  nanotechnology  and  construction  (regulation  and  standards, 
• 
environmental health and safety, communication and surveys). 

The next section introduces both construction as a sector and the role of nanotechnology as it relates 
to that sector. 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

2  INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION AND THE ROLE OF 

NANOTECHNOLOGY 

2.1  Introduction to construction 

The construction industry is about building, maintaining and repairing buildings and infrastructures 
for living, working and transport, including providing materials for those purposes. The construction 
sector is described in the  European Nomenclature of Economic Activities (NACE)6 in the following 
way:  

I.  Construction of buildings: 

a.  Development of building projects. 
b.  Construction of residential and non-residential buildings. 

II.  Civil engineering: 

a.  Construction of roads and motorways. 
b.  Construction of utility projects (for fluids, for electricity and for communications). 
c.  Construction of other civil engineering projects. 

III.  Specialised construction activities: 

a.  Demolition and site preparation. 
b.  Electrical, plumbing and other construction installation activities. 
c.  Building completion and finishing. 
d.  Other specialised construction activities. 

Construction is one of the secondary sectors of the economy, as it consists of the  manufacture of 
finished products from raw materials, primary sectors relating more directly to the production of raw 
materials. It is a key sector in the development of countries as it provides the basic infrastructure 
on  which  the  rest  of  the  economy  depends.  As  a  major  consumer  of  services,  energy  and 
intermediate products such as raw materials, chemicals and electrical equipment, the construction 
sector impacts many other sectors7. Although the relative share of construction in Europe's economic 
activity  has  declined  over  recent  years,  construction  is  still  of  high  importance  for  European 
economies. Currently, it accounts for more than 5% of value added in the EU28, supports around 
20 million jobs and contributes about 10% of the EU‘s GDP8.9 10 

The construction  sector is a stable, cost-driven and traditional  sector,  not a  strongly technology-
driven  one.  The  firms  in  the  sector  are  typically  distant  from  science-based  research  and  the 
innovations applied are often produced in other industries such as the chemical industry, material 
manufacturing or instrumentation11. Technology advancements in this sector do not necessarily lead 
to  drastic  changes  in  the  final  products  or  to  a  significant  increase  in  consumer  demand12. 
Consequently, the industrial R&D investments of the sector are rather modest, the largest European 
companies showing, on average, a 0.6% R&D intensity in 201413.  

In  contrast  to  the  manufacturing  sector,  mass  production  is  still  rather  scarce  in  construction, 
although the volume of pre-fabricated modules is gradually increasing. Construction projects tend 
to be one-off and typically have an identifiable private or public client for whom the work is highly 
customised.  They  generally  involve  large-scale  investments  that  are  expected  to  produce  ‘goods’ 
that have a long lifetime. This long end-use life-time of buildings and civil works is one of the reasons 
for the slow pace of adoption of new technologies. All construction works must result in buildings 

6 Eurostat (2008) Statistical classification of economic activites in the European Community. NACE Rev. 2. 
7 http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/construction/index_en.htm  
8 Gross domestic product 
9 Eurostat Construction Production (Volume) Index Overview, data from 2016: 

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-
explained/index.php/Construction_production_(volume)_index_overview  

10 EC, DG GROWTH (2016) The European construction sector - A global partner. 

http://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/showpublication.php?id=333  

11 Arora et al. (2014) Drivers of technology adoption — the case of nanomaterials in 
building construction. Technological Forecasting & Societal Change, 87, pp. 232-244. 
12 ObservatoryNano (2009) Economical Assessment, Construction sector, Final report,  June 2009. 
13  European  Commission,  JRC/DG  RTD  (2014)  The  2014  EU  Industrial  R&D  Investment  Scoreboard.  The 
Scoreboard reports data on the world's top 2500 companies including a sample of 38 EU based companies 
in construction sector. 

16 

 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

and other infrastructure that perform to specification over the entire life cycle of the building or civil 
engineering works and the users of the technologies must have confidence in them. Thus, there is 
a reluctance to adopt new technologies, to be the first to apply a new process or use a new material 
in construction. 

The construction sector is affected in the EU by several policies including environmental protection, 
energy efficiency,  work safety, taxation  and  public procurement14. The European strategy for the 
sustainable competitiveness of the construction sector to 202015 is focused on five key objectives: 

I.  Stimulating favourable investment conditions, the financial crisis having significantly affected 

the construction sector with a severe drop in demand for new building projects. 

II.  Improving  the  human-capital  basis  of  the  construction  sector,  as  there  is  a  need  for  skilled 

labour in the sector. 

III.  Improving  resource  efficiency,  environmental  performance  and  business  opportunities. 
Construction  industry  is  intensively  resource  consuming,  starting  from  the  manufacture  of 
construction  materials  like  concrete  and  steel,  to  the  energy  needed  in  heating  and  cooling 
systems in existing buildings.  

IV.  Strengthening the internal market for construction, as it is a highly-regulated sector at many 
levels and it is important that the legal framework is as clear and predictable as possible. 
V.  Fostering the global competitive position of EU construction enterprises, as they cannot compete 
on equal terms with non-EU companies that are often subject to less social and environmental 
requirements and that may also benefit from state aids. 

Initiatives in EU countries on energy efficiency can create significant potential for employment in the 
sector.  Energy  consumption  in  buildings  in  the  EU  accounts  for  around  40%  of  total  energy 
consumption and generates around 37% of overall carbon emissions16. It has been estimated that, 
by  2050,  three  quarters  of  current  buildings  will  be  still  in  place  while  one  quarter  will  be  new 
buildings constructed from today onwards. Therefore, energy consumption in buildings became an 
essential  part  of  all  strategic  lines  of  the  EU's  energy  policy  in  terms  of  energy  security, 
competitiveness  and  environmental  and  climate  concerns17.  The  production  of  cement  alone  is 
estimated to represent 5% of worldwide CO2 emissions18. Similarly, the volume of waste generated 
by construction and demolition is among the highest in the EU, representing approximately 25%-
30% of the total waste19, resulting in a clear challenge for the sector to achieve improvements in 
waste management. The largest drivers of the innovation in the construction sector are therefore 
environmental  and  energy-efficiency  aspects  across  the  whole  value  chain  (from  materials  to 
building lifetime). 

2.2  Role of nanotechnology in construction 

Nanotechnology is a tool with the potential to enable the construction sector to respond to a broad 
range  of  challenges.  Nanomaterials  can  be  found  in  many  ordinary  construction  materials  and 
products such as cement, mortar and concrete, paints, coatings, insulation materials and glass. The 
nanomaterials can be used on their own or typically in combination with other materials, to achieve 
weight  reduction  or  improved  functionalities  such  as  higher  durability,  fire  resistance,  thermal 
stability,  self-cleaning  and/or  photocatalytic  properties20.  With  improved  properties  over 
conventional materials, they can increase energy efficiency (in manufacture and use) and help to 
address environmental and safety aspects.  

Currently  however,  nanotechnology  applications  are  still  occupying  only  niche  markets  in  the 
construction industry and many of the envisaged benefits are yet to be realised.  Despite the fact 
that the research sector has been reporting intensively about new nanotechnology developments 

14 http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/construction/competitiveness/index_en.htm  
15 EC (2012) Action Plan "Construction 2020"Document COM(2012)433 final 
16 https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/buildings 
17 https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/feature/energy-consumption-buildings-essential-eu-energy-

policy 

18 IEA (2009) Cement Technology Roadmap 2009 - Carbon emissions reductions up to 2050. 
19 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/construction_demolition.htm  
20 Scaffold project: Nanomaterials in the Construction Industry - Guidance for Protecting and Monitoring Health 

of Workers. http://scaffold.eu-vri.eu/  

17 

 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

related  to  construction,  in  reality  nanotechnology  currently  plays  only  a  subordinate  role  in  the 
industry21. 

Benefits, barriers and drivers of the application of nanotechnology to the 

2.3 
construction sector 

Some  notable  potential  functionalities  for  construction  offered  by  nanotechnology  include  the 
following: 

• 

Improving the primary properties of materials traditionally used in construction like concrete, 
steel and glass. The use of nanotechnology-enabled materials is associated with benefits related 
to decreased use of natural resources (raw materials and energy), and to reduced generation 
and increased recyclability of waste. 

•  Adding new features to existing construction materials by means of coatings or paints (e.g. to 
add properties such as self-cleaning, self-repairing, antimicrobial, antireflective, fire resistance 
and pollution degradation). 
Introducing new materials that help to provide solutions to some existing problems like insulation 
or steel corrosion.  

• 

The  use  of  nanotechnology  materials  and  applications  in  the  construction  industry  should  be 
considered  not  only  for  enhancing  material  properties  and  functions  but  also  in  the  context  of 
enhanced energy efficiency of both the construction process (e.g. concrete and steel manufacturing) 
and along the life cycle of buildings. This is a particularly important issue since, as it has been said 
before, commercial buildings and residential houses account for 40% of all energy consumption in 
the  EU  (counting  both  residential  and  non-residential  buildings  and  applications  such  as  heating, 
lighting,  and  air  conditioning22).  New  construction  materials  and  methods,  many  of  them 
nanotechnology-based, have been estimated to have a potential for energy savings of between 13% 
and 22% of the energy consumption of buildings in the next two decades23.  

Despite the potential benefits, there are several barriers to the wider introduction of nanotechnology 
in construction: 

• 

•  High  material  costs  not  yet  justified  by  the  benefits  achieved24.  Nanomaterials  and  nano-
products for the construction sector are still considerably more expensive than the conventional 
alternatives, largely due to the cost of the production technology25. As construction materials 
are generally used in large amounts, small price differences in materials can enormously increase 
the  overall  costs  when  considering  the  total  volume  of  material  used  for  construction  of  a 
building.  
Lack of availability of good quality nanomaterials in large volumes26. The construction sector is 
a  very  important  industry  in  terms  of  the  scale  of  material  use,  traditional  materials  and 
nanomaterials alike. Industrial production processes need to be improved in order to obtain an 
enhanced  quality  of  large  scale  production  of  nanomaterials.  Many  of  the  current  processing 
technologies of nanomaterials have not yet been shown to be suitable for large scale production. 
Construction can, however, be considered to have a critical “gate-keeper” role in the diffusion 
of  nanotechnology.  As  construction  uses  such  large  volumes  of  materials,  where  it  adopts  a 
nanomaterial the volumes will be large. Thus, the need for large quantity of nanoparticles for 
construction may lead to a significant scaling-up in nanoparticle production and result finally in 
a significant reduction in market prices of nanoparticles.   
There is no mandatory labelling of nanomaterials used in construction sector27 and it is often not 
clear whether nanotechnology is being applied, for the following reasons: 

• 

21 http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/reports/reportpdf/report162.pdf  
22 https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/buildings  
23 Waide et al., The scope for energy and CO2 savings in the EU through the use of building automation 
technology, June 2014. Cited from EC (2015) Towards an Integrated Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan: 

Accelerating the European Energy System Transformation. 

24  Arora  et  al.  (2014)  Drivers  of  technology  adoption  —  the  case  of  nanomaterials  in  building  construction. 

Technological Forecasting & Societal Change, 87, pp. 232-244. 

25 van Broekhuizen et al. (2011) Use of nanomaterials in the European construction industry 
and some occupational health aspects thereof. Journal of Nanoparticle Research.  
26 ObservatoryNano (2009) Economical Assessment / Construction sector, Final report.  June 2009. 
27 Jones, W. et al (2015) Nanomaterials in construction and demolition – how can we assess the risk if we don’t 

know where they are? Journal of Physics, Conference Series 617. 

18 

 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

o  Nanoparticles may be used in some phases of the material fabrication process but are 

not traceable in the final product. 

o  Some  companies  may  not  publicly  identify  the  use  of  nanotechnology  in  their  final 

products due to business secrecy. 

o  Some  companies  may  market  their  products  under  a  “nano”  label  while  there  are  no 

advanced functional properties resulting from the use of nanotechnology. 

This means that most workers, and their employers, in the construction sector are not necessarily 
aware  that  they  work  with  manufactured  nanomaterials  and  nano-enabled  particles.  As  a 
consequence, it is difficult to conduct a proper risk assessment and organise a safe workplace for 
the construction sector employees. 

• 

• 

Lack of industry and public awareness about the possibilities of nanotechnology applied to the 
sector28. 
There are not enough data to evaluate the toxicity of the nanomaterials used in construction as 
many of them are not supposed to be biologically inert29. This is a very important concern not 
only in the production of these materials and the construction/demolition processes but also in 
the lifecycle of the infrastructure (many of which are for the purposes of habitation). 

•  Resistance  to  change  in  the  construction  industry.  Construction  projects  are  typically 
economically  large-scale  investments  that  are  expected  to  have  a  long  lifetime  of  the  end 
product.  The  responsibility  of  the  constructor  is  not  unimportant  as  the  ultimate  goal  is  the 
functionalities and value offered to the end-user over a long period of time. The long end-use 
life-time  of  buildings  and  civil  work  is  part  of  the  reason  why  the  adoption  pace  of  new 
technologies in general, and nanotechnology in particular, is slower than in other industries. The 
technology must provide the agreed functionalities over the entire life cycle of the infrastructure. 

However, there are also some important drivers for the adoption of nanotechnology applications in 
the sector: 

•  Sustainability legislation may drive a more  rapid uptake of innovative  technologies and  novel 
materials  in  the  construction  sector,  than  that  expected  based  on  improved  materials  alone. 
Climate change and energy efficiency regulations and policy in particular may act as an important 
driver  of  market  uptake  of  novel  technologies  in  the  sector,  and  may  create  new  business 
opportunities, especially for SMEs30.  

• 

•  Decreasing the  weight of construction  materials to enable easier handling at the construction 
site and easier transportation31, as well as reduced energy consumption and a smaller carbon 
footprint. 
If  the  service  life  of  construction  materials  can  be  increased,  the  costs  of  maintenance  and 
replacement of deteriorated construction components will be reduced. For example, in the case 
of concrete, the most  common building material, even  small improvements in its quality and 
durability  (e.g.  nano-enabled  self-healing  concrete)  can  lead  to  large  savings  in  the  costs  of 
maintenance of buildings32.  

•  As knowledge about the actual level of risk associated with the use of nanomaterials increases, 
and  assuming  that  risk  is  relatively  low,  increased  application  of  nanotechnology  may  result. 
There have already been studies and initiatives (and more are underway)33 to assess the risks 
associated  with  the  handling  of  nanomaterials  in  different  scenarios.  The  aim  of  these  is  to 
produce  resources  for  the  diagnosis,  implementation  and  audit  of  nano-risk  management  in 
construction enterprises.  

28  Hanus  and  Harris  (2013)  Nanotechnology  innovations  for  the  construction  industry.  Progress  in  Materials 

Science, Volume 58, Issue 7, August 2013, pp. 1056–1102. 

29 Lee et al. (2009) Potential Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Nanomaterials Used in the Construction 

Industry. Nanotechnology in Construction: Proceedings of the NICOM3. 

30 EC (2014) Communication on Energy Efficiency and its contribution to energy security and the 2030 Framework 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

climate 

policy. 

final. 

520 

for 
and 
content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A52014DC0520  

energy 

31 ObservatoryNano (2009) Economical Assessment / Construction sector, Final report.  June 2009. 
32 van Breugel (2012) Self-Healing Material Concepts as Solution for Aging 
Infrastructure. 37th Conference on Our World in Concrete & Structures: 29 - 31 August 2012, Singapore. 
33 e.g. FP7 funded project Scaffold: Innovative strategies, methods and tools for occupational risks management 

of manufactured nanomaterials in the construction industry.  

19 

 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

• 

The  customer  is  continuously  seeking  greater  comfort  and  functionality  in  their  home  and 
workplace.  This  is  another  innovation  driver  for  the  construction  sector,  with  nanotechnology 
bringing new innovative solutions to the market34. 

2.4  Main nanotechnology application areas in construction  

There are several ways of classifying the nanotechnology application areas in construction industry. 
As nanotechnology in the construction sector is mainly related to materials, these will be taken as 
the basis for the sector. Thus, construction application areas of nanotechnology (with the related 
nanotechnology property) include35: 

•  Surface coatings: Production of low-maintenance coatings and paints with e.g. self-cleaning or 

pollution absorption properties;   
Lighting: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs); 

• 
•  Cement-based materials: The use of nanomaterials to increase the strength and durability and 

• 

decrease the weight of cementitious composites;    
Thermal insulation: Production of thermal insulation materials with a lower thermal transfer rate 
and better insulation performance compared to current commercial options;    
Energy recovery systems: Using nanotechnology in heat exchange systems; 

• 
•  Sensors and self-healing materials: Production of nano-sensors and materials with sensing and 

self-repairing abilities;  

•  Nano-modified  steel  and  nano-additions  to  steel:  Production  of  cost-efficient  corrosion-free 

steel; and    

•  Composites: Composite materials with surfaces that are hydrophobic and oleophobic. 

2.4.1  Surface coatings  

Currently,  surface  coatings  form  the  most  promising  area  of  nanotechnology  applications  in  the 
construction  sector  -  but  it  is  also  the  area  with  the  most  heterogeneous  group  of  nano-enabled 
products in the building industry. The coatings can be for domestic or professional use, and products 
can  either  be  supplied  by  the  manufacturer  with  the  nano-coating  already  incorporated  on  the 
surfaces of construction products (e.g. roofing tiles), or the coating can be applied afterwards (e.g. 
wall paints). The most widely-used nano-coatings in the construction industry fall into three broad 
categories36:  

•  Silica-based coatings, for water and/or fire resistance, or anti-graffiti properties.  
Titanium based coatings, to enable ease of cleaning and for pollution absorption.  
• 
•  Coatings incorporating nanoscale silver as an anti-microbial agent. 

Nanotechnology based coatings are applied to surfaces to improve their performance in terms of, 
for  example,  durability,  strength,  stability  and  weather  resistance,  and  to  add  new  properties  or 
functionalities to the material they are applied to, including self-cleaning properties, water-, fire- or 
scratch-resistance. A wealth of nanotechnology-based products for various surfaces are already on 
the market. The main focus is on dirt-, fire- and water-repellent coatings, as well as self-cleaning 
coatings. These include facade paints, window panes, roof tiles, surface protection for construction 
materials  against  corrosion,  water  penetration,  mosses,  algae  or  mould,  and  anti-fingerprint 
coatings. 

In  relation  to  coatings,  special  mention  must  be  made  of  glass  as  one  of  the  materials  most 
commonly used in buildings. Glass is used in construction sector on the exterior surface of buildings. 
The control of light and heat entering through such glazing is considered to be a major sustainability 
issue.  Coated  window  glass  is  currently  among  the  most  widely  used  nano-enabled  construction 
material and the large majority of new buildings incorporate windows with nano-coated surfaces to 
improve their thermal insulation37. Nanotechnology coatings can also be applied to windows to block 
excess light and heat and/or act as thermal insulation38. Electrochromic windows consist of two glass 
panes (sandwich pane) with an electrically conductive, transparent coating. Applying a small electric 

34 http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/reports/reportpdf/report162.pdf  
35 W. Zhu, P. Bartos, A. Porro (2004) Application of nanotechnology in construction. Summary of a state-of-the-

art report. RILEM TC 197-NCM, Mater Struct, 37 (2004), pp. 649–658.  

36 Ibid 
37 Ibid 
38 Nanoforum Report (2006) Nanotechnology and Construction 

20 

 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

current this nano-structured coating changes colour and reduces the passage of sunlight through 
the laminated panel. This permits control of light and heat intake through windows39. Apart from 
heat and light control, another application area of nanotechnology in building glazing is related to 
so-called  self-cleaning  windows  based  on  the  photocatalytic  properties  of  titanium  dioxide 
nanoparticle coatings. Other nano-enabled applications for window glass, such as solar protection or 
anti-fogging,  are  currently  less  frequently  used.  The  application  of  nanotechnology  in  glass, 
specifically  in  windows,  is  also  seen  in  the  concept  of  smart  windows,  windows  with  added  and 
improved functionalities due to the application of nanotechnology. 

In  addition,  nanotechnology  is  likely  to  find  wide  application  in  wood-based  products  for  the 
construction  sector  in  the  future40.  Wood  at  the  nanoscale  is  constructed  of  nano  fibrils  called 
lignocellulose, fibres that are argued to be much stronger than steel and could offer new avenues 
for treating sustainable buildings. Nanotechnology-based coatings applied to wood material, or wood 
composites  are  also  being  used  to  improve  the  properties  (durability,  water  resistance,  fungi 
resistance)  of  wood  as  a  construction  material.  These  products  range  from  coatings  to  high-
performance composites of wood and wood fibre.  

2.4.2  Lighting 

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have substituted light bulbs already in an increasing number of lighting 
applications.  Unlike  conventional  incandescent  lamps,  which  need  to  convert  the  electricity  into 
thermal energy first and then to light, LED illumination is achieved when a semiconductor crystal is 
activated so that it directly produces visible light in a desired wavelength range41. Nevertheless, a 
low-cost,  mass-market  white-light  diode  with  the  potential  to  replace  conventional  incandescent 
bulbs and fluorescent tubes seems currently still out of reach for LED researchers and manufacturers. 

One possible solution is the use of nanophosphors (i.e. semiconducting nanoparticles that emit light 
under  excitation)  in  white  LEDs.  If  the  phosphor  particles  are  smaller  than  20  nm  in  diameter, 
according  to  Mie theory,  there  will  be  less  scattering  of  light  waves  and  thus  greater optical  and 
energy efficiency42. 

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) emit soft diffused light, the closest light source to natural light 
with the exception of incandescent lamps43. An OLED 'light bulb' is a thin film of material that emits 
light. OLED is the only technology that can create large area lighting panels (as opposed to point or 
line  lighting  enabled  by  LEDs  and  fluorescent  bulbs).  OLEDs  can  be  used  to  make  flexible  and 
transparent panels, and can also be colour-tuneable.  

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are also expected to grow in use for flexible, high-resolution 
and low-energy consumption displays. They are still in development and a large potential market is 
envisaged.  Developments  in  OLED  technology  are  increasing  the  potential  for  extremely  high-
resolution, low-energy thin and  flexible  displays.  OLEDs have a longer lifetime  than regular LEDs 
and the flexibility of the material lends itself to distinctive designs. 

2.4.3  Cement-based materials 

Concrete is the most  used material in the construction industry.  Concrete is a cement composite 
material  and  made  up  of  three  basic  components:  water,  aggregate  (rock,  sand,  or  gravel)  and 
cement as a binding agent44. Cement is “a hydraulic binder, i.e. a finely ground inorganic material 
which, when mixed with water, forms a paste which sets and hardens”45. This hydraulic hardening 
is  primarily  due  to  the  formation  of  calcium  silicate  hydrates  as  a  result  of  the  reaction  between 
water and the constituents of the cement. Clinker, the main component of cement, is obtained from 

39 MIT Technology Review (2015) Smart Windows Just Got Cooler. 

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/539946/smart-windows-just-got-a-lot-cooler/  

40Zev,  A.  and  Ezel,  M.  (2014)  Nanotechnology  Innovations  for  the  Sustainable  Buildings  of  the  Future. 
International Journal of Civil, Environmental, Structural, Construction and Architectural Engineering. Vol 8. 

41 LED inside: Advantages and Weaknesses of LED Application, December.20, 2007 
42 Zachau M, Konrad A (2004), Nanomaterials for Lighting, Solid State Phenomena Vols. 99-100 (2004): 13  
43 http://www.oled-info.com/oled-light  
44 Portland Cement Association (PCA) (2016) How Concrete is Made. Available: http://www.cement.org/cement-

concrete-basics/how-concrete-is-made 

45 European Standard, EN 197-1, Cement - Part 1: Composition, specifications and conformity 
criteria for common cements, June 2000. 

21 

 
 
 
                                                 
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calcination  of  limestone46.  This  process  requires  high  temperatures  and  is  also  major  source  of 
carbon  dioxide  emissions47. That  is  why  supplementary  cementitious  materials  (SCMs),  such  as 
blast-furnace  slag,  a  by-product  from  pig  iron  production,  fly  ash  from  coal  combustion,  or  silica 
fume from silicon manufacturing present a viable solution in concrete mixtures as a replacement of 
a portion of clinker in cement or as a replacement of a portion of cement in concrete48. This practice 
is favourable to the industry, often resulting in concrete with lower cost and lower environmental 
impact49. Accordingly, the European standard defines 27 distinct cement products and requirements 
for their constituents and performance in terms of mechanical, physical and chemical parameters50. 

Nanotechnology can improve cement-based materials in two main ways51: 

• 

•  Nanotechnology  can  be  used  in  the  measurement  and  characterisation  of  the  structures  of 
cement-based  materials  (e.g.  using  advanced  characterisation  techniques  and  molecular 
modelling). Advances in the field of instrumentation and in computational materials science have 
made it possible to enhance the understanding of the structure of concrete, permitting improved 
prediction, design and control of material properties and performance52. 
The  manipulation  of  structures  at  the  nanoscale  to  develop  a  new  generation  of  tailored, 
multifunctional, cementitious composites with superior mechanical performance and durability53. 
The application of nanotechnology in the manufacture of cement is a rapidly progressing area, 
at least in terms of scientific research. Materials such as nano-silica (SiO2), nano-titanium oxide 
(TiO2),  carbon  nanotubes  and  nano-alumina  (Al2O3)  are  being  combined  with  cement  (as 
additives) in order to improve properties of cementitious materials54 such as structural efficiency, 
durability  and  strength  which  can  thereby  improve  the  quality  and  life-cycle  of  the  building 
structures. Photocatalysts such as TiO2 can be incorporated into cement-based products (e.g. 
internal and external surfaces of buildings, roads and motorway tunnels) creating air-purifying 
surfaces  in  the  built  environment55.  In  addition,  the  use  of  nanoscale  industrial  waste-based 
cement replacements (such as blast furnace slag or fly ash) can reduce carbon dioxide emissions 
associated  with  concrete  production56.  Nanoparticles  can  also  act  as  interfaces  for  cement, 
enhancing cement hydration due to the high reactivity of nanoparticles or as fillers densifying 
the cement structure leading to reduced porosity. 

Although  the  addition  of  nanoparticles  can  result  in  various  benefits,  there  are  some  significant 
challenges  to  be  addressed  in  order  to  access  of  the  full  potential  of  nanotechnology-enhanced 
cementitious materials. These include the effective dispersion of the nanoparticles; the current high 
cost-benefit ratio; and the lack of large-scale implementation of laboratory-level results57. A recent 
study concluded that concrete is now used only to a limited extent in nano-enabled forms and that 
the presence of nanoparticles in cured concrete is relatively low58. 

There  are  however  some  examples  of  nanotechnology  enabled  products  in  the  context  of  civil 
infrastructure:  

• 

The Gärtnerplatzbrücke, a bridge inaugurated in 2007 over the Fulda River in Kassel (Germany), 

46 Moya, J. A., Pardo, N., Mercier, A. (2010) Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emissions: Prospective Scenarios 
for the Cement Industry, JRC Scientific and Technical Reports.  
47 Ibid; Amato (2013) Green cement: Concrete solutions, Nature 494, 300–301 (21 February 2013). 
48 Juenger, M., and Siddique, R. (2015) Recent advances in understanding the role of supplementary cementitious 

materials in concrete. Cement and Concrete Research, Volume 78, Part A, December 2015, Pages 71–80. 

49Doneliene, J. et al (2016) The Effect of Synthetic Hydrated Calcium Aluminate Additive on the Hydration 
Properties of OPC. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 3605845. 
50European Standard, EN 197-1, Cement - Part 1: Composition, specifications and conformity 
criteria for common cements, June 2000.  
51 Sanchez, F., Sobolev, K. (2010) Nanotechnology in concrete – A review. Construction and Building Materials. 
52 Ibid. 
53  Porro  A,  Dolado  J,  Campillo  I,  Erkizia  E,  De  Miguel  Y,  De  Ybarra  Y  et  al.  Effects  of  nanosilica  additions  on 
cement pastes. In: Proceedings of the international conference on applications of nanotechnology in concrete 
design; 2005. p. 87–96. 

54 Raki et. Al (2010) Cement and Concrete Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Materials, 3(2), 918-942. 
55 http://www.tecnalia.com/images/stories/10_PhotocatalyticProducts_v2.pdf  
56  Hanus  and  Harris  (2013)  Nanotechnology  innovations  for  the  construction  industry.  Progress  in  Materials 

Science, Volume 58, Issue 7, August 2013, pp. 1056–1102. 

57 Sanchez, F., Sobolev, K. (2010) Nanotechnology in concrete – A review. Construction and Building Materials. 
58 Jones, W. et al (2015) Nanomaterials in construction and demolition – how can we assess the risk if we don’t 

know where they are? Journal of Physics, Conference Series 617. 

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and  the  Wild-Brücke  in  Völkermarkt  (Carinthia,  Austria),  inaugurated  in  October  2010  and 
worldwide the first medium-sized road bridge whose main support structure was made of Ultra 
High Performance Concrete (UHCP). Recent overview lists another 17 examples of applications 
of UHCP in the context of civil engineering (e.g. pedestrian bridges, columns, sewer pipes and 
wind turbine foundations) around the world59. The article does not however specify whether the 
UHCP applied utilised nanoparticles in the concrete mixture. 

•  Several new trial applications have been initiated e.g. in Belgium and Italy in recent years to 
assess  the  real-life  behaviour  of  photocatalytic  coatings  with  cement-based  products  in  road 
tunnels and road pavements for NOx emission reduction (e.g. Leopold II tunnel of Brussels; side 
roads  of  main  entrance  axis  in  Antwerp  and  industrial  zones  of  Wijnegem  and  Lier,  block 
pavement in Bergamo and tunnel pavement in Rome)60,61. Similarly, some real-life cases exist 
in the case of buildings with photocatalytic coatings applied to cement-based materials. 

2.4.4  Thermal insulation materials 

The  use  of  nanotechnology  in  thermal  insulation  for  buildings  results  in  the  same  or  improved 
thermal  resistance  using  thinner,  usually  porous,  insulation  material.  ‘Nano  insulation  materials’ 
(NIMs) are based on modifying the material properties at the nanoscale by minimising the pore size 
within  the  insulating  material  in  order  to  achieve  decreased  level  of  thermal  conductivity. 
Applications include aerogels, vacuum insulation panels, and coatings (including, for example, Phase 
Change Materials (PCM) and electrochromic windows)62 as follows: 

•  Aerogel  applications  in  insulation  are  rapidly  growing  field.  Aerogel  is  an  insulating  material 

composed of silica nanoparticles separated by nano-pores.   

• 

•  Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIP) are thin panels made out of nanoscale silica, graphite or silicon 
carbide and laminated by synthetic material and aluminium. The challenge of VIPs is that they 
are  costly  to  produce,  they  are  very  sensitive  to  mechanical  friction  and  they  do  not  permit 
cutting to size at the construction site.  
Phase change materials for buildings store and release thermal energy using changes in their 
physical state (e.g. from solid to liquid or from liquid to gas (although the latter is not commonly 
used in this application due to the large volume changes associated with the gas). The change 
depends on the temperature of the material. Construction materials with phase change thermal 
properties suitable for the construction sector include concrete, glass, or steel with PCM coatings 
and are used for temperature control in buildings. 
Electrochromic  windows  consist  of  two  glass  panes  (sandwich  pane)  with  an  electrically-
conductive,  transparent  coating.  The  internal  space  contains  a  sol-gel-layer30  of  tungsten 
trioxide. Applying a small electric current (up to 3 Volts) turns this nano-structured coating blue 
and reduces the passage of sunlight through the laminated pane.  

• 

Nanotechnology may also change the thermal insulation in buildings so that the construction material 
itself becomes a high performance thermally-insulating material. 

2.4.5  Energy recovery 

Energy  recovery  ventilation  (ERV)  uses  the  energy  recovery  process  of  exchanging  the  energy 
contained in the air of a normally-exhausted building or space and using it to treat (precondition) 
the incoming outdoor ventilation air in residential and commercial HVAC (heating, ventilation and 
air conditioning) systems. During the warmer seasons, the system pre-cools and dehumidifies while 
humidifying and pre-heating in the cooler seasons63. Potential locations for the use of such systems 
include  all  types  of  commercial  and  residential  buildings,  data  centres,  medical  facilities,  homes, 

59 Abbas, S., Nehdi, M. L. and Saleem, M. A. (2016) Ultra-High Performance Concrete: Mechanical Performance, 
Durability, Sustainability and Implementation Challenges. International Journal of Concrete Structures and 
Materials, September, 2016, Vol. 10, Issue 3, pp. 271-295. 

60 Boonen, E. and Beeldens, A. (2014) Recent Photocatalytic Applications for Air Purification in Belgium. Coatings, 

2014, 4, 553-573. 

61 Guerrini, G. L. (2012) Photocatalytic cement-based materials: applications and new perspectives. Presentation 

of Italcementi at Photopaq Symposium, 14th- 17th May, 2012.  

62 Jelle, B. J. (2011) Traditional, state-of-the-art and future thermal building insulation materials and solutions – 

Properties, requirements and possibilities, Review Article, Energy and Buildings, Volume 43,  

63 Dieckmann, John. "Improving Humidity Control with Energy Recovery Ventilation" ASHRAE Journal. 50, no. 8, 

(2008) 

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cars,  trains,  buses,  retail  display  coolers,  refrigerated  trucks  and  others64.  Some  systems 
precondition  incoming  air  using  nanostructured  polymer  filters.  Others  using  nanotechnology 
increase the energy conversion efficiency and emission reduction for the heating of houses using a 
combination of a zeolite-water adsorption heat pump and a gas condensing boiler. The goal is the 
supply  of  useful  heat  at  a  higher  temperature  level  by  adding  low-temperature  heat  to  the  work 
process. 

2.4.6  Nano-modified steel and nano additions to steel 

Steel is another typical material for the construction sector and is especially used in the structures 
of buildings, roads and bridges. The main challenges related to steel are fatigue and the effect of 
corrosion  on  steel,  with  resultant  structural  weaknesses.  Nanotechnology  can  be  applied  in  steel 
manufacturing in two ways65: 

• 

Improving  the  structure  of  steel  at  the  nanoscale.  The  modified  structure  is  associated  with 
higher strength, better fatigue resistance and lower weight (when compared to normal steel).  
•  Adding nanoparticles such as copper to reduce surface unevenness, resulting in less stress risers 

and reduced fatigue cracking. 

Currently,  nanotechnology-enhanced  steel  is  mainly  in  the  research  phase,  and  there  are  many 
technological  and  cost  barriers  to  overcome  before  the  advances  of  nanotechnology  can  be  fully 
leveraged in steel manufacturing by the construction industry66. 

2.4.7  Sensors and self-healing materials 

Production of nanosensors and materials with sensing and self-repairing ability is another area where 
nanotechnology  is  expected  to  provide  value-added  in  the  field  of  construction.  More  advanced 
structural health monitoring (SHM) of buildings and infrastructures typically involves sensors such 
as  fibre  optic  sensors,  piezoelectrics,  magnetostrictive  sensors,  self-sensing  composite  materials, 
etc. which possess capabilities of sensing various physical and chemical parameters related to the 
health of civil structures67,68. Structural health monitoring can be performed by: (i) attaching sensors 
to the surface of a structure, (ii) embedding sensors into material structures during construction or, 
(iii) by constructing structures or parts of structures using a material containing self-monitoring of 
strain and/or other properties69.  

The  main  bottleneck  of  current  SHM  technologies  is  that  they  are  hardly  scalable  to  large  scale 
structures due to number of sensors needed for effective assessment and because of costs related 
to  management  and  maintenance.  Here,  recent  developments  of  nanotechnology  may  provide 
interesting  avenues  for  SHM  development.  The  inclusion  of  nanomaterial  as  functional  fillers  into 
cementitious matrices can transform concrete structures into self-sensing systems70. The nano-scale 
functional  fillers  such  as  carbon  fibre,  carbon  nanotube,  and  nickel  powder  are  dispersed  into 
conventional concrete matrix to form an extensive conductive network inside the composite material, 
which  allow  the  detection  of  strain,  stress,  crack  or  damage  through  measuring  the  electrical 
properties of the composite71. This technology has its potential not only in the field of SHM but can 
also be used e.g. for traffic detection, corrosion monitoring of rebar, and structural vibration control 
of buildings and infrastructure72. However, there are  still issues to be resolved before large-scale 

64 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology, a realistic market assessment, p.77 
65 Hossain K. and Rameeja, S. (2015) Importance of Nanotechnology in Civil Engineering, European Journal of 

Sustainable Development. 

66 Shi, X. et al. (2013) The use of nanotechnology to improve the bulk and surface properties of steel for structural 

applications. In Nanotechnology in Eco-Efficient Construction. 

67 Rana, S., Subramani, P. Fangueiro, R. and Gomes Correia, A. (2016) A review on smart self-sensing composite 

materials for civil engineering applications. AIMS Materials Science, 2016, 3(2): 357-379.  

68  Hanus  and  Harris  (2013)  Nanotechnology  innovations  for  the  construction  industry.  Progress  in  Materials 

Science, Volume 58, Issue 7, August 2013, pp. 1056–1102. 

69 Ibid 
70 D'Alessandro, A., Rallini, M., Ubertini, F.  Annibale Luigi Materazzi, A. L. and Kenny, J. M. (2016) 

Investigations on scalable fabrication procedures for self-sensing carbon nanotube cement-matrix 
composites for SHM applications.  Cement and Concrete Composites, 65 (2016), 200-213. 

71 Han, B., Ding, S. and Yu, X. (2015) Intrinsic self-sensing concrete and structures: A review. Measurement 59 

(2015) 110–128. 

72 Ibid 

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deployment of such a sensing technology can be  achieved. According to  a recent overview, more 
research is still needed to develop self-sensing systems that can identify the location of damage, to 
study the effects of different environmental and usage conditions on the self-sensing performance 
and especially in respect to cost reduction of nanomaterials to make the self-sensing materials more 
affordable73. 

Ultimately, the objective is to develop construction materials that are not only able to monitor but 
also to regulate, adapt and repair themselves without external intervention74. The so-called “self-
healing materials” are  mimicking nature  and  have  the  built-in capability to repair the early stage 
damage  that  would  finally  lead  to  material  failure75.  Self-healing  mechanisms  that  have  recently 
shown  promise  in  concrete  include  1)  enhancing  the  concrete  properties  to  self-healing,  2) 
microcapsules  that  contain  a  repair  agent,  bacteria  that  precipitate  calcite,  3)  shape  memory 
polymers that shrink when triggered, and 4) vascular flow networks that circulate a healing agent76. 
Since the material defect generally emerges at very small scale, nanotechnology plays an important 
role in advances of self-healing materials77. For example, there are on-going research activities in 
UK78 on a new generation of smart concrete and other cement-based construction materials looking 
at  the  benefits  of  combining  several  self-healing  technologies  for  the  same  piece  of  concrete 
mimicking the skin healing processes79. 

2.4.8  Composites 

Composite  materials  using  nanotechnology  are  common  and  have  many  uses.  One  area  of 
application for construction is the use of composites with specific surface properties. These properties 
are similar to those achieved using coatings and thin films based on nanotechnology as discussed 
previously under coatings. However, it is reported that self-organising nanocomposite materials, for 
use in construction, are being created by breaking down a composite material consisting mainly of 
alcohol and sand into nanoparticles that form a composite, the surface of which is both hydrophobic 
and oleophobic. 

Nanotechnology in construction is also used in fibres, cables, wire sheathing, and many other areas. 
The purpose of nanotechnology in construction products currently on the market is further discussed 
in the section on Products and Markets, later in this report. 

The  next  section  considers  the  policies  and  programmes  in  place  for  nanotechnology  and 
construction. 

73 Rana, S., Subramani, P. Fangueiro, R. and Gomes Correia, A. (2016) A review on smart self-sensing 

composite materials for civil engineering applications. AIMS Materials Science, 2016, 3(2): 357-379.  
74 Lark et al. (2013) Biomimetic Multi-Scale Damage Immunity for Construction Materials: M4l Project Overview 
75 http://theconstructor.org/building/smart-materials/self-healing-materials-civil-engineering/5868/ 
76 Kapsali, V. and Toomey, A. (2014) CM1. Self-healing Materials. Available: 

https://www.changemakers.com/sites/default/files/cm1_self_healing_materials_report_.pdf 

77 De Rooij, M., Van Tittelboom, K., De Belie, N. and Schlangen, E. (Eds.) (2013) Self-Healing Phenomena in 

Cement-Based Materials: State-of-the-Art Report of RILEM Technical Committee.  

78 University of Cardiff, University of Cambridge and University of Bath joined forces in a UK Engineering and 

Physical Sciences Research Council funded project. 

79 University of Cambridge (2015) Press release: Health-conscious concrete. Available: 

http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/features/health-conscious-concrete 

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3  EU  POLICIES  AND  PROGRAMMES  FOR  NANOTECHNOLOGY  AND 

CONSTRUCTION 

Support  for  public  sector  research  and  development  (R&D)  in  the  European  Union  is  funded  by 
Member  States  either  directly  through  national  programmes  or  indirectly  via  the  programmes 
administered by the European Commission and its agencies. In addition, research and development 
are funded by companies (intra- and extra-mural R&D) and by philanthropic bodies and individuals. 
This report concentrates mainly on funding via the European Commission (EU funding), on Member 
State funding and on the outputs of industry funding of its own R&D.  

EU funds for research and innovation are provided through dedicated programmes. In 2014-2020, 
these include the Framework Programmes (currently Horizon 2020), covering all research fields and 
fully dedicated to funding research and innovation activities; sectoral research programmes (nuclear 
energy,  coal  and  steel,  space);  and  the  European  Structural  and  Investment  Funds.  These 
programmes are complemented by five other EU programmes with links to research and innovation 
activities: The Third Health Programme80, Life81, Erasmus+82, COSME83 and the Connecting Europe 
Facility84. 

This section will first consider the EU Framework Programmes. 

3.1  The EU Framework Programmes: supports for nanotechnology  

The  construction  sector  is  Europe’s  largest  industrial  employer,  a  major  source  of  revenue  from 
exports  and  an  evident  contributor  to  the  quality  of  life  for  all  citizens.  Continued  research  and 
development is vital to provide a sound basis for recovery from the effects of economic downturn 
and to address the global problems of climate change and population growth. 

The  Framework  Programmes  (FPs)  being  the  largest  source  of  EU  funds  for  R&D,  they  have  the 
greatest  role  in  EU  funding  of  nanotechnology  R&D.  Support  specifically  named  as  being  for 
nanosciences and nanotechnologies was first provided at a significant level in the Sixth Framework 
Programme  (FP6,  2002-2006)85.  Within  FP6  funding,  nanotechnology  construction  projects  were 
mainly funded under NMP (Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge based multi-functional 
materials and new production processes and devices) (88%, EUR 43 million), most of the rest of the 
funding being for human resources and mobility as well as horizontal research involving SMEs. 

Nanotechnology funding in FP6 was followed up with targeted funding in the Seventh Framework 
Programme (FP7, 2007-2013). The largest part of funding for construction and nanotechnology was 
under  the  Co-operation  Programme  and  specifically  NMP  -  “Nanosciences,  Nanotechnologies, 
Materials and new Production Technologies (NMP)” with 80% of funding (EUR 115 million). Funding 
also  went  to  Environment  (under  Co-operation)  and  Research  for  the  benefit  of  SMEs  (under 
Capacities) (both with  almost 6%, EUR  8  million)  and Marie Curie  Actions (under People) (2.5%, 
EUR 3.6 million). This is covered in much greater detail later in this chapter.  

Within the NMP Theme of FP7, research for the construction sector included two topics identified as 
priorities  in  consultation  with  the  Member  States  and  the  European  Construction  Technology 
Platform: 

• 

• 

“Resource-efficient  and  clean  buildings”,  to  reduce  significantly  the  consumption  of  materials 
and encourage the wider use of renewable resources. 
“Innovative  value-added  construction  product  services”,  for  retro-fitting  and  maintenance  of 
buildings,  which  was  identified  as  a  key  activity  for  the  2.5  million  SMEs  in  the  construction 

80 Preventing diseases, protecting EU citizens from cross-border health threats, contributing to innovative 

health systems, and facilitating better access to healthcare. 

81 For environment, biodiversity and climate change. 
82 Supporting relocation for education and training purposes. 
83 Supporting the creation and expansion of companies, especially by expanding their research and innovation 

activities. 

84 Improving trans-European infrastructure for transport, energy and telecommunications. 
85 FP6 NMP: Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new 

production processes and devices: thematic priority 3 under the 'Focusing and integrating community 
research' of the 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme, 2002-
2006. 

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sector. 

Mechanisms for collaboration on nanotechnology and construction, inter alia, include the ERA-NETs, 
Networks  of  Excellence  and  ESFRI,  as  outlined  below.  Later  in  the  report,  there  is  coverage  of 
EUREKA’s Eurostars; the European Technology Platforms; and the Joint Technology Initiatives (and 
Joint Undertakings). 

The  ERA-NET  scheme  began  under  FP6  to  support  collaboration  between  and  co-ordination  of 
national  research  programmes.  Networks  supporting  construction  included,  for  example,  the 
activities of the ERA-NET ERABUILD86 (2004 – 2007) for research on sustainable development in the 
construction and operation of buildings, particularly energy and environment research. Under FP7, 
the work of the network continued through a second ERA-NET, ERACOBUILD87 (2008 -2012), with 
34 partners from 21 Member States, and a total EC contribution of EUR 2.3 million. It  focused on 
the sustainable  renovation of buildings and  on value-driven construction  processes  and it applied 
technologies including nanotechnology. ERACOBUILD was a network of national R&D programmes 
and aimed to develop synergies between national programmes by sharing strategies and establishing 
joint programmes and projects. It defined two thematic frameworks for transnational co-operation: 
“Sustainable Renovation” and “Value Driven Processes”. The ERA-NET ERACOBUILD was well in line 
with the “Energy-efficient Buildings” (EeB) Public-Private Partnership88 Initiative, funded with a total 
of EUR 1 billion in the period 2010-2013, and included as part of the “European Economic Recovery 
Plan” (2008)89.   

Under FP7, the ERA-NET scheme continued to develop and strengthen the co-ordination of national 
and regional research programmes through ERA-NET Plus actions - providing, in a limited number 
of cases with high European added value, additional EU financial support to facilitate joint calls for 
proposals between national and/or regional programmes. For example, ERANET+ projects targeting 
construction were funded through MATERA+90 (ERA-NET Plus on Materials Research). The MATERA+ 
call was launched in March 2009  with  financial resources  from  the  European  Commission and 20 
national  and  regional  Funding  Agencies  from  14  different  countries  and  was  a  follow-up  to  the 
MATERA.  The  focus  of  MATERA+  was  on  projects  for  multi-functional  materials;  engineering 
structural materials; and bio-based and bio-inspired materials.  

Networks of Excellence (NoE) were introduced in the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) with the 
objective  of  combatting  fragmentation  in  the  European  Research  Area  (ERA)  by  integrating  the 
critical mass of resources and expertise needed to enhance Europe’s global competitiveness in key 
areas  relevant  to  a  knowledge-based  economy.  The  intended  long-term  impact  was  to  create 
efficient organisations operating at the European level, thereby eliminating wasteful duplication of 
research effort and, by facilitating joint planning and resource sharing, overcoming any inadequacies 
faced by individual institutes in terms of human resources, expertise, equipment and infrastructure. 
These  bottom-up  initiatives  are  led  by  consortia  targeting  specific  research  or  technological 
challenges.  Two  Networks  of  Excellence  mentioned  target  nanotechnology  for  the  construction 
sector: 

•  NANOFUN-POLY91: under FP6, aiming to generate a Network of Excellence designed to become 
a  European  centre  of  nanostructured  polymers  and  polymer-based  nanocomposite  materials, 
strengthening  the  scientific,  technological  and  training  excellence  in  all  the  disciplines  that 
contribute to the development of the field; and 
The  European  Polysaccharide  Network  of  excellence  “EPNOE92”:  a  research,  education  and 
knowledge transfer network connecting companies, academic and research institutions working 
or interested in polysaccharides. 

• 

The main objective of European Network of Excellence (NoE) Nanostructured and functional polymer-
based materials and nanocomposites (NANOFUN-POLY) project was to form the European Centre for 
Nanostructured  Polymers  (ECNP).  The  major  aim  of  the  centre  is  the  co-ordination  and  the  joint 
carrying-out  of  activities  and  operations,  particularly  with  regard  to  polymer  nanotechnologies, 

86 https://www.era-learn.eu/network-information/networks/erabuild  
87 https://www.era-learn.eu/network-information/networks/eracobuild  
88 http://ec.europa.eu/research/industrial_technologies/energy-efficient-buildings_en.html  
89 http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/publication13504_en.pdf  
90 http://www.materaplus.net/  
91 http://acletters.org  
92 http://www.epnoe.eu/  

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principally for the sake and in the interests of the partners of the NoE NANOFUN-POLY project. The 
attainment of this objective presupposed the form of a transdisciplinary partnership which consists 
of a hundred and twenty scientists. Applications which pertain to NANOFUN-POLY materials concern 
strategic  industrial  sectors  which  can  become  competitive  only  by  implementing  advanced 
technologies,  such  as  optoelectronics  and  telecommunications,  packaging,  agriculture,  building 
construction, automotive and, biomaterials, etc.   

EPNOE (European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence) for research on polysaccharides (such as 
cellulose and starch) that are fully biodegradable and renewable raw materials produced by nature 
on a large scale (1000 times of the amount of synthetic polymers). The network was initially funded 
with a total of EUR 5 million over 4 years from 2005 within the thematic priority “Nanotechnologies 
and  Nanosciences-Multifunctional  Materials,  Processes  and  Production.  It  was  founded  by  sixteen 
member  organisations  across  nine  Member  States  formally  in  2005  but  also  has  business  and 
associated members. EPNOE aims to organise and integrate the European scientific community in 
order to promote the use of polysaccharide materials as industry feedstocks for the manufacturing 
of advanced multifunctional materials. The materials can be used in the pulp and paper industries, 
as well as for fibres, textiles, construction and packaging materials. 

Other  mechanisms  to  support  research  and  innovation  in  nanotechnology  and  construction  are 
outlined in the section on Other EU Policies: Industry, later in this chapter. They include: 

• 
• 
• 

EUREKA’s Eurostars; 
European Technology Platforms; and 
Joint Technology Initiatives (and Joint Undertakings). 

The next section reports on funding and participation data for the Sixth and Seventh EU Framework 
Programmes, FP6 and FP7.   

3.2  The EU Framework Programme: funding and participation data for FP6 and 

FP7 

3.2.1  Overview 

Project-related  data  was  extracted  from  the  eCorda  database  for  the  EU  Sixth  Framework 
Programme (FP6) and the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)93. The total number of projects 
was 35,265, of which 25,238 were FP7 projects and 10,027 were FP6 projects. There were 210,177 
participations, of which 133,615 were in FP7 and 76,562 were in FP6.  

From the initial set of 35,265 projects, 3,544 were found to be related to nanotechnology in that 
they contained the term “nano”94 in the title or abstract of the project. Thus, nanotechnology projects 
form approximately 10% of total FP projects. The share of nanotechnology projects increased slightly 
between FP6 (9.1%) and FP7 (10.4%).  

74.4% of the 3.544 nanotechnology projects were FP7 projects and 25.6% were FP6 projects. The 
relative  shares  of  nanotechnology  projects  were  similar  to  those  found  for  FP  projects  in  general 
(71.6% in FP7 and 28.4% in FP6).  

93 Extraction of data from eCorda January 2015. 
94  The  term  “nano”  could  appear  as  a  part  of  a  word  (e.g.  nanotechnology,  nanoscience,  nanomaterial, 
nanoscale), as a part of compound word separated with hyphen (e.g. nano-science) or as an independent 
word “nano”. 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Table 3-1:Number of projects and shares for total projects and for nanotechnology 

Total 

FP7 

FP6 

FP total 

Number of FP Projects 

35,265 

25,238 

10,027 

Share of FP Projects (total)  100% 

71.6% 

28.4% 

Nanotechnology 

Number of FP Projects 

3,544 

2,636 

908 

Share of nanotechnology of total FP (projects) 

10.0% 

10.4% 

9.1% 

Share of FP Projects (NT) 

100% 

74.4% 

25.6% 

Number and share of construction nanotechnology projects 

The  number  of  projects  (in  FP6  and  FP7  together)  that  were  related  to  both  construction  and 
nanotechnology was determined by a keyword search95 to be 65, less than 2% of the total number 
of  FP6  and  FP7  projects  related  to  nanotechnology.  The  percentage  of  construction-related 
nanotechnology projects as a proportion of all nanotechnology projects was slightly higher in FP7 
(2.0%) than it was in FP6 (1.4%). This is an indication that the relevance of construction has slightly 
increased within nanotechnology FP-activities from FP6 to FP7. 

Table  3-2:  Number  of  projects  and  shares  for  nanotechnology  and  nanotechnology  and 
construction 

Total FP projects, all topics 

Nanotechnology FP projects 

Construction nanotechnology FP 
projects 

Total FP projects, all topics 

Nanotechnology (NT) FP projects 

NT construction FP projects 

NT construction projects as % of all 
NT projects 

NT construction projects as % of all 
FP projects 

Numbers of projects 

Total 

35,265 

3,544 

65 

FP7 

25,238 

2,636 

52 

FP6 

10,027 

908 

13 

Shares (number of projects) 

Total 

100% 

100% 

100% 

1.8% 

FP7 

71.6% 

74.4% 

80% 

2.0% 

FP6 

28.4% 

25.6% 

20% 

1.4% 

0.2% 

0.2% 

0.1% 

Projects  in  FP7  comprised  80%  of  all  construction  nanotechnology  with  20%  of  projects  being  in 
FP6. This share of FP7 projects is higher than those corresponding to nanotechnology projects (74%) 
or FP projects (72%). 

Funding of construction nanotechnology projects 

The 65 construction-related nanotechnology projects received a European contribution of EUR 191.8 
million. European funding to construction projects was EUR 48.7 million (25.4%) in FP6 and EUR 
143.1 million (74.6%) in FP7. In FP6, construction-related nanotechnology projects took 2.9% of 
total European funding for nanotechnology projects whereas in FP7 it was 3.1%, indicating a very 
small relative increase of construction-related funding within European nanotechnology funding, as 
shown in the figure below. 

95 See Annex for details 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Figure 3-1: Funding of construction nanotechnology for FP6 and FP7 together, for FP7 and 
for FP6 

3.2.2  Activities by programme and sub-programme 

3.2.2.1  FP6 construction nanotechnology activities 

There  were  908  nanotechnology  projects  in  FP6,  9.1%  of  the  total  number  of  projects  in  FP6. 
Thirteen of them were identified as being construction-related, 1.4% of FP6 nanotechnology projects 
and 0.1% of FP6 projects as a whole.  

FP6 was structured in three main blocks of activities: 

1)  Focusing and integrating the ERA - divided into Thematic Priorities and Specific Activities; 

2)  Structuring  the  ERA  –  including  research  and  innovation,  research  mobility,  infrastructure 

development and science and society; and 

3)  Strengthening the ERA – for co-ordination and policy activities. 

There was, in addition, the EURATOM activity.  

In  FP6,  projects  specific  to  nanotechnology  and  construction  made  up  approximately  2.5%  of  all 
nanotechnology activities as measured by EC funding allocation (EUR 48.7 million). They took place 
mainly  under  the  priority  of  Focusing  and  integrating  the  ERA.  In  fact,  93.4%  of  all  funding  for 
construction activities under FP6 came from this priority, specifically for: 

•  NMP (Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge based multi-functional materials and new 
production processes and devices) had 88.2% of the total (EUR 42.9 million) for eight projects; 
and 

•  Horizontal research involving SMEs had the remaining construction activities in FP6, with three 

projects and EUR 2.5 million of EC funding (5.2% of total).  

The remaining 6.6% of funding came from Structuring the ERA, specifically: 

•  Human resources and mobility, which had two projects accounting for EUR 3.2 million, or 6.6% 

of funding. 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Table 3-3: FP6 construction nanotechnology activities by programme and sub-programme 

FP6 Summary 

Number of projects 

EC contribution (MEUR) 

Share of EC contribution 

FP6 

FP6 
NT 

FP6 
CN 

FP6 

FP6 NT 

FP6 
CN 

FP6 

FP6 NT  FP6 CN 

I Focusing and Integrating ERA 

4,735 

455 

11 

13,445.0  1,383.6  45.5  80.5%  81.3%  93.4% 

Thematic Priorities  

3,374 

389 

1. Life Sciences 

2. Information Society 

3. NMP 

4. Aeronautics and Space 

5. Food Quality and Safety 

6. Sustainable Development 

7. Citizens and Governance 

Specific Activities 

Policy Support  

602 

1,089 

444 

241 

189 

666 

143 

1,361 

520 

Horizontal Research Involving SMEs  490 

International Co-operation 

351 

20 

80 

271 

5 

0 

10 

3 

66 

29 

29 

8 

8 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

0 

3 

0 

12,027.5 

1,314.8  42.9 

72.1% 

77.2% 

88.2% 

2,336.5 

54.1 

0.0 

14.0% 

3.2% 

0.0% 

3,798.9 

346.1 

0.0 

22.8% 

20.3% 

0.0% 

1,534.2 

870.1 

42.9 

9.2% 

51.1% 

88.2% 

1,066.1 

11.6 

0.0 

6.4% 

0.7% 

0.0% 

754.2 

0.0 

0.0 

4.5% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

2,300.9 

30.5 

0.0 

13.8% 

1.8% 

0.0% 

236.6 

2.4 

0.0 

1.4% 

0.1% 

0.0% 

1,417.5 

68.8 

2.5 

8.5% 

4.0% 

5.2% 

604.2 

40.7 

0.0 

3.6% 

2.4% 

0.0% 

463.1 

24.7 

2.5 

2.8% 

1.4% 

5.2% 

350.3 

3.4 

0.0 

2.1% 

0.2% 

0.0% 

II Structuring the European 
Research Area 

5,096 

449 

2 

2,744.2 

303.1 

3.2 

16.4%  17.8%  6.6% 

Research and Innovation 

240 

3 

Human Resources and Mobility 

4,546 

420 

Research Infrastructures 

Science and Society 

III Strengthening the ERA 

Co-ordination of Activities 

Research & Innovation Policies 

EURATOM 

TOTAL 

147 

163 

118 

99 

19 

78 

17 

9 

3 

3 

0 

1 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

224.0 

3.9 

0.0 

1.3% 

0.2% 

0.0% 

1,723.1 

219.2 

3.2 

10.3% 

12.9% 

6.6% 

717.6 

74.3 

0.0 

4.3% 

4.4% 

0.0% 

79.5 

317.3 

303.8 

13.5 

185.7 

5.8 

8.0 

8.0 

0.0 

8.0 

0.0 

0.5% 

0.3% 

0.0% 

0.0 

1.9% 

0.5% 

0.0% 

0.0 

1.8% 

0.5% 

0.0% 

0.0 

0.1% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0 

1.1% 

0.5% 

0.0% 

10,027 

908 

13 

16,692.3 

1,702.7  48.7 

100.0%  100.0%  100.0% 

3.2.2.2  FP7 construction nanotechnology activities  

With 52 projects, nanotechnology and construction comprised 2% of FP7 nanotechnology  projects 
and  0.2%  of  all  FP7  projects96.  In  terms  of  funding,  they  comprised  3.1%  of  nanotechnology  FP 
funding and 0.3% of total FP7 funding.  

The broad objectives of FP7 group into four categories:  

•  Co-operation; 
Ideas; 
• 
People; and  
• 
•  Capacities.  

The largest proportion of funding for nanotechnology construction is seen under the Co-operation 
Specific Programme with EUR 125.6 million (87.8% of total nano construction funding in FP7) and 
34 projects. Within this Co-operation Specific Programme, the NMP thematic area has the highest 
funding (EUR 114.9 million, 80.3%), followed at a distance by Environment (EUR 8.2 million) and 
Transport (EUR 2.5 million). 

96 Data extraction January 2015 

31 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

The Capacities Specific Programme, with a share of 8.1% of FP7 funding and EUR 11.5 million comes 
second. There are two activities funded under this Specific Programme, Research for the benefit of 
SMEs, with EUR 8.2 million, seven projects, and 5.8% of funding, and Research Potential with EUR 
2.3 million, two projects and 1.6% of funding. 

Marie-Curie Actions, under the People Specific Programme, has the next highest funding with EUR 
3.6 million (2.5%) for 7 projects.  

Table 3-4: FP7 construction nanotechnology activities by programme and sub-programme  

FP7 Summary 

Number of projects 

EC contribution (MEUR) 

Share of EC contribution 

FP7 

FP7 
NT 

FP7 
CN 

FP7 

FP7 NT  FP7 CN  FP7 

FP7 NT 

FP7 CN 

COOPERATION 

7,834 

756 

34 

28,336.3 

2,803.8  125.6 

63.1% 

60.2% 

87.8% 

Health 

Food, Agri and Bio 

ICT 

NMP 

Energy 

Environment  

Transport  

1,008 

33 

516 

25 

2,328 

175 

0 

0 

0 

4,791.7 

157.0 

0.0 

10.7% 

3.4% 

0.0% 

1,850.7 

97.1 

0.0 

4.1% 

2.1% 

0.0% 

7,877.0 

561.3 

0.0 

17.5% 

12.0% 

0.0% 

805 

412 

30 

3,238.6 

1,595.6  114.9 

7.2% 

34.2% 

80.3% 

368 

494 

719 

24 

10 

12 

Socio-economic Sciences 

253 

0 

Space 

Security 

General Activities  

267 

14 

314 

26 

5 

0 

Joint Technology Initiatives  

736 

46 

IDEAS 

4,525 

572 

European Research Council 

4,525 

572 

0 

3 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

1 

1,707.4 

81.5 

1,719.3 

26.9 

2,284.2 

61.5 

579.6 

0.0 

713.3 

31.7 

1,295.5 

14.1 

312.7 

0.0 

0.0 

8.2 

2.5 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

3.8% 

1.7% 

0.0% 

3.8% 

0.6% 

5.7% 

5.1% 

1.3% 

1.8% 

1.3% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

1.6% 

0.7% 

0.0% 

2.9% 

0.3% 

0.0% 

0.7% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

1,966.4 

177.0 

0.0 

4.4% 

3.8% 

0.0% 

7,673.5 

1,026.1  2.3 

17.1% 

22.0% 

1.6% 

7,673.5 

1,026.1  2.3 

17.1% 

22.0% 

1.6% 

PEOPLE 

10,716  1,158  7 

4,777.5 

579.9 

3.6 

10.6% 

12.4% 

2.5% 

Marie-Curie Actions 

10,716  1,158  7 

4,777.5 

579.9 

3.6 

10.6% 

12.4% 

2.5% 

CAPACITIES 

2,025 

149 

10 

3,772.0 

249.9 

11.5 

8.4% 

5.4% 

8.1% 

Research Infrastructures 

341 

18 

Research for the benefit of SMEs 

1,028 

70 

Regions of Knowledge 

Research Potential 

Science in Society 

Research Policies 

84 

206 

183 

26 

4 

27 

16 

0 

International Cooperation 

157 

14 

EURATOM 

Fusion 

Fission 

TOTAL 

138 

4 

134 

1 

0 

1 

0 

7 

1 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1,528.4 

72.2 

1,249.1 

86.1 

126.7 

7.3 

377.7 

55.1 

288.4 

16.5 

28.3 

0.0 

173.4 

12.7 

358.1 

5.2 

352.8 

1.1 

0.0 

1.1 

0.0 

8.2 

0.9 

2.3 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

3.4% 

1.5% 

0.0% 

2.8% 

1.8% 

5.8% 

0.3% 

0.2% 

0.7% 

0.8% 

1.2% 

1.6% 

0.6% 

0.4% 

0.0% 

0.1% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.4% 

0.3% 

0.0% 

0.8% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.8% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

25,238  2,636  52 

44,917.3 

4,660.8  143.1 

100.0% 

100.0% 

100.0% 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

3.2.3  Activities by participant type 

The  table  below  shows  the  participations  in  FP6  and  FP7  for  the  Higher  Education  Sector  (HES), 
Public  Research  Organisations  (PROs),  large  companies  (PCO),  SMEs  and  other  organisations.  As 
well as the number of participations (Particip.), the table shows the total EC funding and share of 
funding for each, for all FP6 and FP7, for nanotechnology and for construction nanotechnology. 

Table 3-5: Participations in FP6 and FP7 including funding and share of funding97 

Total FP6 and FP7 

NT in FP6 and FP7 

Construction NT, FP6 & FP7 

Particip. 

EC 
Funding 
MEUR 

Share of 
Funding 

Particip. 

EC 
Funding 
MEUR 

Share of 
Funding 

Particip. 

EC 
Funding 
MEUR 

Share of 
Funding 

HES 

76,777 

25,736.0  41.8% 

7,671 

3,019.5 

47.5% 

129 

43.4 

22.6% 

REC 

53,384 

17,304.4  28.1% 

4,696 

1,778.1 

28.0% 

183 

PCO 

25,067 

7,021.3 

11.4% 

2,275 

615.4 

9.7% 

SME 

29,428 

6,882.6 

11.2% 

3,239 

769.1 

12.1% 

145 

249 

61.2 

30.6 

51.8 

31.9% 

16.0% 

27.0% 

Other  24,961 

4,626.8 

7.5% 

1,059 

174.2 

2.7% 

35 

4.8 

2.5% 

Total  209,617  61,571.1  100.0%  18,940 

6,356.2  100.0%  741 

191.8 

100.0% 

Research  organisations  (REC)  received  31.9%  of  the  EC  contribution  to  nanotechnology  and 
construction,  as  shown  in  the  table  above  and  the  figure  below.  They  are  followed  by  small  and 
medium-sized enterprises (SME, 27%), higher education institutes (HES 22.6%), large companies 
(PCO, 16%) and other organisations (OTH, 2.5%).  

There  are  significant  differences  between  the  distribution  of  funding  among  different  participant 
types  in  nanotechnology  construction  projects  and  both  nanotechnology  projects  and  FP6-FP7 
projects  in  general.  The  highest  shares  of  funding  in  the  case  of  nanotechnology  construction 
projects accrues to enterprises (SMEs and PCOs together account for 43% of funding) and research 
organisations (31.9%) while higher education institutes have the lowest share of funding (22.6%). 
In the case of nanotechnology projects and overall FP6-FP7 projects, higher education institutes are 
those that receive the highest shares of funding (47.5% and 41.8% respectively) followed second 
by research organisations and third by enterprises (both SMEs and PCOs). This seems to indicate 
that  nanotechnology  construction  projects  are  closer  to  the  market  than  either  nanotechnology 
projects or FP projects as a whole.  

97 The EC contribution in eCorda projects and the participant database differ by a small amount. The figures 

reported here for participants therefore do not exactly match those for projects in previous sections.  

33 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Figure  3-2:  Shares  of  EC  contribution  by  organisation  type  for  nanotechnology  and 
construction 

Comparing FP6 and FP7, the most remarkable finding is that the share of funding going to SMEs 
rose from 19.4% in FP6 to 29.6% in FP7. There is also a rise (although a smaller one) in the share 
for PCOs from FP6 to FP7. However, the share for research organisations fell from 36.7% in FP6 to 
30.3%  in  FP7.  FP7  projects  seem  to  have  achieved  greater  involvement  by  enterprises  maybe 
because of their higher proximity to market.  

The proportion of funding going to organisations in the higher education sector (22.6%) is less than 
half of that corresponding to their share of nanotechnology funding (46.6%), and a bit over half of 
their share for FP funding overall (41.8%). The relative importance of HES fell slightly from 22.9% 
in FP6 to 22.5% of all construction funding in FP7. 

3.2.4  Activity by organisations receiving funding 

The organisations receiving the largest amounts of funding for nanotechnology construction activities 
were Fraunhofer98 (DE) (EUR 6.96 million for 13 projects) and Tecnalia99 (ES) (EUR 4.63 million, 12 
projects)  as  well  as  the  companies  Acciona  Infraestructuras  S.A.100  (ES)  (EUR  4.54  million,  14 
projects) and D'Appolonia SPA101 (IT) (EUR 3.28 million, 8 projects). 

Out  of  the  top  25  recipients,  thirteen  were  research  organisations,  seven  were  higher  education 
institutions, and five were companies. The top ten organisations come from Germany, Spain, Italy, 
Sweden, Greece, the Netherlands and Switzerland.  

98 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V. http://www.fraunhofer.de/en.html  
99 Fundacion Tecnalia Research & Innovation http://www.tecnalia.com/en/  
100 http://www.acciona-infrastructure.com/about-us.aspx  
101 http://www.dappolonia.it/en  

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Table 3-6: Organisations participating in FP6 and FP7, top 25 ranked by funding received 

Construction - Top participants 

Country 

No. of 
Projects 

EC 
Funding 
(MEUR) 

Share of 
CN 
Funding 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft102 

Fundacion Tecnalia Research & Innovation 

Acciona Infraestructuras S.A. 

D'Appolonia SPA 

Uppsala Universitet 

National Technical University of Athens - NTUA 

TNO 

INSTM103 

Eidgenoessische Materialpruefungs- und 
Forschungsanstalt104 

10  SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut AB 

11  Fundacion Tekniker 

12 

Innventia AB 

13  University of Bath 

14  EPFL105 

15  Profactor GmbH 

16  Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen 

17  University of Belgrade 

18  Teknologisk Institut 

19  CEA106 

20 

Institouto Michanikis Ylikon Kai Geodomon AE107  

21  Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -Pruefung108 

22  Latvijas Valsts Koksnes Kimijas Instituts 

23  Ncc Construction Sverige AB 

24  Foundation for Research and Technology  

25  Fundacion Inasmet 

DE 

ES 

ES 

IT 

SE 

GR 

NL 

IT 

CH 

SE 

ES 

SE 

UK 

CH 

AT 

DE 

RS 

DK 

FR 

GR 

DE 

LV 

SE 

GR 

ES 

13 

12 

14 

8 

3 

6 

5 

2 

5 

4 

4 

1 

2 

3 

1 

1 

1 

2 

3 

3 

4 

1 

1 

3 

1 

6.96 

4.63 

4.54 

3.28 

3.10 

3.07 

2.96 

2.23 

3.64% 

2.42% 

2.37% 

1.71% 

1.62% 

1.60% 

1.55% 

1.17% 

2.18 

1.14% 

1.77 

1.69 

1.69 

1.63 

1.49 

1.37 

1.35 

1.30 

1.26 

1.16 

1.09 

1.05 

1.05 

1.02 

1.02 

1.02 

0.92% 

0.88% 

0.88% 

0.85% 

0.78% 

0.71% 

0.70% 

0.68% 

0.66% 

0.61% 

0.57% 

0.55% 

0.55% 

0.53% 

0.53% 

0.53% 

The table below indicates the most active companies in FP nanotechnology construction projects by 
funding. In this sector, eighteen of the most relevant companies were SMEs. 

The Spanish company Acciona Infraestructuras S.A. received EUR 4.54 million for fourteen projects. 
D'Appolonia SPA (IT) followed with EUR 3.28 million and eight projects, and Profactor GmbH (DE) 
came next, at distance, with EUR 1.37 million and one project. 

102 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. www.fraunhofer.de 
103 Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali www.instm.it  
104 https://www.empa.ch/web/empa  
105 École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne 

www.epfl.ch 

106 Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic 

Energy Commission www.cea.fr 

107 Institute of Mechanics of Materials and Geostructures SA 
108 http://www.bam.de/en/ueber_uns/index.htm  

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Table 3-7: Companies participating in FP6 and FP7, top 25 ranked by funding received 

Construction - Top company participants 

Country  SME  Number of 

1  Acciona Infraestructuras S.A. 

2  D'appolonia Spa 

3  PROFACTOR GmbH 

4 

Institouto Michanikis Ylikon Kai Geodomon Ae 
(Institute Of Mechanics Of Materials And 
Geostructures SA) 

5  Ncc Construction Sverige Ab 

6  Va-Q-Tec Ag 

7  Babcock Support Services Limited 

8  Vento Nv 

9  Siemens Schweiz Ag 

10  Advance Composite Fibres Sl 

11  Exergy Ltd 

12  UK Materials Technology Research Institute Ltd 

13  Vertech Group Sarl 

14  Obermayr Holzkonstruktionen GesmbH 

15  Separex Sas 

16 

Integrated Environmental Solutions Limited 

17  Bouygues Travaux Publics SA 

18  Nubiola Pigmentos Sl 

19 

Indosynt As 

20  Farbe Spa 

21 

IBZ-Salzchemie GmbH & Co Kg 

22  P3 - Digital Services GmbH 

23  Acciona Inmobiliaria Sl 

24  Slovenski Gradbeni Grozd, Gospodarsko 

Interesno Zdruzenje 

25  Pedrini S.P.A 

ES 

IT 

AT 

GR 

SE 

DE 

UK 

BE 

CH 

ES 

UK 

UK 

FR 

AT 

FR 

UK 

FR 

ES 

NO 

IT 

DE 

DE 

ES 

SI 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

SME 

IT 

SME 

projects 
FP6-7 
14 

8 

1 

3 

1 

3 

1 

2 

1 

2 

2 

3 

2 

1 

3 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

EC funding 
(MEUR) 

4.54 

3.28 

1.37 

1.09 

1.02 

0.99 

0.98 

0.88 

0.84 

0.80 

0.79 

0.72 

0.72 

0.71 

0.70 

0.69 

0.68 

0.67 

0.64 

0.64 

0.62 

0.62 

0.61 

0.59 

0.58 

3.2.5  Participation by country 

In total, 36 countries took part in nanotechnology construction projects funded under FP6 and FP7. 
The top fifteen are shown in the table below, with funding and shares of funding for each country. 

The top four countries (Germany, 16.28%; Spain, 14.74%; the UK, 10.61%; and Italy, 10.16%) 
accounted for more than half of the total EC funding for nanotechnology construction projects. 

It is worth noting the presence of Spain ranking second in this list while it holds the 5th and 6th 
positions in the case of nanotechnology and overall FP6-FP7 projects. This is well in line with the 
relevance of the construction sector in the Spanish economy.  

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Table 3-8: Top fifteen countries for FP participation ranked by funding received 

Rank 

Country 

CN NT funding (MEUR)  % of funding 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

DE 

ES 

UK 

IT 

SE 

FR 

EL 

CH 

BE 

NL 

AT 

FI 

PL 

CZ 

DK 

31.22 

28.27 

20.36 

19.48 

15.63 

12.75 

8.39 

7.40 

7.14 

6.85 

5.01 

4.12 

3.16 

2.99 

2.90 

16.28% 

14.74% 

10.61% 

10.16% 

8.15% 

6.65% 

4.37% 

3.86% 

3.72% 

3.57% 

2.61% 

2.15% 

1.65% 

1.56% 

1.51% 

TOTAL 

175.64 

93.1% 

Table  3-9:  Country  ranking  by  FP  funding  for  top  ten  in  FP,  NT  and  construction 
nanotechnology 

(Listed in order of received construction-related nanotechnology funding, highest at the top of the table) 

  FP EC contribution 
  MEUR  % 

NT EC contribution 

CN EC contribution 

Rank  MEUR  %  Rank  MEUR  % 

DE  10,164.1 

16.5 

1  1,121.5 

17.6 

ES 

4,200.6 

6.8 

UK 

9,295.2 

15.1 

IT 

5,046.5 

2,386.7 

8.2 

3.9 

7,319.3 

11.9 

SE 

FR 

GR109 

1,425.5 

CH 

2,503.2 

BE 

NL 

AT 

2,518.0 

4,438.4 

1,612.2 

2.3 

4.1 

4.1 

7.2 

2.6 

6 

2 

4 

9 

3 

481.0 

7.6 

845.9 

13.3 

505.2 

271.6 

7.9 

4.3 

760.9 

12.0 

12 

128.5 

8 

7 

5 

338.0 

258.4 

444.3 

10 

156.9 

2.0 

5.3 

4.1 

7.0 

2.5 

1 

5 

2 

4 

8 

3 

14 

7 

9 

6 

10 

31.2 

16.28 

28.3 

14.74 

20.4 

10.61 

19.5 

10.16 

15.6 

8.15 

12.8 

6.65 

8.4 

7.4 

7.1 

6.8 

5.0 

4.37 

3.86 

3.72 

3.57 

2.61 

Rank 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

Germany,  the  United  Kingdom,  France  and  Italy  are  the  top  countries  both  for  nanotechnology 
projects  and  for  FP  projects.  The  table  above  and  figure  below  show  the  top  ten  countries  for 
nanotechnology construction, for nanotechnology and for FP projects by funding. In the table, Greece 
is in the top ten for nanotechnology construction but not for nanotechnology or for FP project funding 
overall.  Austria  is  in  the  top  ten  for  nanotechnology  and  for  FP  project  funding,  but  not  for 
nanotechnology construction. 

109 Greece is identified using the letters either GR or EL (Ellas) 

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Figure 3-3: Percentage shares of FP funding by country in FP, in nanotechnology and in 
construction nanotechnology 

From the figure above, in most cases, the share of funding for nanotechnology construction projects 
is  lower than  the  shares  for  both  nanotechnology  projects  and  FP  projects  as  a  whole.  However, 
there are some cases in which the opposite is true, such as Spain, Italy, Sweden and Greece, who 
have higher percentages of funding for construction nanotechnology. It is worth mentioning the case 
of Spain with a share of funding of nanotechnology construction projects which is double the share 
of  nanotechnology  projects  funding.  It  can  be  concluded  that  these  countries  show  a  higher 
specialisation in the field of construction nanotechnology.  

In the figure below (the EC funding for nanotechnology construction projects in FP6 and FP7 (bars) 
and the country shares (points or diamonds), three countries have increased their share of funding 
for nanotechnology construction projects from FP6 to FP7. These are Spain, the UK and Switzerland. 
Spain is the most significant case, as it increased its share of funding from 7.7% to 17.1% and also 
the United Kingdom with a rise from 4.8% in FP6 to 12.6% in FP7. Italy, on the other hand, reduced 
its share of funding from 14.2% in FP6 to 8.8% in FP. 

38 

 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Figure 3-4: EC funding for construction nanotechnology activities in FP6 and FP7 in MEUR 
and country shares 

3.2.6  Snapshot of outputs from FP7 

A review was undertaken of 106 FP7 nanotechnology projects reported on via the SESAM system in 
which participants themselves report on their project. The projects are random, being the first ones 
to report, which they can only do when the project has finished. In addition, the information has not 
been normalised to take into account the type and size of project. It is therefore not intended to 
present  the  information  here  as  a  rigorous  review,  only  as  a  snapshot  at  a  point  in  time  of  FP7 
projects that have reported to date. 

In the review of the 106 SESAM reports, it was found that: 

•  82% of projects had published work during the project, the total number of publications being 

1783 and the average number being almost 17; and 

•  32% of projects had applied for patents, a total of 73 patents having been applied for, an average 
of 0.7 per project. Of these, 18 have been applied for at the European Patent Office, 20 under 
the PCT at WIPO, 6 at the USPTO and 30 at other (national) patent offices. 

Of  the  106  projects,  seven  were  classified  by  review  as  being  related  to  construction  and 
nanotechnology. Those seven projects reported outputs of: 

•  57  publications,  an  average  of  eight  publications  per  project,  half  that  for  nanotechnology 
overall; The project “Nanotechnology  enhanced extruded fibre reinforced  foam  cement based 
environmentally  friendly  sandwich  material  for  building  applications”  had  many  more 
publications than the average with 24 published papers. 
Four  patent  applications,  an  average  of  0.07  per  project,  a  tenth  of  that  found  for 
nanotechnology overall (0.6). Only two of the seven projects had patents:  

• 

o 

o 

“Development  of  Nanotechnology-based  High-performance  Opaque  &  Transparent 
Insulation Systems for Energy-efficient Buildings” had a total of 3 patents.  
“Extended  service-life  and  improved  properties  of  wood  products  through  the  use  of 
functional nanoparticles in clear coating and adhesive systems” resulted in one patent. 

A workforce of 440 people was involved in the projects (with an average of 63 people per project). 

The  next  section  considers  EU  policies  and  programmes  that  complement  the  supports  for 
nanotechnology described previously in this section for the EU Framework Programmes.  

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

3.3  Other EU policies and programmes 

3.3.1  EU policies and programmes: Industry 

Policies related to industry and economic development fall under the Framework Programmes and 
other  EU  measures  (e.g.  under  the  remit  of  DG  Enterprise  and  Industry).  Some,  addressing 
construction, are identified below.  

Under FP6 and FP7, the objective of construction research funding is to strengthen the science and 
technology base to the level of global leadership, to stimulate innovation and creativity in products, 
processes and services, and to enhance the use of construction for public benefit in society and the 
economy.  Alongside  the  Framework  Programmes,  complementary  mechanisms  such  as  COST 
(European co-ordination in science and technology) and EUREKA provide additional funding for joint 
European  research  in  the  field  of  construction.  Both  are  inter-governmental  programmes  for  the 
coordination of nationally-funded research on a European level. COST encourages various national 
facilities,  institutes,  universities  and  private  industry  to  work  jointly  on  a  wide  range  of  research 
activities, while EUREKA focuses on market-oriented industrial R&D.  

The EUREKA Eurostars initiative was established under Article 185 of the Treaty on the Functioning 
of the European Union (TFEU), in partnership between the EC, the Member States and the countries 
associated with the Framework Programmes. Eurostars supports SMEs in the EU to commercialise 
their research, bringing it to the market more quickly in the form of products, processes and services. 
It also encourages them to develop and internationalise their business. Funding of up to EUR 100 
million  was  made  available  through  EUREKA  for  2008-2013,  the  EU  contribution  comprising  a 
maximum of one third of the funding provided by the participating countries. Funding for Eurostars 
has continued with a total public budget of EUR 1.14 billion in 2014-2020, EUR 861 million of national 
funding and EUR 287 million of EU funding from Horizon 2020. Under EUREKA scheme, the umbrella 
project EurekaBuild was initiated in 2006 to develop technologies for sustainable and competitive 
construction, in line with the Strategic Research Agenda of the European Construction Technology 
Platform (ECTP)110. 

European  Technology  Platforms  (ETPs)  are  bottom-up,  industry-led  stakeholder  fora,  the  aim  of 
which is to increase interaction between research actors and to facilitate the development of medium 
to long-term research and technological goals and associated roadmaps. They do not fund research 
projects  but  are  a  co-ordination  mechanism.  ETPs  contribute  to  design,  update  and  provide 
recommendations on the Strategic Research  Agenda on the specific sector they are  dealing  with. 
ETPs  now  exist  across  the  themes  of  construction,  energy,  environment,  ICT,  production  and 
processes, transport and the bio-based economy.  

The  European  Construction  Technology  Platform  (ECTP)  was  launched  in  2004,  with  the  aim  of 
mobilising all stakeholders around the stated objectives of ‘meeting clients’ and users’ requirements, 
becoming  sustainable  and  transforming  the  construction  sector’.  It  has  over  170  member 
organisations, and is mirrored by national platforms in most EU countries. It also maintains close 
links with other construction-related technology platforms. It has committees working across five 
areas: 

Energy and efficient buildings (E2B) 

•  Active ageing and design 
• 
•  Heritage and regeneration 
Infrastructure and mobility 
• 
•  Materials and sustainability 

The European Economic Recovery Plan endorsed by the European Council in December 2008 includes 
public-private  partnerships  (PPPs)  to  support  research  into  sustainable  technologies  for  the  EU 
construction sector as well as for the manufacturing and automotive industries. The ‘Energy-efficient 
Buildings’  (EeB)  PPP  is  allocating  EUR  1  billion  of  public-private  funding  to  the  development  of 
energy-efficient systems and materials in new and renovated buildings with a view to reducing their 
energy consumption and CO2 emissions.  

Under Horizon 2020, a contractual Public-Private Partnerships on Energy-efficient Buildings will aim 
to  develop  affordable  breakthrough  technologies  and  solutions  at  building  and  district  scale, 

110 http://www.ectp.org/about-us/ 

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facilitating the road towards future smart cities. Up to the end of FP7 in 2013, a dialogue was going 
on between the Commission services and the Ad-hoc Industrial Advisory Group for the construction 
sector  to  develop  a  multi-annual  roadmap  of  research  priorities  for  the  period.  The  multiannual 
roadmap for the years 2014-2020, prepared jointly with the Energy Efficient Buildings Association 
(E2BA),  sets  a  vision  and  outlines  routes  towards  a  high-tech  building  industry,  turning  energy 
efficiency  into  a  sustainable  business.  This  roadmap  proposes  research  and  innovation  priorities 
agreed amongst a wide community of stakeholders across Europe, after public consultation.  

General objectives of the multi-annual roadmap are to: 

•  Develop technologies and solutions to speed up the reduction of energy use and GHG emissions; 
•  Develop energy efficiency solutions in order to turn the building industry into a knowledge-driven 

sustainable business, with higher productivity and better skilled employees; and 

•  Develop innovative and smart systemic approaches for green buildings and districts, helping to 
improve  the  competitiveness  of  the  EU  building  industry  by  providing  cost-effective,  user-
friendly, healthy and safe products for smart cities. 

Specific objectives and key deliverables of the roadmap are: 

Innovative construction; 

• 
•  Systemic,  cost-effective,  mass-customised,  high-performing,  and  minimally  invasive  building 

retrofitting solutions, integrating innovative energy equipment and storage; 
Interactive  sustainable  buildings  for  energy  neutrality/positivity  in  a  block  of  buildings,  for  a 
further 15% energy and emission reduction at district and city scale; and 
Performance monitoring tools to ensure energy efficiency during service life. 

• 

• 

3.3.2  EU policies and programmes: Structural and Investment Funds 

Four  (out  of  five)  European  Structural  and  Investment  Funds  (ESI  Funds)  provide  support  for 
research and innovation activities:  

• 

• 

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), for economic regeneration and safeguarding 
employment.  Its  main  priorities  are  the  support  of  small  to  medium-sized  enterprises;  the 
creation of a low carbon economy; research and innovation; information and communications 
technology;  environmental  protection,  climate  change  adaptation;  risk  prevention  and 
management; transport and social inclusion.  
The  European  Social  Fund  (ESF),  for  the  enhancement  of  employment  opportunities,  social 
inclusion and skills, supports skills and training; access to employment for all including women 
and  migrants;  improvement  of  public  services;  innovation  in  SMEs;  and  access  to  start-up 
capital. 

The ERDF and ESF together have a budget of about EUR 280 billion over 2014-2020. 

• 

• 

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), which aims to strengthen the 
links  between  agriculture,  food  production  and  forestry  and  those  performing  research  and 
innovation  activities.  Groups  of  collaborators  are  funded  under  the  European  Innovation 
Partnership on Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability. The Fund has a budget of EUR 95.6 
billion over 2014-2020. 
The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) with a budget of EUR 6.4 billion over 2014-
2020  for  the  development  of  businesses  through  research  and  innovation.  It  can  also  fund 
research studies for the development of policies for the management of fisheries.  

3.3.3  EU policies and programmes: Cohesion funds 

SMART SPECIALISATION AND REGIONAL RDI POLICY 
The European Commission's Cohesion Policy aims to reduce differences between regions in Europe 
and to ensure growth across the continent. Structural Funds are among the main tools to implement 
the  policy,  and  it  is  within  this  framework  that  smart  specialisation  was  introduced.  The  Smart 
Specialisation  Strategies  (RIS3)111  aim  to  focus  regional  innovation  policies  on  regional  priorities 
based on existing areas of strength; competitive advantage; and  potential for excellence  in each 

111 http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/eye-ris3. As of December 2015, 260 regions and countries that prioritise 

KETs; out of these there are 7 regions that have set a priority in nanotechnology. 

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region.  

Smart Specialisation is about identifying the unique characteristics and assets of each country and 
region, highlighting local competitive advantages, and aligning regional stakeholders and resources 
around an excellence-driven vision of their future. It aims to: 

Focus policy support and investments on key national/regional priorities and challenges;  

• 
•  Build on each country/region’s strengths, competitive advantages and potential for innovation 

excellence; 
Exploit potential synergies with other countries and regions; 

• 
•  Support all forms of innovation, and encourage innovation and experimentation; and  
•  Stimulate private sector investment;  

The  next  section  considers  Member  State  policies  and  programmes  for  nanotechnology  and 
construction.  

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

4  POLICIES  AND  PROGRAMMES  IN  MEMBER  STATES  FOR 

NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION 

While European funding is important for many researchers, it makes up only about 8% of total public 
funding for R&D in the  European Union. Member States channel the remaining 92% into national 
research  and  development,  mostly  retaining  it  within  their  own  borders.  However,  much  of  that 
funding is employed in projects, the results of which feed into European networks and collaborations. 
As Member States chose to prioritise nanosciences and nanotechnologies for funding at European 
level,  it  is  hardly  surprising  that  they  largely  have  the  same  view  at  national  level.  While  some 
countries fund nanotechnology R&D as a designated priority area, others choose to integrate it into 
broader programmes.  

For nanotechnology related to applications in construction, specific initiatives at Member State level, 
past or present, include: 

Austria: The Austrian NanoInitiative112 (2004-2011, total funding EUR 70 million, administered by 
the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)). The initiative works on a collaborative basis across 
Austria and trans-nationally with consortia of research institutes, universities and firms working on 
problem-driven basic research questions with a medium-term perspective (5-7 years). The focus of 
the programme, matching the remit of its funding agency FFG, has been to invest in projects with 
considerable  market  potential  and  relevant  to  Austrian  companies.  NANO  aimed  to  address  the 
following issues that are relevant to construction: “What is the best way for Austria to harness the 
opportunities in nanotechnology, for instance for the sake of environmental and energy technology, 
new  resource-saving  products  or  for  small-  or  medium-sized  enterprises?”  The  type  of  activities 
begun under the programme are now continuing under the thematic areas FFG’s research funding 
programmes. For example, since 2012, nanotechnology is supported, inter alia, via FFG’s thematic 
research funding for Production of the Future. 

France:  The  French  Agence  National  de  la  Recherche  (ANR)  channels  public  funding  into  priority 
areas including Nanotechnologies and Manufacturing. Since 2006, the P2N programme113 aims to 
strengthen  national  excellence  in  the  areas  of  micro  and  nano-engineering  (ranging  from  core 
technologies to systems), and speed up technology transfer to French firms in order to exploit the 
potential of the nanotechnologies. P2N also addresses nanotechnology for sustainable development, 
relevant to construction. The objectives are to reinforce the partnerships between the industrial and 
scientific  communities,  and  to  improve  the  competitiveness  of  French  technologies  by  fostering 
technological breakthroughs. 

Germany: In 2011, the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) published the Action 
Plan  Nanotechnology  2015114  outlining  the  strategy  for  responsible  development,  innovation  and 
public  dialogue  on  nanotechnology  for  the  period  2010-2015.  The  plan  included  proposals  for 
developing nanotechnology in five main areas including energy, being Nanomaterials for adaptive 
building technology a sub-area within energy (operation of buildings alone accounts for 40% of the 
energy  consumption  in  Germany).  In  parallel,  there  are  the  Innovation  Alliances115,  providing 
funding for strategic co-operation between industry and public research in key technology areas that 
demand a large amount of resources and a long time horizon, but promise considerable innovation 
and economic impacts. Public funds and funding from industry is combined in a typical proportion of 
1:5 (public: private). 

The Netherlands: NanoNed (2004 – 2010, total funding of EUR 235 Million administered by the 
Dutch  Ministry  for  Economic  Affairs),  the  Nanotechnology  R&D  initiative  in  the  Netherlands,  has 
clustered the Dutch expertise on nanotechnology and enabling technology into a national network. 
The  NanoNed  programme  was  organised  into  eleven  independent  programmes,  or  flagships, 
amongst  which  were  Bottom-up  Nano-Electronics  and  Nano-Fabrication.  In  2011,  NanoNed  was 
followed  by  NanoNextNL116,  a  consortium  of  more  than  a  hundred  companies,  nine  knowledge 
intensive institutes, six academic medical centres and thirteen universities. Stakeholders collaborate 

112 https://www.ffg.at/nano-das-programm  
113 http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/en/projects-and-results/calls-for-proposals-2013/aap-

en/nanotechnologies-and-nanosystems-p2n-2013/  

114 http://www.lai.fu-berlin.de/homepages/nitsch/publikationen/Germany_ActionPlanNanotechnology_2015.pdf  
115 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/kets-tools/sites/default/files/policy/germany.pdf  
116 http://www.nanonextnl.nl/  

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

on fundamental as well as applied research through research projects. NanoNextNL is expected to 
grow into an open-innovation ecosystem, with new  partners joining the consortium. Industry has 
committed to continue its support for NanoNextNL after 2015.  

In addition, innovation in the Netherlands is organised under the Top Sector Policy117 announced in 
2010.  Businesses,  researchers  and  government  work  closely  together  in  Top  consortiums  for 
Knowledge and Innovation (TKIs). The only policy objective that has been set specifically for the top 
sector policy is that public and private parties should participate in the TKIs for an amount of at least 
€500 million by 2015, 40% of which should be financed by trade and industry. The formal objective 
set  for  the  top  sector  policy  is  that  it  should  contribute  to  “a  stronger  innovative  capacity  in  the 
Dutch economy.” i.e. that the Netherlands will be ranked among the top five knowledge economies 
worldwide by 2020 and will spend 2.5% of GDP on R&D by 2020. 

One of the nine top sectors is High Tech Systems and Materials with its roadmap on nanotechnology 
(implemented  by  TKI  NanoNext)  as  an  enabling  and  cross-cutting  technology.  The  aim  of  the 
roadmap  is  to  enable  research  that  will  lead  to  new  applications  to  address  the  challenges  that 
society currently faces. Advances in mechatronics and manufacturing are being coupled with those 
in  nanotechnology  for  areas  including  energy  efficiency  in  buildings  (energy-efficient  building 
cooling, heating and lighting control using low cost micro- and nanotechnology-based autonomous 
sensors and control systems with local intelligence).  

Portugal:  The  International  Iberian  Nanotechnology  Laboratory118  (INL)  was  established  as  the 
result of a joint decision of the Governments of Portugal and Spain, in November, 2005. With a total 
investment  of  EUR  46.5  million  (of  which  EUR  30  million  came  from  the  European  Regional 
Development Fund, “Spain – Portugal” Operational Programme, 2007-2013). INL is an international 
research  organisation  in  the  field  of  nanoscience  and  nanotechnology.  Established  as  an 
Intergovernmental Organisation (IGRO), the INL is developing itself into a state-of the art research 
environment  (including  nanofabrication  facilities)  for  materials  science  at  nanoscale,  nano-
electronics, nano biotechnology and nanomedicine. In addition to being a facility for researchers in 
Portugal and Spain, it hosts those from non-EU countries such as Brazil. Among the key research 
activities at INL is nano-electronics (including spintronics, MEMS and nano-devices). 

Slovakia: The Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports (MESRS)119 published the Action 
Plan for the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation, 2014-2020120. The Action Plan focused on 
measures  to  encourage  R&D  expenditure  of  companies  and  applied  research.  The  Action  Plan 
identified also seven priority areas that include material research and nanotechnologies (about EUR 
42 million) and information and communication technologies (about EUR 10 million).121  

Spain:  The  Sixth  National  Scientific  Research,  Development  and  Technological  Innovation  Plan 
(2008-2011) included the Strategic Action for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, New Materials and 
New Industrial Processes (SANSNT), which addressed seven priorities, amongst which were nano-
electronics  and  molecular  electronics,  optoelectronics  and  photonics,  and  semiconductor  nano-
structures  as  well  as  magnetic  information  storage  and  magneto-electronics.  Under  the  Spanish 
State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013-2016, endorsed in February 
2013, a number of funding support instruments are available for the development and dissemination 
of Key Enabling Technologies, including nanotechnology. 

The United Kingdom (UK): The main player in UK policy measures related to nanotechnology as 
a key enabling technology (KET) is the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and its 
agency,  the  Technology  Strategy  Board,  now  called  Innovate  UK122.  It  supports  SMEs  with  high 
growth potential, manages the Small Business Research Initiative123 and identified future potential 
growth sectors and commercialisation opportunities.  

117 http://www.hollandhightech.nl/nationaal/innovatie/roadmaps/smart-industry 
118 http://inl.int/  
119 https://www.minedu.sk/about-the-ministry/  
120 http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/regions/SK   
121http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/10157/511834/PPT_Slovakia_Dublin%20FINAL%2026%206

%202014.pdf.  

122 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk  
123 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sbri-the-small-business-research-initiative  

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The UK Enabling Technologies Strategy 2012-2015124 also aims to support business in developing 
high-value products and services in areas such as energy, food, healthcare, transport and the built 
environment  by  addressing  four  enabling  technologies  -  advanced  materials;  biosciences; 
electronics,  sensors  and  photonics;  and  information  and  communication  technology  (ICT). 
Nanotechnology  is  identified  as  having  a  significant  underpinning  role  across  most  of  these 
technology areas. 

Many of the Member State nanotechnology policies and programmes are identified in the table at 
the end of this section. There is also additional information in the Annex: Additional Information on 
Member State Policies and Programmes (an Annex which is common to all the NanoData Landscape 
Compilation reports).  

In addition to individual Member State initiatives, there are bilateral and multilateral collaborations 
between countries, agencies and research organisations. Most notable in such pooling of Member 
State resources and collaboration to address common issues are the Joint Programming Initiatives 
(JPIs) mentioned in the sections on European policies and programmes. 

National  websites  also  highlight  the  importance  of  nanotechnology  in  various  sectors  and  some 
countries  actively  promote  themselves  as  leaders  in  nanotechnology  in  areas  including  those 
relevant to ICT, electronics and photonics. For example: 

• 

From France, the web site of Campus France125 states: “With more than 5,300 researchers and 
240  laboratories  working  in  the  nanosciences  and  nanotechnologies,  French  institutions  are 
engaged  in  a  great  many  nano-research  projects  in  the  broad  fields  of  electronics, 
communications, materials, energy, biotechnologies, pharmacology, medicine, health, and the 
environment. [….] With the research infrastructure built since the 1990s, France is one of the 
leaders  in  basic  research  in  the  nanosciences.  The  country  ranks  second  in  Europe,  after 
Germany, in the amount invested in nanoscience research, and fifth in the world in number of 
publications in the field.” 

•  On  the  German  Trade  and  Invest  Agency126  website  provides  the  information  that:  
“Approximately half of the nanotechnology companies in Europe are from Germany; the country 
is  number  one  in  Europe  in  the  nanotechnology  industry.  German  companies  manufacture 
products in the areas of nanomaterials, nano-tools, nano-analytics, and nano-tool accessories 
(e.g.  vacuum  and  cleanroom  technology,  plasma  sources,  etc.).  They  also  manufacture  and 
utilize  nano-optimised  components  and  systems,  and  they  provide  services  in  the  areas  of 
consulting, contract coating, technology transfer, and commissioned analysis and research …” 

Some  policies  and  programme  for  nanotechnology  and,  where  appropriate,  nanotechnology  and 
construction, in countries outside of the EU are reported in the next section. 

124 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enabling-technologies-strategy-2012-to-2015  
125 http://ressources.campusfrance.org/catalogues_recherche/recherche/en/rech_nano_en.pdf  
126 http://www.gtai.de/ 

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Table 4-1: Member State policies and programmes for nanotechnology 

Country   Name of Initiative 

Dates 

Relevance 

Description 

AT 

Austrian NANO 
Initiative127 

2004-
2011 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

Multiannual, funding collaborative R&D, co-ordinating 
NANO-related policy measures at national and 
regional levels. Since 2012, NT is supported via FFG’s 
thematic research funding e.g. Production of the 
Future 

(NANO) 

AT 

------ 

From 
2012 

Thematic, not 
NT Specific 

Since 2012, NT R&D is being supported via FFG’s 
thematic research funding e.g. Production of the 
Future 

All 

FFG 

BE 

IMEC 

From 
1984 

Thematic, not 
NT Specific 

Since 1984 the Government of Flanders is supporting 
IMEC research institute 

All 

Government of 
Flanders 

Target 
Groups 

Implementing 
Body 

IND SME HEI  
PRO 

FFG 

Budget          

(EUR millions) 

70 over 8 years 

450 for all disciplines 
(over the preceding 4 
years when funding was 
managed by BMVIT) 

Initial investment: 62 

For every period the 
contribution increased 
until reaching around 
48 in 2011. 

DK 

FI 

FR 

Strategic Research in 
Growth Technologies128 

From 
2005 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

Programme to strengthen research at the bio-nano-
ICT interface for socio-economic benefit 

IND SME  HEI  
PRO 

Innovation 
Fund Denmark 

c. 10 per annum 

FinNano129 

Nanomaterials 
Mandatory Reporting 
Scheme130 

2005-
2009 

From 
2013 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

Multiannual funding for nano S&T to study, exploit 
and commercialise nano. 

IND SME  HEI  
PRO 

Tekes 

70 over 5 years 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

Mandatory reporting scheme for nanomaterials of 
100g and above 

All 

ANSES 

n/a 

FR 

PNANO  

P2N 

2002-5 

2006 -13 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

FR 

DE 

Investissements 
d’avenir  

Nanotechnology 
Conquers Markets 

From 
2011 

2004-
2006 

Generic 

R&D on  
•  Nanotechnologies, Nanodevices, Micro-Nanosystems 
•  Simulation and Modelling of Nanosystems 
•  Nanotechnologies for Biology, Health and Agro-food 
•  Nanotechnologies for Energy and Environment 
•  Integrative Research Projects for Nanosystems 
Excellence initiatives including nanobiotechnology 
and bioinformatics 

IND SME HEI  
PRO and 
Individuals 

ANR131 

139.8 for P2N over 8 
years 

IND SME PRO 

ANR 

12 per annum 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

Five leading-edge innovation programmes including 
NanoforLife – pharmaceuticals and medical 

All 

BMBF 

24 over 3 years 

127 https://www.ffg.at/nano-aktuell ; https://www.ffg.at/11-ausschreibung-produktion-der-zukunft 
128 http://innovationsfonden.dk/en/about-ifd 
129 www.tekes.fi 
130 https://www.anses.fr/fr/lexique/nanotechnologies 
131 http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/  

 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Country   Name of Initiative 

Dates 

Relevance 

Description 

DE 

Nano Initiative – Action 
Plan 

2006-
2010 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

DE 

Innovation Alliances 

2007-
2012 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

IT 

LT 

Fondo per la Crescita 
Sostenibile (FCS)  

2002-
2004 

Targeting NT 

(Fund for sustainable 
growth) 

High Technology 
Development 
Programme 

2012- 
Ongoing 

NL 

NanoNed 

2004-
2011 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

NL 

NanoNextNL 

2011-
2015 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

NL 

Top sectors 

2010 to 
date 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

Cross-departmental initiative led by BMBF: to speed 
up the use of the results of nanotechnological 
research for innovations; introduce nanotechnology 
to more sectors and companies; eliminate obstacles 
to innovation by means of early consultation in all 
policy areas; and (4) enable an intensive dialogue 
with the public. 

For strategic long-term co-operation between 
multiple industry and public research partners. Funds 
R&D, other innovation-related activities. Public and 
private funds are combined in a 1:5 ratio.  

In September 2014 MISE issued the call for industrial 
R&D projects of the FCS, covering the fields of ICTs, 
nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, advanced 
materials, biotechnology, technologies associated 
with the EU Horizon 2020 programme. 

The High Technology Development Programme in 
2012 aims to encourage scientists, researchers and 
students to establish start-up or spin-off companies. 
13 new companies obtained public funding. The high-
tech areas concerned are: information technology, 
nanotechnology, mechatronics lasers technology and 
biotechnology 

NanoNed was organised into eleven independent 
flagships based on regional R&D strength and 
industrial relevance, including NanoFabrication and 
NanoElectronics 

Consortium-based system (over one hundred 
companies, nine knowledge intensive institutes, six 
academic medical centres and thirteen universities). 
Stakeholders collaborate on fundamental and applied 
research projects. It includes NanoFabrication. 

The Top Sector Policy involves government support in 
nine key economic areas (the top sectors) through a 
combination of generic (i.e. financial) instruments 
and a focused emphasis on achieving optimum 
cooperation in the „golden triangle‟ formed by 
companies, research institutions and government. 
The policy works through Top Consortia for 
Knowledge and Innovation (TKIs). 

Target 
Groups 

Implementing 
Body 

Budget          

(EUR millions) 

All 

BMBF 

640 over 5 years 

All 

BMBF 

500 over 6 years 

Mainly SMEs 

MISE 

300 

SMEs 

MITA 

13 companies obtained 
public funding for a 
maximum of around 
EUR 20,000 each 

IND SME HEI 
PRO and 
Individuals 

Dutch Ministry 
for the 
Economy 

235 over 8 years 

IND SME HEI 
PRO and 
Individuals 

Dutch Ministry 
for the 
Economy 

125 over 5 years 

IND SME HEI 
PRO 

Dutch Ministry 
for the 
Economy 

Objective for public and 
private sector to 
participate for an 
amount of at least EUR 
500 million by 2015, 
40% of which from 
trade and industry. 

47 

 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Country   Name of Initiative 

Dates 

Relevance 

Description 

Target 
Groups 

Implementing 
Body 

Budget          

(EUR millions) 

2008-
2011 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

To enhance the competitiveness of industry by 
generating new knowledge and applications based on 
the convergence of new technologies, where 
nanotechnology plays a central role.  

IND SME HEI 
PRO 

Ministry 

33 over 4 years 

Strategic Action of 
Nano Science, Nano 
technologies, new 
materials and new 
industrial processes 

International Iberian 
Nanotechnology 
Laboratory 

2005 to 
date 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

Action Plan for the 
Innovation Strategy for 
Smart Specialisation 
(RIS3) 2014-2020  

2014-
2020 

Targeting NT, 
but not only 

International research organisation in the field of 
nanoscience and nanotechnology, the result of a joint 
decision of the Governments of Portugal and Spain. 
Becoming a state-of the art research environment 
(including nanofabrication facilities) for nano-
biotechnology, nano-electronics, nanomedicine and 
materials science at nanoscale. INL hosts researchers 
from the EU and non-EU countries including Brazil.  

The Action Plan focused on measures to encourage 
R&D expenditure of companies and applied research. 
The Action Plan identified also seven priority areas 
that include material research and nanotechnologies 
and information and communication technologies. 

IND SME HEI 

Governments 
of Portugal and 
Spain 

46.5 (of which 30 from 
ERDF Spain – Portugal” 
Operational 
Programme) over 7 
years 

Industry 

MESRS 

Around 42 for 
nanotechnology 

Around 10 for ICT 

Micro and 
Nanotechnology 
Manufacturing 
Initiative132 

2003-
2007 

Directly 
Targeting NT  

Support for collaborative R&D and capital 
infrastructure, co-financed by industry 

Industry 

DTI 

329 over 4 years, over 
100 from public funds 

UK Nanotechnologies 
Strategy 

2009-
2012 

Directly 
Targeting NT 

Key Enabling 
Technologies Strategy 

2012-
2015 

NT as 
Underpinning 
Technology 

IND SME HEI 
PRO 

TSB, EPSRC, 
BBSRC and 
MRC 

Business 
mainly 

Innovate UK 

Targets the ways by which nanotechnologies can 
address major challenges facing society such as 
environmental change, ageing and growing 
populations, and global means of communication and 
information sharing.  

Addresses four enabling technologies - advanced 
materials; biosciences; electronics, sensors and 
photonics; and information and communication 
technology (ICT) to support business in developing 
high-value products and services in areas such as 
energy, food, healthcare, transport and the built 
environment. Nanotechnology is identified as having 
a significant underpinning role across most of these 
technology areas, particularly in the healthcare and 
life sciences sectors. 

GBP 20m a year in 
higher-risk, early-stage 
innovation across 
advanced materials; 
biosciences; electronics, 
sensors and photonics; 
and ICT 

ES 

PT 

SK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

132 http://www.innovateuk.org/  

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49 

 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

5 

POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN OTHER COUNTRIES133 

5.1 

Europe  

5.1.1  Non-EU Member States 

5.1.1.1  Norway 

From 2002 to 2011, Norway addressed nanotechnology through its Programme on Nanotechnology 
and  New  Materials  (NANOMAT)134,  the  first  thematic  investment  area  being  Energy  and  the 
environment. In 2012, a follow-on programme (to run until 2021) was initiated, the Nanotechnology 
and Advanced Materials Programme (NANO2021)135. Managed by the Research Council of Norway136, 
this large-scale programme is designed to further raise the level internationally of the  Norwegian 
knowledge base in nanotechnology, micro-technology and advanced materials. NANO2021 receives 
funding from the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The 
annual budget in the period 2013-2021 has been set at NOK 92.1 million (EUR 10 million137)138.  

5.1.1.2  The Russian Federation 

The  Russian  Federation  came  comparatively  late  to  nanotechnology  as  a  topic  for  research, 
development and innovation policy. It was only in 2007 that a comprehensive government effort in 
the field began with the launch, in April of that year, of a strategy for the development of the ‘nano-
industries’. The strategy was to be realised through a series of Federal Target Programmes, amongst 
which was one specifically dedicated to the development of nanotechnology and the creation of new 
government bodies for that purpose. The main focus of Russian nanotechnology efforts since that 
time has been on the development of a domestic infrastructure for nanotechnology research and 
development as well as for innovation, commercialisation and manufacturing of nano-products. This 
is expected to remain the major theme for the coming years. 

State  institutions  have  been  the  principal  actors  in  the  field  of  nanotechnology  in  Russia  for  the 
intervening  period.  The  State  Corporation,  RUSNANO,  has  had  primary  responsibility  for  the 
development of nanotechnology innovation and its commercialisation. RUSNANO was the outcome 
of  a  re-organisation  in  2011  of  the  State  “Russian  Corporation  of  Nanotechnologies”  that  was 
established in 2007. It was set up as one of several State Corporations intended to lead the economic 
modernisation that was proposed in the Concept for the Long-Term Socio-Economic Development of 
the Russian Federation.  

RUSNANO now combines an open joint-stock company and a Fund for Infrastructure and Educational 
Programmes (FIEP). It had capital funding in 2008-2009 of over USD 4 billion (EUR 2.8 billion139) 
but this dropped to USD 2.6 billion (EUR 1.9 billion140) by the end of 2010, falling further thereafter. 
A gradual privatisation of RUSNANO began in 2011. The mission of RUSNANO is to grow the national 
nanotechnology industry through the commercialisation of nanotechnology and the co-ordination of 
nanotechnology-related  innovation.  It  acts  as  a  co-investor  in  nanotechnology  projects  having 
substantial economic or social potential.  

RUSNANO has a very wide range of activities spanning from research to foresight to infrastructure, 
education, standards and certification. Its research projects fall under six clusters and its activities 
are industry focused in sectors such as construction materials among others141.  

133 The UN method of classifying countries by macro geographical (continental) regions and geographical sub-

regions was followed (http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm ) 

134http://www.forskningsradet.no/prognett-

nano2021/Artikkel/About_the_programme/1253970633592?lang=en 

135 

http://www.forskningsradet.no/servlet/Satellite?c=Page&pagename=nano2021%2FHovedsidemal&cid=12
53969916237&langvariant=en  

136 http://www.forskningsradet.no 
137 Currency conversion at the exchange rate of October 2015. 
138 Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials – NANO2021: Work Programme.  
139 Average yearly conversion rate, 2008-2009 (source: www.wolframalpha.com ) 
140 Average yearly conversion rate, 2010 (source: www.wolframalpha.com ) 
141 http://en.rusnano.com/upload/images/documents/RUSNANO_Strategy_2020.pdf  

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5.1.1.3  Switzerland 

Basic  (fundamental)  research  is  funded  at  national  level  through  the  Swiss  National  Science 
Foundation (SNF) and the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) and takes place mainly 
in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and the universities, as well as some 30 research 
organisations.  Applied  research  and  the  transfer  of  research  to  market  innovation  takes  place  in 
industry and “Fachhochschulen” (Universities of Applied Research). Two-thirds of R&D investment 
(which in Switzerland is almost at the EU target of 3% of GDP) comes from industry. 

CTI funds the Swiss MNT network (micro and nanotechnology) as one of the core innovative themes 
of national and international importance142. The Swiss MNT Network is  an R&D consortium of the 
major  public  R&D  institutions  in  micro  and  nanotechnology  whose  goal  is  to  simplify  access  to 
industries looking for competences and expertise for their projects143. Members include ETH Zürich, 
Hightech  Zentrum  Aargau,  Centre  of  Micronanotechnology  (EPFL),  Adolphe  Merkle  Institute  and 
companies  such  as  IBM,  BASF  and  Novartis.  There  are  also  some  regional  networks  that  include 
nanotechnology as priority: i-net innovation networks Switzerland – i-net Nano144, and Nano-Cluster 
Bodensee145. Most activities are strongly focused on R&D to support industry. 

Some important measures target nanotechnology and their deployment in Switzerland - the “Micro 
and  Nanotechnology”  initiatives  of  CTI  and  the  “National  Centres  of  Competence  in  Research 
(NCCR)146 Nanoscale Science”. Neither specifically targets nanotechnology in the construction sector, 
but they promote synergies between different sub-areas and sub-disciplines and solutions between 
various areas of application and industrial sectors by using nanotechnology, which can impact on 
construction. 

5.2 

The Americas 

5.2.1  North America 

5.2.1.1  Canada 

Nanotechnology is promoted in Canada mainly at the level of its Provinces, for example in Alberta 
and Quebec. 

Alberta 

The National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) is a research institution located in Edmonton on 
the main campus of the University of Alberta. Its primary purpose is nanotechnology research. The 
Institute was established in 2001 as a partnership between the National Research Council of Canada 
(NRC), the University of Alberta and the Government of Alberta. As an institute of the NRC, its core 
funding comes from the Government of Canada and additional funding and research support from 
the university, the Government of Alberta and various federal and provincial funding agencies. It is 
active in a wide range of fields such as energy and nano-enabled bio-materials.  

Following  the  announcement  in  2007  of  the  Government  of  Alberta's  Nanotechnology  Strategy, 
nanoAlberta was created as an implementation organisation for that Strategy. NanoAlberta provides 
leadership  to  and  co-ordination  of  the  Province's  wide  range  of  capabilities,  organisations  and 
individuals with the aim of gaining a return of CND 20 billion (EUR 13.4 billion147) in market share 
for nano-enabled commerce by 2020.    

Quebec 

NanoQuébec  is  a  not-for-profit  organisation  funded  by  the  MEIE  (Ministère  de  l'Économie,  de 
l'Innovation et des Exportations du Québec). Its mission is to strengthen nanotechnology innovation, 
increase its diffusion and raise both capabilities and capacities in the Province in order that Quebec 
becomes a centre of excellence for nanotechnology. The overarching and long-term aim is that of 

142 https://www.kti.admin.ch/kti/en/home/unsere-foerderangebote/Unternehmen/internationale-netzwerke-
und-forschungskooperationen-neu/spezialthema-japan-schweiz1/foerderlandschaft-schweiz.html 

143 http://www.swissmntnetwork.ch/content/ 
144 http://www.i-net.ch/nano/ 
145 http://www.ncb.ch/wordpress_neu/ 
146 http://www.snf.ch/en/funding/programmes/national-centres-of-competence-in-research-

nccr/Pages/default.aspx  

147 Current conversion rates, October 2015 

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maximising economic impacts from nanotechnology in Quebec. Since December 2014, following a 
merger with the Consortium Innovation Polymères, NanoQuébec has formed part of Prima Québec, 
Quebec’s advanced materials research and innovation hub.  

Quebec’s  Nano  Action  Plan  2013-2018148  specifically  targets  four  priority  sectors:  microsystems, 
health, industrial materials and forestry. It covers infrastructure, financing of innovation, knowledge 
transfer and technology transfer, and national and international outreach horizontally across the four 
priority areas.  

Via  a  central  point  (QNI  or  Quebec  Nanotechnology  Infrastructure),  it  co-ordinates  and  provides 
infrastructure  for  300  experts  using  a  fund  of  CND  300  million  (EUR  200  million149).  QNI  has 
particular  strengths  in  micro-nanofabrication,  characterisation,  synthesis  and  modelling.  Other 
infrastructure can be accessed but is not funded via QNI.  

The  Action  Plan  has  also  led  to  the  financing  of  technological  feasibility  projects  (maximum  six 
months); collaborative industry/university research projects (one to two years); and international 
research  projects  with  strategic  NanoQuébec  partners.  Knowledge  and  technology  transfer  are 
supported  through  training,  industry  internships,  and  dissemination  and  awareness  activities;  by 
establishing networks and by organising interactive visits by experts. Outreach actions aim to attract 
new projects and finance  to Quebec and to  increase  the engagement in international projects by 
people from Quebec.  

5.2.1.2  The United States of America (US) 

The  National  Nanotechnology  Initiative150  was  launched  in  2000  across  a  group  of  eight  Federal 
agencies  with  some  responsibility  for  nanotechnology  research,  application  and/or  regulatory 
activity, and has grown to include 25 Federal agencies. It aims to create collaborations and bring 
together  expertise  to  work  on  shared  goals,  priorities,  and  strategies  thereby  leveraging  the 
resources  of  the  participating  agencies.  The  goals  of  the  NNI  Goals  are  to  advance  world-class 
nanotechnology research and development; foster the transfer of new technologies into products for 
commercial and public benefit; develop and sustain educational resources, a skilled workforce and 
the  supporting  infrastructure  and  tools  to  advance  nanotechnology;  and  support  the  responsible 
development of nanotechnology. 

The NNI is managed within the framework of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), 
a cabinet-level council under the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House. The 
Nanoscale  Science,  Engineering,  and  Technology  (NSET)  Subcommittee  of  the  NSTC  facilitates 
planning, budgeting, programme implementation and review across the NNI agencies. The National 
Nanotechnology  Co-ordination  Office  (NNCO)  was  established  in  2001  to  provide  technical  and 
administrative support to the NSET Subcommittee, serve as a central point of contact for Federal 
nanotechnology R&D activities and perform public outreach on behalf of the National Nanotechnology 
Initiative. 

The NSET Subcommittee is composed of representatives from agencies participating in the NNI and 
NSET has Working Groups on Global Issues in Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology Environmental & 
Health  Implications;  Nano-manufacturing,  Industry  Liaison,  &  Innovation;  and  Nanotechnology 
Public Engagement and Communications.  

In  February  2014,  the  National  Nanotechnology  Initiative  released  a  Strategic  Plan151  outlining 
updated goals and five  "programme component areas" (PCAs). The goals focus on extending the 
boundaries of research; fostering the transfer of technology into products; developing and sustaining 
skilled  people  (with  the  right  infrastructure  and  toolset)  for  nanotechnology;  and  supporting 
responsible  development  of  nanotechnology.  The  five  PCAs  include  a  set  of  five  Nanotechnology 
Signature  Initiatives  (NSIs)  as  well  as  PCAs  for  foundational  research;  nanotechnology-enabled 
applications, devices, and systems; research infrastructure and instrumentation; and environment, 
health, and safety. The five Nanotechnology Signature Initiatives (NSIs) covered: 

• 
• 

nanotechnology for solar energy collection and conversion;  
nanoelectronics for 2020 and beyond (including the energy sector as an application area;  

148 http://www.nanoquebec.ca/media/plan-action_en1.pdf  
149 Current conversion rates, October 2015. 
150 http://www.nano.gov/  
151 http://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/pub_resource/2014_nni_strategic_plan.pdf  

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• 
• 
• 

nanotechnology knowledge infrastructure (NKI);  
sustainable nano-manufacturing; and 
nanotechnology for sensors and sensors for nanotechnology.  

The 2014 NNI Strategic Plan also identifies potential challenges in which nanotechnology can play a 
role. The Strategy mentions the different priorities and interests of Federal Agencies, many of which 
are relevant to energy and therefore to the built environment, for example:  

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 

The Department of Commerce: Economic Development Administration sees nanotechnology in 
the energy sector among its funding priorities.  
The Department of Energy (DOE) views nanoscience and nanotechnology as having a vital role 
to  play  in  solving  the  energy  and  climate-change  challenges,  particularly  for  solar  energy 
collection and conversion, energy storage, alternative fuels, and energy efficiency.  
The  Department  of  State  consider  nanotechnology  important  to  face  global  challenges  in  the 
energy field.  
The Intelligence Community(IC) has several agencies that conduct nanotechnology R&D.  
The  National  Reconnaissance  Office  (NRO)  has  an  R&D  programme  that  focuses  on 
nanomaterials, energy generation and storage using nanotechnologies, and nanoelectronics.  

•  NASA focuses R&D activities also on energy generation, storage, and distribution. 

The NNI's budget supplement proposed by the Obama administration for Fiscal Year 2015 provided 
for USD 1.5 billion (EUR 1.2 billion152) of funding. Cumulative NNI investment since fiscal year 2001, 
including the 2015 request, totals almost USD 21 billion (EUR 17 billion153). Cumulative investments 
in nanotechnology-related environmental, health, and safety research since 2005 is nearly USD 900 
million  (EUR  680  million154).  The  Federal  agencies  with  the  largest  investments  are  the  National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy, the 
Department of Defence, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

Some of the above-mentioned institutions (like NIST, with its main focus on measurement sciences 
and  standards  development)  have  areas  dedicated  to  nanotechnology  as  well  as  to  the  built 
environment (having a specific portal dedicated to each of them)155, 156. NIST provides facilities to 
support  production,  through  the  Centre  for  Nanoscale  Science  and  Technology  (CNST)157, 
established  in  2007.  The  CNST  facilitates  the  access  to  commercial  state-of-the-art  nanoscale 
measurement  and  fabrication  tools.  In  addition,  NanoLab  gives  the  chance  to  researchers  to 
collaborate through the Energy Research Group that develops instruments designed to reveal the 
nanoscale physical and chemical processes and properties critical to advances in energy conversion, 
transport  and  storage”158.  One  of  the  NanoLab  focus  areas  is  energy  storage,  transport,  and 
conversion in the forms of: theory and modelling of materials for renewable energy; nanostructures 
for energy conversion; opto-electrical characterisation of nanostructured photovoltaic materials and 
devices; nanoscale functional and structural characterisation of thin-film inorganic solar cells; and 
nanostructured thermo-electrics. 

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has established five Nanoscale Science Research Centres that 
provide facilities and instruments to the international academic, industry and government research 
community  for  successfully  peer-reviewed  research  projects159.  The  centres  are:  Centre  for 
Functional  Nanomaterials  (CFN),  Centre  for  Integrated  Nanotechnologies  (CINT),  Centre  for 
Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), Molecular Foundry (TMF) and Centre for Nanoscale Materials. 
The last one is a joint partnership between the DOE and the State of Illinois, is one of offices of the 
DoE160  with  the  main  goal  of  conducting  basic  research  and  instrumentation  development  in 
nanotechnology  linked  to  energy-related  research  and  development  programmes161.  The  DOE 
programmes  EV  Everywhere  (for  electric  vehicles)  and  SunShot  (for  solar  energy)  are  using 

152 Average yearly conversion rate, 2015 (source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 
153 Average yearly conversion rate, 2001-2015 (source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 
154 Average yearly conversion rate, 2005-2015 (source: www.wolframalpha.com ) 
155 http://www.nist.gov/nanotechnology-portal.cfm  
156 http://www.nist.gov/building-and-fire-research-portal.cfm  
157 http://www.nist.gov/cnst/index.cfm  
158 http://www.nist.gov/cnst/erg/index.cfm  
159 http://science.energy.gov/bes/suf/user-facilities/nanoscale-science-research-centers/  
160 http://www.anl.gov/cnm/about-us  
161 http://www.anl.gov/cnm/group/nanophotonics  

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engineered nanomaterials and nanoscale processes to collect and store energy.  

Another important actor active in nanotechnology is the NSF. This federal agency, with an annual 
budget of USD 7.3 billion (EUR 6.8 billion162) (FY 2015), funds approximately 24% of all federally-
supported  basic  research  (except  for  medical  sciences)  conducted  by  America's  colleges  and 
universities163.  With  relation  to  construction,  NSF  deals  with  energy  through  its  Chemical, 
Bioengineering  and  Environmental  and  Transport  Systems  Division  which  has  a  programme  on 
energy for sustainability. Current topics (many of which would address nanotechnology and energy) 
include:  biomass  conversion,  biofuels  &  bioenergy;  photovoltaic  (PV)  solar  energy  (particularly 
oriented to nanotechnology); advanced batteries for transportation and renewable energy storage; 
and wind energy164. The US Department of Defence contributes to nanotechnology research through 
its Defence Nanotechnology Research and Development programme165. This document is partially 
connected  to  construction  via  energy-related  matters,  for  instance  energy  storage  for  thermal 
energy conversion. 

In  additional  to  these  Federal  initiatives,  there  exist  several  policy  initiatives  at  State  level166. 
Programmes for the promotion of nanotechnologies currently exist in 23 states. Notable examples 
are the Texas Emerging Technology Fund167, the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative168, the Illinois 
Nanotechnology “Collaboratory”169, and the Oregon  Nanoscience  and Micro-Technologies Institute 
(ONAMI)170. The State-level organisations typically undertake some or all of the following activities: 
fostering collaboration on nanotechnology topics and challenges between researchers and research 
centres;  higher  education/industry  joint  projects;  education  and  outreach;  access  to  technology 
experts and infrastructure; early-stage funding and investment opportunities; technology transfer 
and commercialisation; and awareness raising in the community. 

5.2.2  South America 

5.2.2.1  Argentina 

A first initiative to foster nanotechnology in Argentina was established in 2003 when the national 
Science and Technology Secretariat started to organise research networks in the field. In 2004, the 
Secretariat, looked to address gaps in what being done under the National Agency for Scientific and 
Technological Promotion (ANPCYT, Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica171) as a 
result  of  which  four  nanoscience  and  nanotechnology  networks  were  approved  in  2005,  bringing 
together  around  250  scientists.  In  the  same  year,  the  Argentinian-Brazilian  Nanoscience  and 
Nanotechnology Centre (CABN, Centro Argentino-Brasileno de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología) was 
created as a binational co-ordination body integrating research groups, networks of nanoscience and 
nanotechnology,  and  companies  in  Argentina  and  Brazil,  in  order  to  support  scientific  and 
technological  research  in  the  area  and  to  improve  the  human  and  scientific  resources  of  both 
countries. 

The Argentinian Foundation for Nanotechnology (FAN)172 was initiated in 2005 by the Economy and 
Production Ministry, with the aim of stimulating training and developing technical infrastructure to 
promote advances in nanotechnology and the adoption of nanotechnology by industry. It also aimed 
to  encourage  the  participation  of  researchers,  institutions  and  companies  from  Argentina  in 
international networks. 

While previous national programmes had differentiated between funding either for the public sector 
(essentially  the  research  networks)  or  for  the  private  sector  (projects  of  the  FAN),  the 
nanotechnology sector funds (FS-NANO) launched in 2010 provided funding to projects dedicated to 

162 Current conversion rate, November 2015 (source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 
163 http://www.nsf.gov/about/  
164 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501026  
165 http://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/pub_resource/dod-report_to_congress_final_1mar10.pdf  
166 http://www.nano.gov/initiatives/commercial/state-local  
167 http://gov.texas.gov/. As of October 2010, the Texas Emerging Technology Fund has given a total of UDS 

173 million to 120 companies as well as UDS 161 million to educational institutions. 

168 http://www.oknano.com / 
169 http://nano.illinois.edu/collaboration/index.html   
170 http://onami.us/  
171 http://www.agencia.mincyt.gob.ar/frontend/agencia/fondo/agencia  
172 http://www.fan.org.ar/en/  

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basic and applied science via public-private partnerships.  

In  2011,  the  Ministry  of  Science,  Technology  and  Productive  Innovation  published  the  Argentina 
Innovadora  2020  (Innovative  Argentina  Plan  2020):  National  Plan  of  Science,  Technology  and 
Innovation.  The  plan  is  focused  on  three  general-purpose  technologies  (nanotechnology, 
biotechnology and ICT) addressing six strategic sectors, including industry. It addresses six strategic 
sectors: environment and sustainable development (including adaptation of individual and collective 
construction  types  to  avoid  temperature  increases  and  greenhouse  gas  emissions),  social 
development (including the improvement of conditions and quality of life of the population through 
the development  of innovations in water and energy  consumption  and  production, social housing 
(adapted  to  the  territorial  and  climatic  characteristics  of  each  region)  and  design,  planning  and 
development of urban and rural areas), energy (including the development of materials oriented to 
reducing and rationalising energy consumption in daily life), industry, agroindustry and health173. 

5.2.2.2  Brazil 

Systematic policy support for nanotechnology started in 2001, when the Brazilian Ministry of Science 
and Technology (MCT) through the Brazilian National Research Funding Agency (Conselho Nacional 
de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico or “CNPq”) earmarked BRL 3 million (USD 1 million) 
(EUR 1.12 million174) over four years to form Co-operative Networks of Basic and Applied Research 
on  Nanosciences  and  Nanotechnologies.  Four  national  research  networks  were  established: 
semiconductors  and  nano-structured  materials;  nano-devices;  molecular  nanotechnologies  and 
interfaces;  and  nano-biotechnology.  In  late  2004,  a  network  on  Nanotechnology,  Society  and 
Environment was created that was independent of the formal funding mechanisms.  

Since 1999, Brazil’s national plan has comprised an annual budget and a four-year strategic plan 
(the Plano Plurianual or PPA). In 2003, the Ministry created a special division for the general co-
ordination of nanotechnology policies and programmes whose work resulted in a proposal for specific 
nanotechnology-related  funding.  That  proposal  was  taken  up  in  the  PPA  in  2004-2007,  which 
provided for BRL 78 million (c. USD 28 million) (EUR 22 million175) over 4 years for the Programme 
for  the  Development  of  Nanoscience  and  Nanotechnology.  The  aim  of  the  programme  was  “to 
develop  new  products  and  processes  in  nanotechnology  with  a  view  to  increasing  the 
competitiveness  of  Brazilian  industry”,  which  it  implemented  by  supporting  networks,  research 
laboratories and projects.   

A review of the funding in the light of the 2004 policy on Industrial, Technological and Foreign Trade, 
the government reconsidered the original budget and increased Federal investment for 2005 and 
2006 from the original USD 19 million (EUR 15 million176) to c. USD 30 million (EUR 24 million177) 
for those two years. Ten new research networks were set up to continue previous research activities 
but linking more closely to broader industry, technology, and trade policies. Industrial policy helped 
to  reinforce  the  strategic  status  attributed  at  national  level  to  nanotechnology  and  its  role  in 
enhancing  Brazil’s  competitiveness.  Of  particular  importance  in  the  programmes  were  the 
development of qualified human resources, the modernisation of infrastructure and the promotion 
of university-industry co-operation. 

In  2012,  the  Brazilian  Ministry  for  Science,  Technology  and  Innovation  (MCTI)  launched  the 
SisNANO178  initiative,  enabling  scientists  throughout  Brazil  to  conduct  experiments  at  26  “open” 
laboratories offering the very best equipment for research in nanotechnology. University students 
and staff can use the facilities free of charge – provided that they submit a good research proposal 
– while scientists working in industry are able to access specialist equipment and expertise at highly 
subsidised rates.  

In 2013, MCTI launched the Brazilian Nanotechnology Initiative (IBN) with funding estimated to be 
BRL 440 million (EUR 148 million179) for the 2013-2014 period. The implementation of IBN was an 
effort  to  further  strengthen  nanotechnology  in  Brazil  by  strengthening  academic  and  industry 

173 http://www.argentinainnovadora2020.mincyt.gob.ar/?page_id=194  
174 Average yearly conversion rate, 2001(source: www.wolframalpha.com) 
175 Average yearly conversion rate, 2004-2007 (source: www.wolframalpha.com) 
176 Average yearly conversion rate, 2005-2006 (source: www.wolframalpha.com) 
177 Average yearly conversion rate, 2005-2006 (source: www.wolframalpha.com) 
178 Sistema Nacional de Laboratórios em Nanotecnologias ftp://ftp.mct.gov.br/Biblioteca/39717-SisNANO.pdf  
179 Average yearly conversion rate, 2013-2014(source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 

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linkages  thereby  to  promote  the  scientific  and  technological  development  of  the  nanotechnology 
sector.  

Brazil has a collaboration with the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL)180 which 
has already received more than 25 researchers from Brazilian research centres dedicated to research 
at the nanoscale. 

5.3  Asia 

5.3.1   Eastern Asia 

5.3.1.1  China 

The transition of China from a centrally-planned to a more market-oriented economy, begun in the 
1980s, has also led to greater decentralisation of the science and technology (S&T) system. Central 
government  is  increasingly  co-ordinating  S&T,  rather  than  managing  research  and  development 
(R&D),  with  research  institutions  taking  on  a  greater  role  in  policy,  setting  their  own  research 
agendas in the context of the National Five-year Plans. 

The  National  High  Technology  Research  and  Development  Programme  (the  863181  programme 
announced  in  1986)  focuses  on  key  high-technology  fields  of  relevance  to  China's  national 
development,  supporting  research  and  development,  strengthening  technological  expertise  and 
laying the foundations for the development and growth of high technology industries. Its goals are 
'promoting the development of key novel materials and advanced manufacturing technologies for 
raising  industry  competitiveness'  including  nanomaterials.  The  programme  is  supervised  by  the 
National  Steering  Group  of  S&T  and  Education,  and  is  managed  by  the  Ministry  of  Science  and 
Technology.  

The  863  Programme  has  been  implemented  through  successive  Five-Year  Plans.  In  addition  to 
nanotechnology research funding, the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2001-2005) targeted commercialisation 
and development of nanotechnology. The Government disaggregated nanotechnology development 
into short-term projects (development of nanomaterials), medium-term projects (development of 
bio-nanotechnology and nano medical technology), and long-term projects (development of nano 
electronics  and  nano-chips).  The  Eleventh  Five-Year  Plan  (2007-2012)  emphasised  innovative 
technologies, including the development of new materials for information technology, biological and 
aerospace  industries,  and  commercialising  of  the  technology  for  90-nanometer  and  smaller 
integrated circuits.  

The  1997  “National  Plan  on  Key  Basic  Research  and  Development”  together  with  the  “National 
Programme on Key Basic Research Project (973 Programme)” sought to strengthen basic research 
in  line  with  national  strategic  targets182.  The  973  Programme  complements  the  863  programme, 
funding basic research on nanomaterials and nanostructures (i.e. carbon nanotubes). The National 
Steering  Committee  for  Nanoscience  and  Nanotechnology  (NSCNN)  was  established  in  2000  to 
coordinate  and  streamline  all  national  research  activities  including  overseeing  the  863  and  973 
programmes. The NSCNN consists of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the Chinese 
Academy  of  Sciences  (CAS),  the  National  Natural  Science  Foundation  (NSFC),  the  National 
Development  and  Reform  Commission  (NDRC),  the  Ministry  of  Education  (MOE)  and  the  Chinese 
Academy of Engineering (CAE). 

The  Medium-and  Long-term  National  Plan  for  Science  and  Technology  Development  2006-2020 
(MLP)  aims  to  achieve  the  promotion  of  S&T  development  in  selected  key  fields  and  to  enhance 
innovation capacity. The MLP calls for more than 2.5% of GDP to be invested in R&D; for S&T to 
contribute at least 60% to economic growth; for dependence on foreign technologies to decrease to 
under 30%; and for China to rank in the top five in the world for patents and citations in international 
publications.  

Nanotechnology  is  given  priority  status  under  the  MLP,  being  seen  as  one  of  the  Chinese 
'megaprojects' in science. As the MLP is implemented in the context of the Five-Year Plan for S&T 

180 http://inl.int/about-inl/what-is-inl  
181 The programme is named for its date, the 86 for 1986 and the 3 for the third month, hence 86/3 or 863. 

Likewise for the 973 programme launched in March 1997. 

182 http://www.chinaembassy.bg/eng/dtxw/t202503.htm  

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Development (2011-2015), it is relevant that it also emphasises key technologies for strategic and 
emerging industries (including nanotechnology with ICT, photonics, manufacturing and agriculture). 

In addition, China is promoting itself in nanotechnology. From http://www.china.org.cn/: “China is 
positioning itself to become a world leader in nanotechnology … nanotechnology has many potential 
applications  with  significant  economic  consequences  in  industrial  design,  medicine,  agriculture, 
energy,  defence,  food,  etc.  In  medicine  for  example,  these  include  nanoscale  drug  particles  and 
delivery systems and nano-electronic biosensors…. Today, China leads the world in the number of 
nanotechnology patents”. 

5.3.1.2  Japan 

Strategic prioritisation of nanotechnology started in Japan under the Second Science and Technology 
Basic Plan (STBP) 2001-2005. Among the eight priority R&D topics of national importance were ICT 
and  nanotechnology,  as  well  as  manufacturing  technology  and  materials,  energy,  environmental 
sciences  and  life  sciences,  and  the  cross-cutting  areas  of  infrastructure  and  frontier  research. 
Nanotechnology was seen as being relevant to a broad range of fields and it was expected to help 
Japan to maintain its technological edge. Total governmental funding of this field grew in these years 
from JPY 85 billion (EUR 782 million)183 in 2001 to JPY 97 billion (EUR 709 million184) in 2005. 

In the subsequent STBP185,  which ran from 2006 to 2010, Japan established nanotechnology and 
materials as one of its four priority research fields, the others being information and communications, 
environmental sciences; and life sciences. Together with manufacturing, energy, environment, and 
frontiers,  these  formed  eight  Promotion  Areas.  The  total  budget  over  the  five  years  was  JPY  250 
trillion (EUR 200 billion)186. There were five sub-areas under nanotechnology and materials – nano-
electronics;  fundamentals  for  nanotechnology  and  materials;  materials;  nanotechnology  and 
materials science; and nano-biotechnology and biomedical materials. 

In 2010, a ‘New Growth Strategy’ was introduced to combat the lengthy stagnation of the Japanese 
economy.  The  strategy  sought  to  create  jobs  by  tackling  the  issues  faced  by  the  economy  and 
society.  This  took  the  form  of  a  reorientation  of  priorities  towards  green  innovation  (reducing 
emissions  and  addressing  climate  issues);  life  innovation  (healthy  and  long  living);  the  Asian 
economy  (issues  of  specific  Asian  concern  including  falling  birth  rates  and  ageing  societies);  and 
tourism and the regions.  Growth-related strategies for (‘making Japan a superpower in’) science, 
technology and ICT, for employment and human resources, and for the financial sector were also 
identified as essential in supporting growth. The strategy also addressed the issues arising from the 
earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis of 2011.  

The same priorities were incorporated in 2011 into the Fourth Science and Technology Basic Plan 
(2011-2015) with a budget of EUR 250 billion (JPY 25 trillion). As with the New Growth Strategy, 
and in contrast to the previous Basic Plan for Science and Technology, the Fourth Basic Plan shifted 
away from emphasising technologies towards “demand driven and solution-oriented topics” as well 
as  to  “problem  solving  and  issue-driven  policies”  and  the  “deepening  the  relationship  between 
society  and  science  and  technology.”  Two  broad  based  areas  are  prioritised:  Life  Innovation  and 
Green  Innovation  and  an  emphasis  has  been  placed  on  technologies  to  reduce  global  warming, 
provision and storage of energy supply, renewable energies, and diffusion of such technologies. As 
there  is  no  specific  emphasis  on  individual  technologies,  nanotechnology  is  incorporated  across 
research and development without being specifically targeted. In the still limited information existing 
about the Fifth Science and Technology Basic Plan (2016-2020) nanotechnology is mentioned as a 
technology to be consolidated187.  

183 Average yearly conversion rate, 2001 (source: 

www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/note/join/2007/379231/IPOL-
TRAN_NT%282007%29379231_EN.pdf ) 
184 Average yearly conversion rate, 2005 (source: 

www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/note/join/2007/379231/IPOL-
TRAN_NT%282007%29379231_EN.pdf ) 

185 https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-quart/17/jsps17.pdf  
186 Average yearly conversion rate, 2006 (source: 

www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/note/join/2007/379231/IPOL-
TRAN_NT%282007%29379231_EN.pdf ) 

187 http://www.jeupiste.eu/news/5th-science-and-technology-basic-plan-adopted  

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5.3.1.3  Korea (South) 

Long a topic of relevance in Korea, support for nanoscience and nanotechnology reached a new level 
in December 2000 with the announcement by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)188 
of the Korean National Nanotechnology Initiative (KNNI). Nanotechnology was also identified as one 
of  six  priority  fields  in  the  National  Science  and  Technology  Basic  Plan  (2002–2006).  The  NT 
Development Plan was approved by the NSTC on in July 2001 and the NT Development Promotion 
Act passed in November 2002 by the National Assembly. The initiative is now in its 3rd phase (2011-
2020), with focus on ‘clean nanotech’. Investment in phase 1 (2001-2005) was 105.2 billion Won 
(EUR 83 million189); phase 2, 277.2 billion Won (EUR 1,541.8 million190).  

Under  its  KNNI,  Korea  has  focused  on  establishing  specific  support  mechanisms  (programmes, 
systems and societies) and centres of excellence across the country. The launching of the National 
Programme for Tera-Level Nano-devices (2000) was followed by the founding of the Nanotechnology 
Industrialisation Support Centre (2001) and the Korean Advanced Nanofabrication Centre191 (KANC) 
(2003). In more recent times, building on former centres, Korea established two NST centres at the 
Institute for Basic Science: the Centre for Nanoparticle Research and the Centre for Nanomaterials 
and Chemical Reactions (2012)192. In total, 24 nanotechnology-related centres now exist in Korea.  

The Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)193 has a Nanophotonics Research Centre in 
its Material and Life Science Division. The centre focuses on solar cells, as well as optical devices, 
fibre  optic  devices  and  memory  devices,  using  materials  with  various  nano-structures  such  as 
quantum dots, quantum wells, nano wires and photonic crystals194. 

Under  the  Nanotechnology  Development  Promotion  Act  2002,  Korea  also  established  in  2004  the 
Korean Nano Technology Research Society (KoNTRS)195 as a mechanism for co-operation between 
researchers working on nanotechnology throughout the country, to develop collaborative research 
programmes between institutions (public and private) and to support the government in establishing 
appropriate national NST policies.  

Korea has since continued to invest in nanotechnology, with the review by NSTC in 2006 of the first 
five years of its NNI leading to support continuing for an additional ten years. In this third phase of 
the NT Development Plan (2011-2020), there is greater focus on clean nanotechnology and overall 
the policy has evolved, moving away from funding fundamental research towards more application-
driven actions.196 

Korea has also sought to develop its nanotechnology policy and policy system, with the production 
of  the  Korean  Nanotechnology  Roadmap  in  2008  and  the  establishment  of  the  National 
Nanotechnology Policy Centre (NNPC) in 2010. The NNPC announces on its web site197 the national 
vision for Korea to be “the world’s number one nanotechnology power” and the four goals: 

• 

• 
• 
• 

“To  become  a  leading  nation  in  nanotechnology  with  systematic  nanotechnology  R&D 
programmes; 
To create a new industry based on nanotechnology; 
To enhance social and moral responsibility in researching and developing nanotechnology; and 
To cultivate advanced nanotechnology experts and maximise the utilisation of nanotechnology 
infrastructure.” 

Mid-term  and  long-term  strategies  for  nanotechnology  in  Korea,  which  have  been  developed  and 

188 http://www.nstc.go.kr/eng/  
189 Average yearly conversion rate, 2001-2005 (source: 

www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/exchange/eurofxref/html/eurofxref-graph-krw.en.html ) 

190 Average yearly conversion rate, 2006-2010 (source: 

www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/exchange/eurofxref/html/eurofxref-graph-krw.en.html ) 

191 http://www.kanc.re.kr/kancEnglish/center/center_overview.jsp  
192 https://www.ibs.re.kr/eng/sub02_04_03.do  
193 KIST is a science and technology institute. It was the first S&T research institute founded in Korea following 
the joint statement by the Presidents of Korea and the US on the “Establishment of a Korean Industrial 
and Applied Science R&D Institute” (1966)  http://eng.kist.re.kr/kist_eng/?sub_num=728 

194 http://eng.kist.re.kr/kist_eng/?sub_num=728  
195 http://kontrs.or.kr/english/index.asp  
196 http://www.nanotechmag.com/nanotechnology-in-south-korea/  
197 http://www.nnpc.re.kr/htmlpage/15/view  

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implemented since about 2009, include: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The  Fundamental  Nanotechnology  Mid-term  Strategy  [NT  7-4-3  Initiative]  through  which  the 
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) supported 35 green nanotechnologies in 
seven areas as well as funding four infrastructure projects; 
The  Nano  Fusion  Industry  Development  Strategy  by  MEST  and  the  then  Ministry  of  the 
Knowledge Economy (MKE), which sought to support nanotechnology all across the value chain, 
from the research laboratory to the marketplace;  
The  National  Nano  Infrastructure  Revitalisation  Plan,  also  by  MEST  and  MKE,  to  link 
nanotechnology infrastructures together, thereby giving them new impetus; and  
The Nano Safety Management Master Plan 2012-2016 to define methods and processes for the 
identification and manage any safety risks that emerge with the development, commercialisation 
and manufacture of nanotechnology products. 

2012 saw the creation of the Nano-Convergence Foundation (NCF)198 whose remit is to increase the 
commercialisation  of  national  NST  research  outcomes.  It  operates  under  the  joint  support  of  the 
Ministry  of  Science,  ICT  &  Future  Planning  (MSIP)  and  the  Ministry  of  Trade,  Industry  &  Energy 
(MOTIE). Korea plans to invest 930 billion Korean Won (ca. USD 815 million, EUR 740 million199) by 
2020 in the NST, with projects in the Nano Convergence 2020 programme eligible to receive up to 
2 billion Korean Won (EUR 1.5 million200) each. 

5.3.1.4  Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)201 

The National Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Programme202 was approved for a period of six years 
by the National Science Council (NSC) in 2002. With a budget envelope of USD 700 million (EUR 
740 million203) and actual expenditure estimated to be USD 625 million (EUR 486 million204) over 
2003-2008, the aim of the programme was to foster nanotechnology research and development in 
research  institutes,  universities  and  private  companies,  achieving  academic  excellence  and 
supporting  commercialisation.  The  Academic  Excellence  part  of  the  programme  includes  physical, 
chemical  and  biological  properties  of  nano-sensors,  nano-structures,  nano-devices  and  nano-
biotechnology. Industrial applications are the remit of the Industrial Technology Research Institute 
(ITRI). ITRI has 13 research laboratories and centres in areas including applied materials. 

The  National  Nanoscience  and  Nanotechnology  Programme  also  co-ordinates  the  nanotechnology 
research efforts of government agencies mainly through the establishment of common core facilities 
and education programmes, by promoting technology transfer and commercialisation into industrial 
applications  and  establishing  internationally  competitive  nanotechnology  platforms.  Among  the 
thematic priorities of the programme overall have been the design and fabrication of interconnects, 
interfaces and system of functional nano-devices, and the development of MEMS/NEMS technology.  

Taiwan’s  Nanotechnology  Community  (NTC)  was  established  in  2003  to  identify  commercial 
applications of nanotechnology and, in 2004, the Taiwan Nanotechnology Industrialisation Promotion 
Association (TANIPA) was set up by the Industrial Development Bureau at the Ministry of Economic 
Affairs  (MOEA),  with  a  strategic  remit  related  to  industrial  applications  of  nanotechnology  and  to 
facilitate public-private co-operation.  

Phase I of the National Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Programme was completed in 2008. Phase 
II was approved by the NSC in April 2008 to run for another six years (2009-2014) with the goal of 
strengthening  and  concentrating  public  resources  on  “Nanotechnology  Industrialisation”,  i.e.  the 
development of nanotechnology for domestic industry relevant to Taiwan and its growth into high-
tech  industry.  Building  on  Phase  I,  Phase  II  has  supported  nano-instrumentation,  nano-
optoelectronics,  nano-electrics,  energy  and  environmental  nanotechnology,  nano-materials  and 
nano-biotechnology and applied nanotechnology in traditional industries.   

198 http://www.nanotech2020.org/download/english_brochure.pdf  
199 Current exchange rate, November 2015 (source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 
200 Current exchange rate (November 2015) (source: 

www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/exchange/eurofxref/html/eurofxref-graph-krw.en.html ) 

201 http://www.twnpnt.org/  
202 http://www.twnpnt.org/english/g01_int.asp  
203 Average yearly conversion rate, 2002 (source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 
204 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2768287/ 

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5.3.2  Southern Asia 

5.3.2.1  India205 

The Nanomaterials Science and Technology Initiative (NSTI) was launched by the Ministry of Science 
and Technology’s (MST) Department of Science and Technology (DST) in October 2001 to support 
priority areas of research in nanoscience and nanotechnology; strengthen national characterisation 
and  infrastructural  facilities;  enhance  nanotechnology  education  in  order  to  generate  trained 
manpower in the area; and create an applications-related interface between educational institutions 
and industry. The Indian government committed to investing USD 16 million (EUR 14 million206) in 
nanomaterials research and commercial development over the five-year duration of the initiative, 
2002-2006. The funding was used for projects, centres of excellence, conferences, advanced courses 
(schools) and post-doctoral fellowships. 

A capacity-building programme for nanoscience and nanotechnology (called Nano Mission)207 was 
announced in 2007. It was implemented by DST with a budget of EUR 155 million over 5 years. In 
that time, India raised its publication output in nano-science and –technology generating about 5000 
research papers and about 900 PhDs  directly  from  Nano Mission funding. Under the programme, 
scientists  were  given  access  global  state-of-the-art  facilities  in  countries  including  Japan  and 
Germany.  The  programme  is  also  seen  as  having  resulted  in  products  including  nano-  hydrogel-
based  eye  drops,  pesticide  removal  technology  for  drinking  water,  water  filters  for  arsenic  and 
fluoride  removal  and  nano-silver-based  antimicrobial  textile  coatings.  Finally,  it  facilitated 
discussions on standards for nanotechnology at national level.  

The  continuation  of  the  Nano  Mission  was  approved  by  the  Government  in  February  of  2014  and 
EUR 91 million (INR 650 crore) were sanctioned for the period 2012 to 2017208. The programme will 
continue  to  support  nanoscience  and  technology  by  promoting  basic  research,  human  resource 
development, research infrastructure development, international collaborations, national dialogues, 
and  nano-applications  and  technology  development.  In  the  area  of  development  of  products  and 
processes, the programme has focused, and will continue to focus, on areas of national relevance 
including sensor development, safe drinking water, materials development and drug delivery.  

In addition to DST, several other agencies support nanotechnology research and development: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)209 has a network of 38 laboratories and 
other partners involving about 4600 scientists in research and development across a wide range 
of  disciplines,  including  nanotechnology,  and  for  application  areas  including  electronics  and 
instrumentation.  
In  2003,  the  CSIR  launched  the  New  Millennium  Indian  Technology  Leadership  Initiative 
(NMITLI)  to  foster  public-private  partnerships  via  grant-in-aid  funding  to  public  partners  and 
soft  loans  to  their  industrial  partners.  The  initiative  specifically  targeted  nanosciences  and 
nanotechnologies; biotechnology; energy and materials.210 
The CSIR’s International Science and Technology Directorate (ISAD) facilitates nanotechnology 
workshops and projects in collaboration with partners from South Africa, France, South Korea, 
China and Japan211.  
The  MST’s  Science  and  Engineering  Research  Council  (SERC)212  supports  frontier  and 
interdisciplinary research.  Support for nanotechnology projects has been provided through its 
R&D schemes for basic science and engineering science. 

205 http://www.oecd.org/science/nanosafety/37277620.pdf;  http://nanomission.gov.in/;  

http://www.ris.org.in/images/RIS_images/pdf/DP%20193%20Amit%20Kumar.pdf, 
http://erawatch.jrc.ec.europa.eu/erawatch/opencms/information/country_pages/in/country?section=Resea
rchPolicy&subsection=ResPolFocus   

206 Average yearly conversion rate, 2002-2006 (source: www.wolframalpha.com) 
207 http://nanomission.gov.in/;   
208 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Govt-approves-Rs-650-crore-for-Nano-

mission/articleshow/30722422.cms  

209 www.csir.res.in/  
210 http://www.csir.res.in/external/heads/collaborations/NM.pdf  
211 http://www.teriin.org/div/ST_BriefingPap.pdf  
212 www.dst.gov.in/about_us/ar05-06/serc.htm  

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5.3.2.2  Iran213 

The Islamic Republic of Iran ranked 23rd in the world in nanotechnology in 2007, second to Korea in 
citations in Asia214, but, by  2012, it  had  moved to  10th  place215,  216.  In 2013, Iran  ranked 20th  in 
science  production  in  the  world  (Thomson  Reuters)  and  18th  in  science  production  for  medicine. 
According to the Ministry, its share of global science production rose from 1.39% in 2013 to 1.69% 
percent in 2014, as measured by indicators including the number of scientific papers, the quality 
and  quantity  of  documents,  patenting  inventions,  industrial  plans,  partnership  with  foreign 
universities, and the use of technology in domestic organisations. 

There are nine scientific committees responsible for organising and coordinating science activities in 
Iran  including  committees  for  nanotechnology,  renewable  energies,  environment,  biotechnology, 
aerospace and information technology. 

Iran began its nanotechnology activities with a Study Committee for Nanotechnology in 2001. Its 
work led to the development of the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC)217, established in 
2003 to develop policies to foster nanotechnology in Iran and monitors their implementation. The 
Council also funds researchers, having supported over 1400 researchers for nanotechnology activity 
between 2004 and 2010, at a cost of USD 12 million218 (EUR 9 million219).  

INIC  has  also  funded  the  development  of  research  and  training  facilities  for  nanotechnology 
research, such as the Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INT) at the Sharif University 
of Technology. The INT, established in 2004, was the first institute to offer a PhD in nanotechnology 
in Iran220. INIC undertakes education and awareness-raising  activities including  a students’  Nano 
Club, seminars, workshops, publications and a multi-lingual (Arabic, Persian, Russian and English) 
website221.  

Also in 2004, INIC was instrumental in establishing the Iran Nanotechnology Laboratory Network to 
optimise Iran’s nanotechnology infrastructure. Forty-two laboratories across Iran operate under the 
network.  The  role  of  INIC  includes  evaluation  and  ranking  of  member  laboratories  and  providing 
support for them in areas such as training workshops, lab equipment, and in gaining accreditation 
as testing and calibration labs.  

INIC  operates  through  working  groups  on  areas  including  Human  Resource  Development; 
Technology Development and Production; and Education and Awareness. It also addresses standards 
and  regulations  through  the  Iran  Nanotechnology  Standardisation  Committee  (INSC)222,  a  body 
established in 2006 as a collaboration between the INIC and the Institute of Standard and Industrial 
Research of Iran (ISIRI)223.  

Continuing to  support nanotechnology and  the  work  of INIC, a “Future Strategy” was adopted  in 
2005  by  the  Cabinet,  a  10-year  nanotechnology  development  (2005  -  2014).  Its  mission  was  to 
place Iran among the top fifteen advanced countries in nanotechnology in the world. The focus was 
placed  on  building  and  using  infrastructure  and  human  resources;  improving  communication  and 
networking  both  within  Iran  and  internationally;  and  generating  economic  added  value  from 
nanotechnology as a means of achieving economic development224.  

5.3.3  South-Eastern Asia 

5.3.3.1  Malaysia 

The  Second  National  Science  and  Technology  Policy  (STP  II),  launched  in  2003,  identified 
nanotechnology and photovoltaic (PV) solar cells as priority emerging technologies. Other products 

213 See also http://www.sciencedev.net/Docs/Iran_Nano.pdf (2010) 
214 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090609003228/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file11959.pdf  
215 http://statnano.com/report/s29  
216 http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=45237  
217 http://nano.ir/index.php?lang=2  
218 http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=36557  
219 Average yearly conversion rate, 2004-2010 (source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 
220 http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/science-and-sanctions-nanotechnology-in-iran/  
221 http://nano.ir/index.php?ctrl=static_page&lang=2&id=397&section_id=22  
222 http://nanostandard.ir/index.php?lang=2  
223 http://www.isiri.com/  
224 http://statnano.com/strategicplans/1  

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and technologies that were also specified were nano-biochips and nano-biosensors, Li-ion batteries, 
photonics, plant vaccines, and drug delivery systems.  

The  Malaysian  National  Nanotechnology  Initiative  (NNI)  was  established  in  2006  to  advance 
nanotechnology  and  related  sciences  by  clustering  local  resources  and  knowledge  of  Malaysian 
researchers, industry and the government. The NNI paved way for the establishment in 2010 of the 
National  Nanotechnology  Directorate  under  the  Ministry  of  Science,  Technology  and  Innovation 
(MOSTI). The National Nanotechnology Directorate (NND)225 facilitates nanotechnology development 
in Malaysia by acting as a central co-ordination agency.  

To further support activity on these  priority areas,  the National Innovation Council of Malaysia in 
2011  identified  the  need  for  a  national  organisation  for  nanotechnology  commercialisation. 
NanoMalaysia226 was created in 2011 as a company under the Ministry of Science, Technology and 
Innovation  (MOSTI).  It  is  responsible  for  commercialisation  of  nanotechnology  research  and 
development; industrialisation of nanotechnology; facilitation of investments in nanotechnology; and 
human  capital  development  in  nanotechnology.  Also  in  2011,  the  Top-down  Nanotechnology 
Research Grant (NanoFund) was introduced and NanoMalaysia Centres of Excellence created.  

5.3.3.2  The Philippines227 

Nanotechnology was first identified as a priority area in the Philippines in 2009 when the Department 
of  Science  and  Technology  (DOST)  formed  a  multidisciplinary  group  to  create  a  roadmap  for  the 
development of  nanotechnology in the country.  The  Nanotechnology Roadmap  for  the  Philippines 
identified five key sectors for the application of nanotechnology that also coincided with the priority 
areas  of  DOST  for  R&D  support.  These  areas  were:  energy;  environment;  information  and 
communications technology and semiconductors; health; and food and agriculture.  

5.3.3.3  Singapore 

With the aim of transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, Singapore has relied, since the early 
1990s,  on  its  five-year  basic  plans  for  science  and  technology  (S&T).  Foresight  and  technology 
scanning were key components of the process by which the 2010 plan228 was developed. Thirteen 
technology scanning panels were established, including one on ‘Exploiting Nanotechnologies’. There 
were  also  panels  on  energy,  environmental  technologies,  materials  and 
infrastructure, 
manufacturing,  semiconductors,  broadband,  information  storage,  intelligent  systems,  the  grid, 
information management, engineering science in medicine, and frontiers in chemicals.   

In the 2010 strategy document, the connection is made between the S&T Plan and the Manufacturing 
2018  Plan  Intelligent  National  Plans  of  Singapore’s  Economic  Development  Board229,  and  the 
Roadmap (ITR5) of the Infocomm Development Authority230. It links nanotechnology research and 
development  to  industrial  development  and  supports  collaboration  between  industry,  research 
institutes and universities. The aim is for an enhancement of applied research in nanotechnology to 
enable industrial clusters including precision machinery, transportation machinery, engineering, ICT, 
electronics,  chemicals,  food,  and  environment.  The  Plan  also  indicates  nanotechnology  is 
fundamental and horizontal to these clusters. 

Nanotechnology is one of six areas at the heart of clinical and translational research supported under 
the Biomedical Research Council, which is responsible for research related to the industrial sectors 
of  pharmaceuticals,  medical  technology,  biotechnology  and  healthcare  services  and  delivery. 
Nanotechnology is also a key area for the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC). 

The main funding agency for nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST) in Singapore is the Agency for 
Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR)231. A*STAR’s Nanotechnology Initiative started in 2001 
with the target of building on existing capabilities to develop specific areas of NST research always 
with applications and potential use by industry as a goal. A*STAR research institutes involved in NST 

225 http://www.mosti.gov.my/en/about-us/divisions-departments/national-nanotechnology-directorate-division-

nnd/  

226 http://www.nanomalaysia.com.my/index.php?p=aboutus&c=whoweare  
227 http://www.techmonitor.net/tm/images/d/d1/10jan_feb_sf3.pdf  
228 https://www.mti.gov.sg/ResearchRoom/Pages/Science-and-Technology-Plan-2010.aspx  
229 www.edb.gov.sg  
230 www.ida.gov.sg  
231 www.a-star.edu.sg/  

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include the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE)232. Its Advanced Energy Storage 
Laboratory and its Molecular Materials Laboratory are particularly relevant for energy. The former 
focuses  its  research  on  energy  storage  materials  and  battery  device  for  application  in  renewable 
energy, smart grids, biomass, etc. The latter, a collaboration with the Department of Chemistry of 
the National University of Singapore, focuses on energy materials, molecular catalysis, biomimetic 
materials; and carbon materials. 

In 2010, A*Star’s SIMTech launched the Nanotechnology in Manufacturing Initiative (NiMI) to foster 
collaborative efforts between research and industry, developing industrial capability and enhancing 
competitiveness. In addition, the Sustainable Manufacturing Centre (SMC), directed by SIMTech, is 
active in local manufacturing industry and eco-performance and energy efficiency.233 

In 2010, A*Star’s SIMTech launched the Nanotechnology in Manufacturing Initiative (NiMI) to foster 
collaborative efforts between research and industry, developing industrial capability and enhancing 
competitiveness.  NiMI  concentrates  “on  the  application  of  nanotechnology  in  the  processes  of 
forming,  joining  and  coating”,  particularly  for  the  electronics  industry,  nanocomposite  physical 
vapour  deposition  (PVD)  coatings  and  others.  Characterisation  is  also  a  relevant  part  of  the 
initiative.234 

5.3.3.4  Thailand 

Thailand has been active in nanotechnology since at least 2003 when it established NANOTEC235 as 
the leading national agency for nanotechnology development. It operates under the jurisdiction of 
the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the Ministry of Science and 
Technology (MOST), one of four such agencies. The guiding aims of NANOTEC are to contribute to 
society; increase Thailand’s competitiveness; and improve the quality of life and the environment of 
the  people  of  Thailand  through  research  and  development  in  nanoscience  and  nanotechnology. 
in 
NANOTEC  undertakes  and  supports  research,  development,  design  and  engineering 
nanotechnology, and the transfer of the resulting technology to industry and the marketplace. In 
2013, the Central Laboratory of NANOTEC consisted of twelve units located at the Thailand Science 
Park.  These  covered  areas  including  nano-characterisation;  engineering  and  manufacturing 
characterisation;  integrated  nano-systems,  nanomaterials  for  energy  and  catalysis,  hybrid 
nanostructures  and  nanocomposites;  nanoscale  simulation;  and  functional  nanomaterials  and 
interfaces.  

In  2012,  the  National  Nanotechnology  Policy  Framework  (2012-2021)236  and  the  Nanosafety  and 
Ethics  Strategic  Plan  (2012-2016)237  were  approved  by  government  for  implementation  by  the 
Ministry of Science and Technology, and relevant agencies. The Framework has three primary goals:  

•  Utilising nanotechnology to develop materials, products, and equipment in order to enhance the 

• 

quality of life, wellness, and environment;  
Improving  agricultural  technology  and  manufacturing  industry  that  meet  the  demand  of  the 
market through nanotechnology; and 

•  Becoming ASEAN’s leader in nanotechnology research and education. 

The  overall  strategic  direction  of  the  Framework  encompasses  four  target  clusters,  including 
manufacturing  industry  and  electronics,  and  defines  seven  flagship  products  including  nano-
electronics.  It  aims  to  achieve  its  goals  through  actions  in  human  resources,  research  and 
development,  infrastructure  development,  management  (of  quality,  safety  and  standards)  and 
technology transfer.  

The strategy in Thailand is largely to focus on product development through nanotechnology. To this 
end,  NANOTEC  is  addressing  national  and  NSTDA  priorities  under  the  Framework  through  seven 
flagship programmes to develop specific products.  

232 www.a-star.edu.sg/imre 
233 www1.simtech.a-star.edu.sg/SMC/   
234http://www.a-star.edu.sg/Media/News/Press-Releases/ID/1363/ASTAR-SIMTech-Nanotechnology-in-

Manufacturing-Initiative-NiMI-to-Overcome-Challenges-to-Tap-Market-Potential.aspx  
235 http://www.nanotec.or.th/th/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NANOTEC-brochure11.pdf  
236http://www.nanotec.or.th/en/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/The-National-Nanotechnology-Policy-framework-

exe-sum.pdf  

237 http://www.nanotec.or.th/en/  

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5.3.4  Western Asia 

5.3.4.1  Israel 

The  first  nanotechnology  policy  initiative  in  Israel  was  the  establishment  of  the  Israel 
Nanotechnology  Initiative  (INNI)238  in  2002  as  a  shared  action  of  the  Forum  for  National 
Infrastructures  for  Research  &  Development  (TELEM)239  and  the  ministry  for  the  economy  (now 
called the Ministry for Industry, Trade and Labour)240. INNI’s mission is “to make nanotechnology 
the next wave of successful industry in Israel by creating an engine for global leadership”. To achieve 
this, actions have been taken on scientific research in nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST); on 
increasing public-private collaboration on NST; on speeding up commercialisation of NST; and on 
leveraging  funding  from  both  public  and  private  sources  to  support  NST  in  Israel.  INNI  is  closely 
linked to the national system with its Director appointed by the Chief Scientist at the Ministry, and 
its Board operating out of the MAGNET Programme241 at the Office of the Chief Scientist.  

Since the identification of nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST) as a national priority area in 2007, 
the areas that have been targeted have included research infrastructure; training Israeli scientists 
in NST; attracting foreign researchers to work in Israeli institutions; increasing collaboration in NST 
and publication output of the highest international standard; fostering public-private partnerships; 
and knowledge transfer and commercialisation of NST. Investment has been c. USD 20 million (EUR 
15.5  million242)  per  annum  for  basic  NST  equipment  plus  another  almost  USD  10  million  (EUR  8 
million243)  per  annum  for  new  infrastructure  and  facilities.244  The  aim  has  been  to  create  a 
sustainable  basis  for  NST  within  the  universities  via  training,  recruitment  and  the  provision  of 
facilities on the basis that, without a strong research base, direct investment in technology will not 
be able to generate the required returns in terms of technology development and deployment.  

In addition, the Triangle Donation Matching (TDM) programme245 was launched under the INNI in 
2006, a five-year national programme to support NST research infrastructure in six universities in 
Israel.  A  total  of  USD  250  million  (EUR  198  million246)  has  been  invested  by  Israeli  Universities, 
private donors and the Israeli government to recruit leading nano-scientists and acquire equipment, 
facilities  and  laboratories  for  six  nano-centres  at  the  universities.  The  first  impact  was  seen  at 
Technion,  Israel’s  Institute  of  Technology247,  248,  in  2005  (before  the  official  launch  of  the 
programme), the other five research universities receiving support in 2006.  

To help academics and industry to access the facilities of the six Israeli nano centres, the INNI has 
made  available  a  national  nano  infrastructure  catalogue249.  The  catalogue  of  equipment  includes 
pricing for the use of the equipment and contact information. Industry users are supported by the 
university nano-centres to enable them to be effective in using their R&D equipment. The Mokari 
Research Group, for instance, focuses on energy-related applications250. 

INNI  also  has  introduced  the  Industry-Academia  Matchmaking  programme  to  make  Israeli 
nanotechnology more visible to the industrial and investment communities and to promote Israel’s 
NST research capabilities to potential partners. Experts help potential collaborators to meet, access 
expertise  and  access  funding  depending  on  their  needs.  They  engage  with  key  nanotechnology 
stakeholders in Israel and abroad, initiate and managing national and international networks in NST. 

238 http://www.nanoisrael.org/  
239 http://www.trdf.co.il/eng/fundinfo.php?id=2846  
240 http://www.economy.gov.il/English/Pages/default.aspx  
241 http://www.moital.gov.il/NR/exeres/111E3D45-56E4-4752-BD27-F544B171B19A.htm 

The Magnet programme supports companies and academics to form consortia to research precompetitive 
generic technologies. Direct funding is up to 66% of the cost of the project with no obligation to repay 
royalties. 

242 Average yearly conversion rate, 2012 (source: www.wolframalpha.com ) 
243 Average yearly conversion rate, 2012 (source: www.wolframalpha.com ) 
244 Figures for funding under the programme to 2012.  
245 http://www.nanoisrael.org/category.aspx?id=1278  
246 Average yearly conversion rate, 2006 (source: www.wolframalpha.com) 
247 The Technion centre was co-funded by the Russel Berrie Foundation via a donation of USD 26 million which, 
together with funding from Technion itself, the Office of the Chief Scientist and the Ministry of Finance, 
made up to USD 78 million for the Russell Berrie Institute for Research in Nanotechnology. 

248 Israel Institute of Technology http://www.technion.ac.il/en/  
249 http://www.nanoisrael.org/category.aspx?id=13671  
250 http://www.nanowerk.com/phpscripts/n_unis_c.php?page=3&country=South%20Korea&=%27U%27  

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They also gather statistics and market information on NST. 

5.3.4.2  Saudi Arabia251 

The  King  Abdul  Aziz  City  for  Science  and  Technology  (KACST)  was  established  in  1985  as  the 
Kingdom’s main agency for promoting research and development. In 2002, Saudi Arabia decided to 
build further on the work of KACST by putting in place a National Policy for Science and Technology 
(NPST)  with  plans  to  increase  R&D  funding  to  1.6%  of  GDP.  KACST  was  made  responsible  for 
implementing the policy which included 5-year strategic plans (missions) in eleven research areas 
prioritising nanotechnology and advanced materials, energy and environment as well as water, oil 
and gas, petrochemicals, biotechnology, information technology, electronics, photonics, space and 
aeronautics). The National Nanotechnology Programme (NNP) was established to deliver the plan in 
that area. 

During the implementation of the NNP, nanotechnology centres began to be established, such as the 
Centre  of  Excellence  in  Nanotechnology  (CENT)  established  2005  at  the  KFUPM252;  and  the  CNT 
established  in  2006  at  the  KAU253.  These  centres  operated  in  the  context  of  the  multidisciplinary 
programme of Strategic Priorities for Nanotechnology 2008-2012, put in place by the Saudi Arabian 
Ministry of Economy and Planning in 2008. 

Additional  nanoscience  and  nanotechnology  centres  followed.  The  Centre  of  Excellence  of 
Nanomanufacturing Applications (CENA) was established in 2009 at KACST and the King Abdullah 
Institute for Nanotechnology (KAIN)254 established in 2010 at the KSU in the Riyadh Techno Valley. 
The  KAIN  covers  areas  including  energy,  telecommunications,  manufacturing  of  nanomaterials, 
medicine  and  pharmaceuticals,  food  and  environment,  and  water  treatment  and  desalination. 
Companies  such  as  the  energy  company  Saudi  National  Oil  Company  (established  as  an  Arabian 
American Oil Company, known now as Saudi ARAMCO), and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation 
(SABIC) are collaborating on nanotechnology research with the nanotechnology centres. There are 
more than 20 projects in the field of nanotechnology for these two organisations alone.  

5.3.4.3  Turkey 

Nanotechnology was one of eight strategic fields of research and technology identified in the Vision 
2023  Technology  Foresight  Study  prepared  by  the  Turkish  Supreme  Council  of  Science  and 
Technology (SCST) in 2002. The Foresight Study formed part of the development of the National 
Science and Technology Policies 2003-2023 Strategy Document. In nanotechnology, seven thematic 
priority  areas  were  selected:  (i)  fuel  cells  and  energy;  (ii)  nano-sized  quantum  information 
processing (iii) nanomaterials; (iv) nano-photonics, nano-electronics, nano-magnetism; (v) nano-
biotechnology;  (vi)  nano-characterisation;  and  (vii)  nano-fabrication.  Nanotechnology  was  also 
included as a priority technology field in the Development Programme prepared by State Planning 
Organisation (SPO) for the period 2007-2013.  

Projects in  nanotechnology  are  supported  by  the  Scientific  and  Technological Research  Council  of 
Turkey  (TUBITAK)  and  the  Ministry  of  Development  (MoD)  and,  between  2007  and  2014,  it  is 
estimated255 that nanotechnology received State support of about one billion Turkish Lira, or c. USD 
500  million  (EUR  367  million256).  Over  20  nanotechnology  research  centres,  departments  and 
graduate schools have been established including Nano Tam257 and Unam258 (with research areas 
that  includes  energy)  at  Bilkent  University;  Sabanci  University  Nanotechnology  Research  and 
Application Centre (SUNUM)259 (with a focus on renewable energy systems and energy applications); 
and the Micro and Nanotechnology Department at the Middle East Technical University260. 

251 A review of nanotechnology development in the Arab World, Bassam Alfeeli et al., Nanotechnology Review, 

2013 (05/2013; 2(3):359-377) 

252 King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Riyadh 
253 King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 
254 http://nano.ksu.edu.sa/en  
255 http://www.issi2015.org/files/downloads/all-papers/0720.pdf  
256 Average yearly conversion rate, 2007-2014 (source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 
257 http://www.nanotam.bilkent.edu.tr/eng/main.html  
258 http://unam.bilkent.edu.tr/?page_id=576  
259 http://sunum.sabanciuniv.edu/  
260 http://mnt.metu.edu.tr/  

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5.4  Oceania 

5.4.1.1  Australia 

The National Nanotechnology Strategy (NNS) was put in place in 2007 by the Australian Department 
of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research as a dedicated strategy for nanotechnology, 2007 to 
2009.  The  Australian  Office  of  Nanotechnology  was  established  to  co-ordinate  the  strategy  and 
ensure  a  whole-of-government  approach  to  nanotechnology  issues.    A  Public  Awareness  and 
Engagement Programme formed part of the NNS. 

In  2009-2010,  the  NNS  was  replaced  with  a  National  Enabling  Technology  Strategy  (NETS),  a 
comprehensive national framework for the safe and responsible development of novel technologies 
(including  nanotechnology  and  biotechnology).  With  funding  over  four  years  of  AUS  38.2  million 
(EUR 28.3 million261), the strategy aimed to ensure good management and regulation of enabling 
technologies  in  order  to  maximise  community  confidence  and  community  benefits  from  the 
commercialisation and use of new technology. Public engagement has remained an important topic 
in Australia for nanotechnology and other novel technologies.  

In 2012, the National Nanotechnology Research Strategy262 was prepared by the Australian Academy 
of  Science,  using  funding  received  from  the  National  Enabling  Technologies  Policy  Section  in  the 
Department  of  Industry,  Innovation,  Science,  Research  and  Tertiary  Education.  The  Research 
Strategy highlighted the importance of developing clean energy solutions, and highlighted among 
the selected areas of research Nanostructured materials for clean energy (hydrogen storage, lithium 
ion-batteries and fuel cells). In addition, the Strategy sees advances in computing infrastructure as 
helping to address the challenge of managing increased energy consumption. Materials design for 
clean energy applications, development of nanoporous membranes and fuel cells are also priorities, 
particularly since they all involve multiscale, multidisciplinary expertise.  

More  generally,  the  Strategy  set  out  a  vision  for  Australia  to  become  a  world  leader  in  a 
nanotechnology-driven  economy  with  a  strong  nanotechnology  research  base  and  the  means  to 
assist industry to revolutionise its portfolio through nanotechnology, for greater competiveness and 
to address the grand challenges most relevant to Australia. The Strategy highlighted the importance 
of  infrastructure,  interdisciplinary  research,  international  engagement,  the  translation  of  research 
and the growth of SMEs. 

Australia  also  operates  a  network  to  link  research  facilities  across  the  country,  the  Australian 
Nanotechnology Network263.  The Network  was established by bringing together four seed funding 
networks. It comprises about 1,000 active researchers from universities, institutes and government 
research organisations, half of whom are students. Its aims are to promote collaboration, increase 
multidisciplinary  awareness  and  collaboration,  foster  forums  for  postgraduate  and  early  career 
researchers,  increase  and  improve  awareness  of  nanotechnology  infrastructure,  and  promote 
international links. 

5.4.1.2  New Zealand 

Nanotechnology strategies in New Zealand began by taking a networking approach and were led by 
the  MacDiarmid  Institute  for  Advanced  Materials  and  Nanotechnology264.  The  Institute,  formed  in 
2002,  is  a  partnership  between  five  Universities  and  two  Crown  Research  Institutes  in  Auckland, 
Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. It was awarded USD 23.2 million (EUR 19 
million265)  funding  for  2003-2006  from the  Ministry  of  Education  and,  in  early  2006,  developed a 
“Nanotechnology Initiative for New Zealand”266 identifying where capability in nanotechnology could 
be developed in the country. The Initiative identified six programmes for research in nanoscience 
and nanotechnology (NST): nanotechnology for energy; nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nano-
devices;  nano-  and  micro-fluidics;  nanomaterials  for  industry;  bio-nanotechnologies;  and  social 
impacts of nanotechnology.  

261 Average yearly conversion rate, 2010-2013 (source: 

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/exchange/eurofxref/html/eurofxref-graph-aud.en.html ) 

262 https://www.science.org.au/publications/national-nanotechnology-research-strategy  
263 http://www.ausnano.net/index.php?page=home  
264 http://www.macdiarmid.ac.nz/  
265 Average yearly conversion rate, 2003-2006 (source: www.wolframalpha.com  ) 
266 http://www.macdiarmid.ac.nz/a-nanotechnology-initiative-for-new-zealand/  

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

international  and  national  research, 

Also in 2006, the New Zealand government released a Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies Roadmap 
(2006-2015)267.  Highlighting 
the  Roadmap  placed 
nanotechnology  amongst  government's  strategic  priorities,  setting  high-level  directions  for 
nanotechnology-related research and policy in New Zealand. Among the key sectors, some potential 
areas  and  type  of  applications  were  identified.  One  is  dedicated  to  energy,  namely  Energy  and 
Industrial  (including  applications  like  lubricants  and  fuel  additives,  energy  storage,  super-hard 
bearings and coatings, catalysts, energy generation and transmission). Three priority areas for public 
funding were identified: the creation of new materials, diagnostic devices; and tools and techniques. 
The  Ministry  of  Science  and  Innovation  was  put  in  charge  of  policy  actions  to  implement  the 
Roadmap.  

The  Ministry  of  Science  and  Innovation  Statement  of  Intent  2011-14  highlighted  two  high-level 
priorities – growing the economy and building a healthier environment and society. In addition to 
the  traditional  resource  sectors  of  New  Zealand,  it  sought  to  capability  in  knowledge-intensive 
activities, such as high-technology manufacturing and the services sector. Six priority areas were 
identified including high-value manufacturing and services, energy and minerals, health and society, 
as well as biological sciences, hazards and infrastructure, and the environment268. 

5.5  Africa 

5.5.1.1  South Africa 

Since 2002, the Republic of South Africa has launched several national nanotechnology initiatives to 
strengthen national capabilities in this field. Relevant steps have included: 

• 

• 

• 

In 2002, the formation of the South African Nanotechnology Initiative (SANi)269 with membership 
comprising academics, researchers, engineers, private sector companies, and research councils;  
In 2003, the launch of South Africa’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS)270 
by the Department of Science and Technology (DST);  
In 2005, the publication of the National Strategy on Nanotechnology (NSN)271 by the DST. The 
strategy focuses on four areas: 
-  establishing characterisation centres (national multi-user facilities); 
- 

creating  research  and  innovation  networks  (to  enhance  collaboration:  inter-disciplinary, 
national and internationally); 

-  building human capacity (development of skilled personnel); and  
- 

setting  up  flagship  projects  (to  demonstrate  the  benefits  of  nanotechnology  towards 
enhancing the quality of life, and spurring economic growth). 

South  Africa  launched  its  first  nanotechnology  innovation  centres  in  2007  at  the  CSIR 272  and 
MINTEK273. Each centre has developed collaborative research programmes, often with other national 
institutions.  These  include  programmes  in  designing  and  modelling  of  novel  nano-structured 
materials, at the CSIR-National Centre for Nano-structured Materials (NCNSM)274, and work on the 
application of nanotechnologies in the fields of water, health, mining and minerals at MINTEK.  

In addition to engaging with European researchers through Framework Programmes, South Africa 
has  established  international  collaboration  mechanisms  with  other  developing  countries,  e.g.  the 
India–Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) partnership275 enables joint projects and mobility276 between S&T 
departments in those countries. 

The next section reports on publishing activity in nanotechnology and construction.  

267 http://statnano.com/strategicplans/13  
268 http://www.mbie.govt.nz/  
269 http://www.sani.org.za/  
270 http://www.esastap.org.za/download/natstrat_advmanu_mar2005.pdf  
271 http://chrtem.nmmu.ac.za/file/35e56e36b6ab3a98fac6fc0c31ee7008/dstnanotech18012006.pdf  
272 http://www.csir.co.za/  
273 http://www.nic.ac.za/  
274 http://ls-ncnsm.csir.co.za/  
275 http://www.ibsa-trilateral.org/  
276 http://www.ibsa-trilateral.org/about-ibsa/areas-of-cooperation/people-to-people  

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6  PUBLICATIONS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION 

6.1  Overview 

Around  1.8  million  publications  were  identified277  from  the  Web  of  Science  as  being  related  to 
nanoscience  and  technology  (NST)278  between  2000  and  2014.  Of  those,  almost  17,000  were 
identified as relating to nanotechnology and construction. This volume of publications is equivalent 
to around 1% of all of the output for nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST). 

The table below shows the publication output between 2000 and 2014. Almost 7,000 publications 
on nanotechnology and construction were produced in the EU28 plus EFTA countries (EU28&EFTA, 
here including only Switzerland and Norway), around 41% of the total World nanotechnology and 
construction publications throughout the time period.  

Table  6-1:  Annual  NST  publication  output  for  construction  worldwide  and  in  the 
EU28&EFTA, 2000-2014 

Year 

World 

EU 28 & EFTA 

npub 

npub 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

530 

506 

595 

660 

717 

744 

873 

910 

1047 

1228 

1334 

1485 

1789 

2039 

2210 

209 

213 

250 

272 

297 

324 

402 

369 

450 

547 

523 

604 

735 

833 

886 

% 

39.43% 

42.09% 

42.02% 

41.21% 

41.42% 

43.55% 

46.05% 

40.55% 

42.98% 

44.54% 

39.21% 

40.67% 

41.08% 

40.85% 

40.09% 

TOTAL 

16,667 

6,914 

41.48% 

Source: Derived from Web of Science 

There has been a strong growth in nanotechnology and construction publications as indexed to the 
year 2000. There has been almost a four-fold growth during the period to 2014 for the World as well 
as for the EU28&EFTA.  

277 http://www.vosviewer.com/Publications  
278  Search  included  all  those  publications  having  been  produced  with  “nano”  as  a  core  term.  The  term 

“nanosecond” has been omitted as not being relevant to the study. 

68 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Source: Derived from Web of Science 

Figure  6-1:  Annual  NST  construction  publication  output,  worldwide  and  EU28&EFTA, 
2000-2014  
(indexed to 2000(=1)) 

Looking at the EU28&EFTA proportion of world output on nanotechnology/construction, it is seen to 
remain a similar level over time, as shown below.  

Source: Derived from Web of Science 
Figure 6-2: NST construction publications as a percentage of NST World total, 2000-2014 

The table below shows the journals in which researchers in this sector most frequently published 
their results. The results show a clear preference for the top two journals. 

69 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Table  6-2:  Most  common  journals  by  numbers  of  NST  construction  publications  (npub), 
2000-2014 

Rank 

Journal 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Cement and Concrete Research 

Construction and Building Materials 

Cement & Concrete Composites 

Materials and Structures 

Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 

ACI Materials Journal 

Magazine of Concrete Research 

Advances in Cement Research 

Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Materials 
Science Edition 
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 

npub 

1,873 

1,841 

808 

442 

379 

373 

282 

274 

234 

219 

Source: Derived from Web of Science 

6.2  Activity by region and country 

The most prolific region for nanotechnology and construction publications in 2014 (the most recent 
year for data collection) was EU28 & EFTA followed by Asia and North America.  

Table 6-3: Most prolific regions for nanotechnology construction publications, 2014 

Region 

EU28&EFTA 

Asia 

North America 

Middle East 

Source: Derived from Web of Science 

South and Central America 

npub 

886 

831 

320 

163 

120 

The most prolific country for construction publications globally in 2014 was China (PRC), followed by 
the US, South Korea, Japan, Germany and India, as shown below. 

Figure 6-3: Number of NST construction publications by country (top 10), 2014 

70 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Table 6-4: Number of NST construction publications by country (top 20), 2014 

Country 

China (PRC) 

USA 

Spain 

France 

United Kingdom 

South Korea 

Germany 

India 

Australia 

Turkey 

Canada 

Italy 

Malaysia 

Brazil 

Portugal 

Switzerland 

Poland 

Japan 

Saudi Arabia 

Czech Republic 

Region 

Asia 

North America 

EU28&EFTA 

EU28&EFTA 

EU28&EFTA 

Asia 

EU28&EFTA 

Asia 

Oceania 

Middle East 

North America 

EU28&EFTA 

Asia 

South & Central America 

EU28&EFTA 

EU28&EFTA 

EU28&EFTA 

Asia 

Middle East 

EU28&EFTA 

Npub 

471 

247 

141 

139 

137 

117 

93 

90 

86 

86 

85 

82 

78 

63 

61 

51 

45 

44 

42 

40 

Source: Derived from Web of Science 

In  the  EU28&EFTA,  Spain  generated  the  largest  number  of  publications  in  2014,  followed  by  the 
France, the UK, Germany and Italy, as shown below. 

Figure 6-4: Number of NST construction publications by EU&EFTA countries, 2014 
Data for the top NST construction publishing countries only 

71 

 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

6.3  Activity by organisation type 

The most active organisations in NST construction publications in 2014 are shown in the table 
below of the top 25 publishing organisations. The higher education organisations with the most 
nanotechnology construction publications globally in 2014 were mainly Chinese.  

Table 6-5: Publication numbers for nanotechnology and construction for higher education 
and research organisations, 2014 

Country 

University/ Research Institute 

npub 

PRC 

PRC 

PRC 

PRC 

PRC 

Wuhan University 

Southeast University 

Tsinghua University 

Tongji University 

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 

EU28&EFTA 

University of Sheffield  

EU28&EFTA 

University of Aveiro 

EU28&EFTA 

Polytechnical University of Valencia 

Korea 

PRC 

Hanyang University 

Zhejiang University 

EU28&EFTA 

Delft University of Technology 

EU28&EFTA 

Swiss Federal Institute of Materials Research and Technology 

EU28&EFTA 

Brno University of Technology 

PRC 

USA 

Dalian University of Technology 

MIT 

EU28&EFTA 

University of Toulouse 

USA 

PRC 

University of California Berkeley 

Chinese Academy of Sciences of Science and Technology 

EU28&EFTA 

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology EPFL279 

Source: Derived from Web of Science 

38 

33 

32 

28 

26 

25 

20 

19 

19 

18 

18 

17 

16 

16 

16 

15 

15 

15 

15 

The higher education organisations (EU28&EFTA) with the most nanotechnology and construction 
publications  globally  in  2014  were  the  University  of  Sheffield,  the  University  of  Aveiro  and  the 
Polytechnical University of Valencia, as shown in the table below of the top publishing organisations 
for nanotechnology and construction. 

279 École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 

72 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Table  6-6:  Number  of  NST  construction  publications  by  EU&EFTA  organisation  (top 
twelve), 2014 

Organisation 

Country 

npub 

University of Sheffield  

University of Aveiro 

Polytechnical University of Valencia 

Delft University of Technology 

Swiss Federal Institute of Materials 
Research and Technology (EMPA) 

Brno University of Technology 

University of Toulouse 

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 
EPFL 

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 
ETHZ 

University of Cambridge 

University College London 

Technical University of Lisbon 

UK 

PT 

ES 

NL 

CH 

CZ 

FR 

CH 

CH 

UK 

UK 

PT 

25 

20 

19 

18 

17 

16 

15 

15 

14 

14 

14 

14 

Source: Derived from Web of Science 

The companies with the most nanotechnology and construction publications globally in 2014 were 
Sintef (originating from Norway) and Lafarge Group (originating in France), as shown in the table of 
the top publishing companies below. 

Table 6-7: Number of NST construction publications by company (top 5), 2014 

Company 

npub 

SINTEF Building and Infrastructure280 

Lafarge Group281 

Zeobond PTY Ltd.282 

HeidelbergCement AG283 

Daewoo E&C284 

Source: Derived from Web of Science 

9 

7 

5 

4 

4 

The next section goes on to look at the patenting activity in nanotechnology and construction, over 
time, by country of applicant, by applicant organisation and by patents granted.  

280 https://www.sintef.no/en/about-us/  
281 http://www.lafarge.com/en  
282 http://www.zeobond.com/  
283 http://www.heidelbergcement.com/en  
284 http://www.daewooenc.com/eng/  

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

7  PATENTING IN NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION 

7.1  Overview 

This section looks at the patenting activity in nanotechnology and construction by patent filings and 
patents granted over the period 1999-2011 at the leading global patent offices and by country of 
applicant and country of inventor, and by organisation including companies. 

The patents and patent families (groups of patents related to the same invention) were identified by 
searching using the combination of keywords (identified within the NanoData project for the sector 
(and  sub-sector  as  appropriate))  and  IPC  (International  Patent  Classification)  numbers.  The  IPC 
numbers used were both those for nanotechnology i.e. B82Y and those related to the sector under 
consideration (ICT, energy, etc.)285. The patent family to which the patents belonged was identified 
and all the patents in the patent families were retrieved.  

The search was made for patents registered at the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office), EPO 
(European Patent Office)  and WIPO (World  Intellectual Property Organisation) thereby  identifying 
USPTO, EPO and PCT applications. PCT286 applications registered at WIPO are protected under the 
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), an international treaty that enables the filing of patents to protect 
inventions in the countries287 that are members of the treaty.  

7.2  Number and evolution over time of nanotechnology and construction patent 

families 

Using  the  above  methodology,  45,127  (simple)  nanotechnology  patent  families288,  289  of  granted 
patent and patent applications were found in the period 1993-2011290. All were from the European 
Patent Office (EPO or EP), US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or US) or the World Intellectual 
Property Organisation (WIPO)291.  

In  the  same  period,  the  number  of  construction-related  patent  families  identified  among  the 
nanotechnology patents is 1,611, 3.5% of all nanotechnology patent families. As applications may 
have been filed with multiple authorities, the percentages for PCT, EP and US do not sum to 100%. 
The  highest  percentage  of  applications  relating  to  construction  and  nanotechnology  is  in  the  US 
(91.7%) while the figures corresponding to PCT (59,5%) and EPO (51%.4%) are considerably lower. 

Table  7-1:  Absolute  numbers  and  percentages  of  patents  on  construction  and 
nanotechnology  

Nanotechnology and CN 
applications (1993-2011) 

Absolute 
number 

Percentage 

Total patent families 

PCT applications 

EP applications 

US applications 

1,611 

958 

821 

1,478 

100% 

59,5% 

51% 

91,7% 

285 Thus all patent documents including at least one of the keywords (in title or abstract)  was found but only 

when the patent was classified as being related to at least one of the sectorial IPC codes. 

286 http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/  
287 By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection 

for an invention in 148 countries throughout the world. 
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/pct_contracting_states.html  

288 We use the definition of simple family, where all documents having exactly the same priority or combination 

of priorities belong to one patent family (http://www.epo.org/searching/essentials/patent-
families/definitions.html ). The patent families include at least one PCT, EPO or USPTO patent application. 

289 A patent family is defined by WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organisation) as a set 

of patent applications inter-related by either priority claims or PCT national phase entries, normally 
containing the same subject matter. http://www.wipo.int/  

290 This year refers to the oldest year of the priority patents. 
291 While patents can be filed in individual patent offices, many inventors choose to file applications under the 

Patent Classification Treaty (PCT). All WIPO applications are PCT applications. 

74 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Figure 7-1: Number of patent families by filing authority (PCT, EPO, and USPTO) 

The figure below shows the evolution over time of patent applications to WIPO (PCT), the EPO or 
USPTO as measured by the percentage of patent families.  

Figure  7-2:  Evolution  over  time  of  WIPO  (PCT),  EPO  and  USPTO  construction 
nanotechnology patenting  

In this figure, it can be observed that the filings at EPO, USPTO and WIPO follow a similar pattern, 
where  the  number  of  filings  increased  slightly  at  the  beginning  of  the  period  experimenting  an 
important increase during the early 2000. The number of filings in the three patent authorities were 
quite  stable  during  roughly  the  whole  decade  of  2000,  concentrating  in  these  years  most  of  the 
patents in the construction sector. At the end of the decade all three patent authorities experimented 
a significant decline in the number of filings. 

7.3  Activity by filing country and region 

By looking at PCT applications, it is possible to obtain an indication of the relative patenting activity 
of countries and regions. The top ten patent authorities through which PCT applications were filed 
are shown in the table, the US being by far the most prolific, followed by Japan, Europe (EPO) and 
the UK. The sum of the figures for the European patent offices in this top ten table and the EPO is 
just 427, considerably less than in the US. Even if all the remaining EU countries are allocated the 
figure of the lowest European country in the table (France, 59), the total for the EU28 plus the EPO 
is less than the US.  

75 

 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Table  7-2:  Number  of  nanotechnology  construction  patent  families  by  PCT  receiving 
authority  

Receiving authority 

No. of Patent families (1993-
2011) 

United States 

European Patent Office (EPO) 

Japan 

United Kingdom 

International Bureau (WIPO) 

South Korea 

France 

Germany 

Sweden 

Singapore 

434 

161 

156 

28 

25 

22 

22 

19 

10 

9 

7.4  Activity by country of applicant 

PATENT APPLICATIONS 

Within the group of 1,611 construction-related nanotechnology patent families, there is at least one 
EU28 or EFTA applicant in roughly 30% of them while there is participation from the rest of the world 
in 95,5% of cases. 

Table 7-3: Origin of patent applicants, EU/EFTA and Rest of world (1993-2011) 

Number of nanotechnology and 
construction patent families 

Percentage of nanotechnology and 
construction patent families 

EU28 & EFTA 

Rest of world 

449 

1,216 

27.9% 

75,5% 

Applicants may file patents with more than one patent authority, e.g. at the USPTO and as a EPO. 
The  table  below  shows  the  data  for  the  top  25  countries  of  applicants,  as  well  as  indicating  the 
percentage of patent families for each. EU28 and EFTA countries are marked in bold. As patents may 
be filed with more than one authority (including PCT, US and EP applications), the percentages can 
sum to more than 100%.  

By far the highest number of patent families is found where the country of the applicant is the US, 
followed by Japan. Among the countries with the highest number of patent families there are some 
European countries like Germany (215), Netherlands (68), France (64) and UK (57). 

Table 7-4: Patent families by country of applicant, numbers and percentages (1993-2011) 

World 
ranking 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Country of applicant  No. of Patent 

PCT 

US 

EP 

United States 

Japan 

Germany 

South Korea 

Netherlands 

France 

United Kingdom 

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 

Families 

678 

333 

215 

83 

68 

64 

57 

52 

67.6% 

99.4% 

46.2% 

48.9% 

93.4% 

47.4% 

74.9% 

77.2% 

78.6% 

31.3% 

95.2% 

27.7% 

42.6% 

86.8% 

60.3% 

59.4% 

81.3% 

73.4% 

77.2% 

77.2% 

59.6% 

0.0% 

100.0% 

7.7% 

76 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

World 
ranking 

Country of applicant  No. of Patent 

PCT 

US 

EP 

Families 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

China 

Canada 

Switzerland 

Sweden 

Italy 

Singapore 

India 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Russian Federation 

Spain 

Australia 

Finland 

Israel 

Austria 

Brazil 

Ireland 

40 

27 

26 

20 

18 

17 

17 

12 

11 

9 

8 

8 

8 

7 

7 

7 

5 

42.5% 

92.5% 

25.0% 

59.3% 

100.0% 

55.6% 

76.9% 

92.3% 

88.5% 

85.0% 

85.0% 

85.0% 

88.9% 

88.9% 

83.3% 

82.4% 

94.1% 

41.2% 

94.1% 

76.5% 

41.2% 

66.7% 

75.0% 

83.3% 

100.0%  72.7% 

72.7% 

88.9% 

55.6% 

77.8% 

100.0%  75.0% 

100.0% 

87.5% 

87.5% 

75.0% 

75.0% 

87.5% 

87.5% 

85.7% 

71.4% 

57.1% 

71.4% 

85.7% 

85.7% 

71.4% 

71.4% 

57.1% 

60.0%  100.0% 

60.0% 

More than 99% of patents by US applicants are filed with the USPTO while roughly 70% are filed as 
PCTs. Less than 50% are filed by US applicants at the EPO.  

Among  the  European  applicants,  it  can  be  observed  that  the  highest  percentages  of  filings 
concentrate at the EPO and USPTO, with quite similar value, suggesting that both patent authorities 
seem to be the most relevant for European Applicants. In some cases, the PCT route seems to be 
important looking at the percentage of patents.  

Figure 7-3: Number of patent families by country of applicant  
(excluding the US and Japan) 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Figure 7-4: Number of patent families by country of applicant EU28/EFTA  

Table 7-5: Patent families by country of applicant for EU28/EFTA (1993-2011) 

World 
ranking 

Country of 
applicant 

No. of 
Patent 
Families 

PCT 

US 

EP 

3 

5 

6 

7 

11 

12 

13 

16 

17 

19 

21 

23 

25 

Germany 

Netherlands 

France 

United Kingdom 

Switzerland 

Sweden 

Italy 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Spain 

Finland 

Austria 

Ireland 

215 

74.9% 

77.2% 

78.6% 

68 

64 

57 

26 

20 

18 

12 

11 

8 

8 

7 

5 

42.6% 

86.8% 

60.3% 

59.4% 

81.3% 

73.4% 

77.2% 

77.2% 

59.6% 

76.9% 

92.3% 

88.5% 

85.0% 

85.0% 

85.0% 

88.9% 

88.9% 

83.3% 

66.7% 

75.0% 

83.3% 

100.0% 

72.7% 

72.7% 

100.0% 

75.0% 

100.0% 

75.0% 

87.5% 

87.5% 

71.4% 

85.7% 

85.7% 

60.0% 

100.0% 

60.0% 

Looking  at  the  non-EU/EFTA  and  non-US  countries  of  applicants,  the  filing  patterns  are  quite 
homogeneous  with  a  clear  preference,  among  the  patent  authorities  considered  in  this  study,  to 
filing  most  at  the  USPTO,  like  Japan  and  South  Korea,  the  most  active  countries  in  patent 
applications.  

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Figure 7-5: Number of patent families by country of applicant for non-EU28/EFTA 
(excluding the US and Japan) 

GRANTED PATENTS 

Applicants from the same EU and EFTA countries performing strongly in patents granted by the EPO 
are especially Germany, followed by France and Netherlands. Also Germany is by far the first country 
in patents granted by the USPTO, where also Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom show a 
strong performance, although lagging behind Germany. 

Table 7-6: Country of applicant and number of patents granted at EPO and USPTO 

Country of applicant 

No. of Patents Granted (1993-2011) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

Germany 

France 

Netherlands 

Italy 

Sweden 

Switzerland 

Denmark 

United Kingdom 

Austria 

10 

Finland 

11  Spain 

12 

Ireland 

13  Norway 

EPO 

56 

9 

8 

7 

7 

5 

4 

4 

3 

3 

2 

1 

1 

USPTO 

76 

23 

35 

8 

6 

7 

6 

18 

1 

3 

1 

3 

0 

While for many countries the amount of patents granted by EPO is similar to the amount of patents 
granted by the USPTO, some countries like Germany, France, Netherlands and United kingdom the 
number of patents granted by the USPTO is substantially larger compared to the EPO. 

79 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Figure 7-6: Granted patents by country of applicant for EU28/EFTA 

The top ten countries by number of applications are the same as the top ten countries by patents 
granted to applicants for EU and EFTA countries, as shown in the table below.  

Table 7-7: Comparison of patent filings and patents granted by country of applicant (1993-
2011) 

Country of 
applicant 

No. of Patent 
Families 

Country of 
applicant 

No. of Patents 
Granted 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

7 

6 

8 

9 

10 

11 

DE 

NL 

FR 

UK 

IT 

CH 

SE 

DK 

BE 

FI 

AT 

215 

68 

64 

57 

18 

26 

20 

11 

12 

8 

7 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

7 

6 

8 

9 

10 

11 

DE 

NL 

FR 

UK 

IT 

CH 

SE 

DK 

BE 

FI 

AT 

100 

39 

27 

19 

12 

10 

10 

9 

5 

4 

3 

A  very  approximate  estimate  can  be  made  of  relative  success  in  patenting  between  countries  of 
applicants by comparing the number of patent families and the number of patents granted292. This 
shows  a  high  success  rate  for  Denmark  and  Italy.  The  number  in  the  left  column  is  their  overall 
ranking from the previous table. 

292 It should be noted that the data do not apply to the same filings as the patents applied for in 1993-2011 will 

not be the same as the patents granted in 1993-2011, albeit that some overlap can be expected.  

80 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
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Table 7-8: Estimate of relative patenting success by country of applicant  

Country of applicant 

Granted/ Applied % 

8 

5 

2 

6 

10 

1 

3 

9 

7 

4 

DK 

IT 

NL 

SE 

FI 

DE 

FR 

BE 

CH 

UK 

81.8% 

66.7% 

57.4% 

50.0% 

50.0% 

46.5% 

42.2% 

41.7% 

38.5% 

33.3% 

When considering the country of applicant and the country of inventor as seen in patent family data, 
it is clear that inventions are most often patented in the country in which they are invented (see 
table  below).  However,  it  is  not  uncommon  to  have  inventions  that  are  patented  outside  of  the 
country in which they originate.  

Table 7-9: Country of applicant and country of inventor table for cross-comparison  

INVT  CA 

FR  DE 

JP  NL  CN  KR 

TW  UK  US 

APPL 

CA 

FR 

DE 

JP 

NL 

CN 

KR 

TW 

UK 

US 

25 

1 

  61 

4 

5 

3 

7  205 

2 

3  327 

1 

8 

1 

2 

4 

2 

2 

7 

2 

10 

2 

  51 

3 

2 

40 

2 

2 

7 

14  13 

25 

10 

14 

12 

3 

1 

80 

1 

5 

1 

4 

10 

7 

  10 

19 

2 

5 

1 

2 

31 

  47 

8 

5 

10 

7 

16 

8 

1 

7  647 

7.5  Patenting activity by organisation type 

7.5.1  Universities and public research organisations 

PATENT APPLICATIONS 

Of  the  top  ten  universities  and  public  research  organisations  (PROs)  with  the  highest  number  of 
patent families (with percentages for PCT, US and EP applications), half are in the United States. 
The EU28 is represented by three organisations, two in France and one in Germany, marked in bold.  

Looking at the top 25 performing universities and PROs for patent families, 12 out of 25 are from 
outside the US, 5 being from the EU28 or EFTA (from France, Germany and Spain). The tables below 
show the top ten universities and PROs by number of patent families, followed by the top non-US 
universities and PROs.   

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Table 7-10: Number of patent families for top ten universities and PROs (1993-2011) 

Rank  Country 

Organisation 

No. of Patent 
families 

PCT 

US 

EP 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

US 

US 

FR 

US 

CN 

DE 

JP 

DE 

FR 

US 

University of California 

Massachusetts Institute 
of Technology 

CEA 

Harvard College 

Tsinghua University 

Fraunhofer Institute 

National Institute of 
Advanced Industrial 
Science and 
Technology (AIST) 

Leibniz Institut für 
neue Materialien 

CNRS 

Dartmouth College 

22 

17 

12 

11 

10 

10 

10 

68.2% 

81.8% 

18.2% 

82.4% 

76.5% 

23.5% 

50.0%  58.3%  41.7% 

63.6% 

90.9% 

27.3% 

0.0% 

100.0% 

0.0% 

70.0%  50.0%  90.0% 

80.0% 

70.0% 

30.0% 

10 

30% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

9 

8 

66.7%  44.4%  77.8% 

0.0% 

100.0% 

0.0% 

The table below shows the top ten performing universities and PROs for patent families in EU28/EFTA 
countries. French and German organisations perform strongly among this group of countries (the 
top four organisations).  

Table 7-11: Number of patent families in the top 20 EU28/EFTA universities and PROs (1993-
2011) 

Rank 

Country 

Organisation 

PCT 

US 

EP 

No. of 
Patent 
families 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

FR 

DE 

DE 

FR 

ES 

UK 

UK 

BE 

DE 

DE 

CEA 

Fraunhofer Institute 

Leibniz Institut für neue 
Materialien 

CNRS 

CSIC 

University of 
Southampton 

University of Bath 

Universite Libre de 
Bruxelles 

University of Dresden 

Saarland University 

12 

10 

10 

9 

4 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

50.0% 

58.3% 

41.7% 

70.0% 

50.0% 

90.0% 

30.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

66.7% 

44.4% 

77.8% 

25.0% 

50.0%  100.0% 

100.0% 

0.0% 

66.7% 

100.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

100.0%  100.0% 

50.0% 

50.0% 

0.0% 

100.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

GRANTED PATENTS 

Of the top 15 universities and research organisations, 3 are from the EU28/EFTA countries as shown 
in the table below which is ranked by the highest number of EPO patents granted between 1993 and 
2011. All the remaining organisations are from the US. 

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Table 7-12: Universities / research organisations granted patents, by EPO patent numbers 

Rank 

Country 

Organisation 

EP 

US 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

US 

BE 

DE 

CH 

US 

US 

US 

US 

US 

US 

US 

US 

US 

US 

US 

Harvard College 

KU Leuven 

University of Munster 

ETH Zurich 

University of Texas 

University of Texas 

California Institute of Technology 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Purdue Research Foundation 

Oklahoma State University 

University of Illinois 

Dartmouth College 

University of Central Florida 

Wayne State University 

Rice University 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

8 

1 

0 

0 

3 

3 

2 

9 

2 

1 

2 

2 

0 

1 

3 

Ranking  by  the  number  of  USPTO  patents  granted  between  1993  and  2011,  11  of  the  top  15 
universities and research organisations are in the US and three in the EU28/EFTA.  

Table  7-13:  Universities  /  research  organisations  granted  patents,  by  USPTO  patent 
numbers 

Rank 

Country 

Organisation 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

FR 

US 

US 

JP 

KR 

US 

BE 

TW 

FR 

KR 

US 

US 

JP 

US 

KR 

CEA 

California Institute of Technology 

University of California 

Japanese S&T Agency 

Electronics and Telecommunications Research 
Institute 

MIT 

IMEC 

Industrial Technology Research 
Institute (ITRI) 

CNRS 

Korea Institute of Science and Technology 
(KIST) 

Rice University 

Standford University 

National Institute of Advanced Industrial 
Science and Technology (AIST) 

Northwestern University 

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and 
Technology (KAIST) 

US 

43 

34 

31 

30 

24 

21 

19 

15 

13 

12 

12 

11 

10 

9 

8 

EP 

16 

2 

1 

5 

1 

1 

7 

0 

12 

1 

3 

2 

0 

2 

0 

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7.5.2  Activity of companies 

PATENT APPLICATIONS 

The top ten companies with the highest number of patent families (with percentages for PCT, US 
and  EP applications), belong to six different  countries. Germany  (2)  and Netherlands  (1)  are  the 
only EU28 countries that features in the table, marked in bold. It should be noted that some may be 
holding companies rather than research companies or manufacturers.  

Table 7-14: Number of patent families for top ten companies (1993-2011) 

Rank  Country 

Company 

PCT 

US 

EP 

No. of 
Patent 
families 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

US 

JP 

TW 

NL 

JP 

US 

KR 

DE 

DE 

US 

Molecular Imprints 
INC 

Canon  

Hon Hai Precision 
Industry 

ASML 

Asahi Glass 

Corning 

Samsung Electronics 

Evonik Degussa 

Merck 

3M 

48 

33 

30 

30 

25 

24 

22 

18 

17 

17 

77.1% 

97.9% 

45.8% 

27.3% 

97.0% 

39.4% 

0.0% 

100.0% 

0.0% 

13.3%  93.3%  23.3% 

88.0% 

76.0% 

68.0% 

79.2% 

29.2% 

79.2% 

4.5% 

72.7% 

18.2% 

38.9%  66.7%  66.7% 

82.4%  41.2%  76.5% 

88.2% 

76.5% 

82.4% 

GRANTED PATENTS 

The top ten companies that have been granted patents by the EPO and/or USPTO are shown in the 
tables below293. The first table shows the top ten when the figures are sorted to obtain the highest 
number of EPO patents and the second shows the top ten when they are sorted for USPTO patents. 
Companies  from  the  US  and  Japan  are  among  the  organisations  with  highest  number  of  patents 
granted  by  the  EPO.  Evonik  Degussa  and  Wacker  Chemie  (Germany)  as  well  as  Rhodia  Chemie 
(France) are the only three companies located in the EU28/EFTA. 

Table 7-15: Companies granted USPO and EPO patents (sorted by EPO patents) 

Country 

Company 

EP 

DE 

JP 

US 

US 

US 

DE 

JP 

JP 

US 

FR 

Evonik Degussa 

Canon  

3M 

Corning 

Molecular Imprints INC 

Wacker Chemie 

Matsushita Electric 

Nissan Chemical 

Rohm & Haas 

Rhodia Chemie 

7 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

4 

4 

4 

4 

US 

11 

24 

11 

7 

38 

2 

4 

4 

3 

1 

293 This data does not take account of there being multiple offices of one company. Where the name differs in 

the database, the companies are taken as being different. 

84 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
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Table 7-16: USPTO and EPO granted patents by company (sorted by US patents) 

Country  

Company 

US 

EP 

US 

JP 

NL 

TW 

JP 

US 

JP 

DE 

US 

JP 

Molecular Imprints INC 

Canon  

ASML 

Hon Hai Precision Industry 

Asahi Glass 

PPG Industries 

Toshiba 

Evonik Degussa 

3M 

TDK Corporation 

38 

24 

22 

18 

14 

13 

12 

11 

11 

10 

5 

5 

3 

0 

3 

2 

1 

7 

5 

2 

Interestingly, only three of the companies with the highest number of patents granted by the USPTO 
are from the US. The other seven companies are located in other countries. ASLM (Netherlands) and 
Evonik Degussa (Germany) are the two companies of the EU28 among these ten companies. 

The next two sections look at the construction industry and construction nanotechnology products 
and global markets. 

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8 

INDUSTRY AND NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR CONSTRUCTION 

As a proxy for nanotechnology in the construction industry, this section presents wider economic 
data  on  the  parts  of  the  construction  sector  in  which  nanotechnology  is  most  commonly  found. 
Nanotechnology has found applications in different areas of the construction industry and already 
there are products on the market. However, penetration of these products on the market is limited 
and mainly applied in coatings.  

This section indicates the value of the construction sector, as well as manufacturing sub-sectors that 
are  relevant  for  the  construction  sector  and  in  which  nanotechnology  is  used.  It  focuses  on  the 
number of firms, turnover294, production value and value added295, production value296 and value 
added297, and employment numbers, as well as on expenditure on research and development (R&D). 
Later  in  this  section,  more  details  are  provided  on  the  construction-related  applications  of 
nanotechnology.  

8.1  Overview of the construction industry 

From the OECD definition298, the construction sector includes the building of houses, apartments, 
factories, offices and schools, but also roads, bridges, ports, railroads, sewers and tunnels, amongst 
many other things. In addition to building, the sector maintains and repairs those structures and 
produces the basic materials that are used to make them, such as concrete.  

The construction sector is a cost-driven and traditional sector299. It is very labour-intensive300 with 
most sub-sectors in the construction industry being focused on construction activities instead of the 
underlying materials in which nanotechnology has been applied. For the purpose of this report, nine 
groups of manufacturing sub-sectors are taken into account as having nanotechnology applications 
in materials that can be applied in the construction sector (as shown in the table below). However, 
it is essential to realise that these sub-sectors also provide products for other sectors such as the 
transport sector.   

Table 8-1: Overview of NACE categories for manufacturing sub-sectors of construction 

Code  

C16 

Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; 
manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials 

Label 

C203 

Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics 

C2052 

Manufacture of glues 

C231 

C232 

C233 

C234 

C235 

C236 

Manufacture of glass and glass products 

Manufacture of refractory products 

Manufacture of clay building materials 

Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products 

Manufacture of cement, lime and plaster 

Manufacture of articles of concrete, cement and plaster 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

Source: Eurostat  

294 Turnover is defined in these statistics as market sales of goods or services supplied to third parties (Source: 
Eurostat). 
295 These monetary values are expressed in millions of Euros: 

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/sbs_esms.htm  

296 Production value measures the amount actually produced by the unit, based on sales, including changes in 
stocks and the resale of goods and services (Source: Eurostat). 
297 Value added is the gross income from operating activities after adjusting for operating subsidies and indirect 
taxes. Value adjustments (such as depreciation) are not subtracted (Source: Eurostat). 
298 http://www.oecd.org/regreform/sectors/41765075.pdf  
299 http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/reports/reportpdf/report162.pdf  
300 Trends and drivers of change in the European construction sector: Mapping report: 
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Eb_ssxzC-
BIJ:www.certificazione.unimore.it/site/home/documento124000637.html+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nl  

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8.1.1  Number of EU construction manufacturing enterprises 

The construction sector is strategically important for Europe, delivering building and infrastructure 
which are crucial for all other sectors in the economy301. The total construction sector of the EU28 
was  made  up  of  3.4  million  firms  in  2014    (see  table  below),  firms  mainly  active  in  construction 
activities  (like  construction  of  roads  and  railways)  and  not  in  the  development  of  underlying 
materials. 

Table 8-2: Number of companies in the construction sector 

Number of companies (EU28) 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

Total construction sector 

3,266,728 

3,280,371 

3,269,946 

3,361,046 

Source: Eurostat 

From the manufacturing sub-sectors that are relevant for the construction sector, most firms are 
active in the sub-sector “Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; 
manufacture  of  articles  of  straw  and  plaiting  materials”.  This  is  about  74%  of  the  manufacturing 
sub-sectors that are relevant for construction (see table below). The subcategory  “Manufacture of 
paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics”, in which nanotechnology is most 
often applied in the construction sector, is 2% of these sub-sectors. The smallest sub-sector in terms 
of the number of enterprises is “Manufacture of glues” with 533 firms in 2013. 

Table  8-3:  Number  of  companies  in  the  manufacturing  sub-sectors  relevant  for 
construction 

No. of companies (EU 28 countries) 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and 
cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of 
straw and plaiting materials 

Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar 
coatings, printing ink and mastics 

185,000 

177,753 

171,766 

171,371 

4,000 

4,100 

4,000 

4,035 

Manufacture of glues 

598 

532 

533 

: 

Manufacture of glass and glass products 

16,000 

15,711 

15,500 

15,359 

Manufacture of refractory products 

851 

860 

843 

800 

Manufacture of clay building materials 

4,000 

3,627 

3,240 

3,278 

Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic 
products 

13,695 

13,288 

13,134 

13,406 

Manufacture of cement, lime and plaster 

1,130 

1,100 

1,020 

1,000 

Manufacture of articles of concrete, cement and 
plaster 

24,820 

23,500 

22,130 

21,602 

8.1.2  Turnover, production and value-added in EU construction 

The  European  construction  sector  is  composed  of  around  99%  of  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises 
(SMEs)302. Overall for 2011-2014, the construction sector has had turnover of about EUR 1.5 billion, 
production value of EUR 1.5 billion and value added of EUR 0.5 billion per year as shown in the table 
below. 

301http://bwcv.es/assets/2011/2/15/ObservatoryNANO_Economic_assessment_construction_final_report-1.pdf  
302 http://www.ueapme.com/spip.php?rubrique17  

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Table 8-4: Turnover, production value and value added in the construction sector(EU28) 

Turnover (MEUR) 

Production value (MEUR)  

2011 

1,566,177 

1,549,935 

2012 

1,545,459 

1,528,954 

2013 

1,493,477 

1,485,741 

2014 

1,546,051 

1,541,033 

Value added (MEUR) 

501,287 

492,897 

487,022 

: 

Source: Eurostat 

The  manufacturing  sub-sector  “Manufacture  of  wood  and  of  products  of  wood  and  cork,  except 
furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials” has the largest turnover (about 
37% of the selected sub-sectors in 2014), production value turnover (37% in 2014) and value added 
(33% in 2013) compared to the other manufacturing sub-sectors relevant for construction, as shown 
in the table below. Although these numbers show some decrease between 2011 and 2012, turnover, 
production  value  and  value  added  show  an  increase  afterwards.  This  indicates  a  recovery  of  the 
economic situation in these sectors. 

Table 8-5: Turnover, production value and value added by sub-sector for construction 

Turnover (MEUR) 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

Wood, products of wood and 
cork, except furniture; 
manufacture of articles of 
straw and plaiting materials 

Paints, varnishes and similar 
coatings, printing ink and 
mastics 

124,000.00 

120,131.10 

118,849.80 

123,253.70 

40,930.70 

40,816.60 

40,920.50 

40,670.70 

Glues 

5,876.20 

5,764.20 

5,627.20 

: 

Glass and glass products 

47,000.00 

45,000.00 

44,000.00 

43,946.30 

Refractory products 

5,948.50 

5,898.90 

5,530.10 

5,959.90 

Clay building materials 

18,889.20 

17,073.40 

16,800.00 

17,222.20 

Other porcelain and ceramic 
products 

9,366.20 

8,822.30 

8,831.60 

9,276.90 

Cement, lime and plaster 

21,558.70 

19,982.00 

19,232.20 

19,085.50 

Articles of concrete, cement 
and plaster 

76,317.50 

69,809.70 

65,228.80 

66,474.10 

Production value (MEUR) 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

Wood, products of wood and 
cork, except furniture; 
manufacture of articles of 
straw and plaiting materials 

Paints, varnishes and similar 
coatings, printing ink and 
mastics 

: 

113,843 

112,067 

116,736 

37,287 

36,616 

37,090 

37,714 

Glues 

5,216 

4,990 

Glass and glass products 

: 

: 

Refractory products 

5,607 

5,393 

Clay building materials 

17,972 

16,221 

Other porcelain and ceramic 
products 

8,191 

7,796 

4,807 

40,000 

5,040 

16,000 

7,670 

: 

42,062 

5,319 

16,313 

8,075 

88 

 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Production value (MEUR) 

2011 

Cement, lime and plaster 

Articles of concrete, cement 
and plaster 

21,635 

71,606 

2012 

20,574 

65,305 

2013 

19,172 

61,258 

2014 

19,217 

62,657 

Value added (MEUR) 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

Wood, products of wood and 
cork, except furniture; 
manufacture of articles of 
straw and plaiting materials 

Paints, varnishes and similar 
coatings, printing ink and 
mastics 

31,700.00 

29,956.30 

29,584.80 

10,449.90 

10,501.20 

10,938.50 

Glues 

1,453.20 

1,366.70 

1,413.80 

Glass and glass products 

16,000.00 

15,000.00 

14,000.00 

Refractory products 

1,739.80 

1,640.10 

1,587.00 

Clay building materials 

6,414.80 

5,623.50 

5,400.00 

Other porcelain and ceramic 
products 

3,556.70 

3,314.00 

3,322.90 

Cement, lime and plaster 

7,642.20 

6,639.40 

6,051.60 

Articles of concrete, cement 
and plaster 

Source: Eurostat  

19,269.30 

17,519.90 

16,948.60 

: 

: 

: 

: 

: 

: 

: 

: 

: 

8.1.3  Employment in EU construction 

Although the relative share of construction in Europe's economic activity has declined over the past 
years (before 2011), construction is still of significant importance for the European economy. The 
construction sector provided 12.4 million jobs in 2014 and contributed to about 10% of the EU's GDP 
in 2016303, 304.  

Table 8-6: Number of employees in the construction sector, millions (EU28) 

Number of employees, millions (EU28) 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

Total construction sector 

13.1 

12.7 

12.2 

12.4 

Source: Eurostat  

The manufacturing sub-sectors relevant for construction provide 2 million jobs in 2014.  47% of the 
people employed in these sub-sectors were active in the sub-sector “Manufacture of wood and of 
products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials” 
and 7% in the sub-sector “Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and 
mastics”. The number of employees in these sub-sectors decreased by 8% in the period 2011-2013 
as shown in the table below. 

303 http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/construction/index_en.htm  
304 http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/construction/index_en.htm  

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Table 8-7: Number of employees in construction sub-sectors in which nanotechnology can 
be applied 

Employees, millions 
(EU28) 

Wood,  products  of  wood  and 
cork, 
furniture; 
manufacture  of  articles  of 
straw and plaiting materials 

except 

Paints,  varnishes  and  similar 
coatings,  printing 
ink  and 
mastics 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

10,400.00 

10,005 

9,671 

9,932 

1,564.00 

1,538 

1,518 

1,522 

Glues 

195 

177 

182 

: 

Glass and glass products 

3,196.00 

3,100 

2,997 

3,003 

Refractory products 

317 

314 

297 

295 

Clay building materials 

1,230.00 

1,150 

1,087 

1,06,402 

Other  porcelain  and  ceramic 
products 

1,091.00 

1,071 

1,053 

1,07,107 

Cement, lime and plaster 

703 

673 

651 

623 

Articles  of  concrete,  cement 
and plaster 

Source: Eurostat  

4,119.00 

3,862 

3,633 

3,589 

8.1.4  EU Business R&D expenditures in the construction sector 

According to the “2014 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard”305, the construction and materials 
sector belongs to sectors with a low research and development (R&D) intensity. The EU Industrial 
R&D Investment Scoreboard of the European Commission listed the top 1000 EU-companies with 
their R&D expenditure by sector. The construction and material sector spend EUR 1.7 billion on R&D 
in 2014, 38 firms being responsible for the expenditure. This is about 0.5% of total R&D expenditures 
of the top 1000 companies in the EU306. Most of these firms are from Germany, Belgium, France and 
Spain. The highest expenditures are from firms in France, Spain, Sweden and Germany.  

8.1.5  Innovative EU construction enterprises 

As mentioned earlier in the report, innovation in the construction sector is limited by the need to 
ensure that buildings and infrastructure will last a long time and retain its performance during that 
time. Materials and processes that have stood the test of time are generally more attractive to the 
building  trade  than  untested  ones  and  companies  are  reluctant  to  be  the  first  to  adopt  a  new 
technology.  Therefore,  the  construction  industry  is  not  noted  for  being  very  innovative  or  R&D 
oriented. The sector is mainly dominated by SMEs307 engaged in construction activities.  

R&D activities using nanotechnology developments are therefore mainly undertaken by large multi‐
national  manufacturers  such  as  BASF,  AKZO‐NOBEL,  DuPont,  Heidelberg  and  ItalCementi  or  at 
specialised research institutes (either university-based or private research institutes)308, 309 that are 
active in the manufacturing sub-sectors mentioned in the previous sections. This suggests that the 
majority  of  construction  SMEs  play  little  or  no  role  in  pioneering  nano  activities  within  the 
construction sector. Exceptions are SME spin‐offs or start-ups that have a contract that allows them 

305 http://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/scoreboard14.html  
306 http://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/scoreboard15.html  
307 European Builders Confederation annual report 14-15 
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:-

U3qslLzlD8J:https://www.etui.org/content/download/3555/40007/file/Nano%25E2%2580%2590products%2Bi
n%2Bthe%2BEuropean%2BConstruction%2BIndustry.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nl  

309 https://www.irjet.net/archives/V3/i1/IRJET-V3I151.pdf  

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to  use  the  research  facilities  of  their  “mother”  company  or  laboratory,  SMEs  that  were  set‐up  as 
university  spin‐offs  focused  on  specific  nano‐niche  markets  like  for  example  the  production  and 
design‐on‐demand of specific nanomaterials.  

It is mainly in the field of paint and coatings that SMEs are starting to play a role and fabricate their 
own nano products310. However, the paint and coatings sub-sector (called “Manufacture of paints, 
varnishes  and  similar  coatings,  printing  ink  and  mastics”  in  the  previous  sections)  is  one  of  the 
smaller sub-sectors in terms of number of enterprises (2% of the firms active in the manufacturing 
sub-sectors  relevant  for  construction),  turnover  (13%  of  the  total  turnover  of  the  manufacturing 
sub-sectors relevant for construction), production value (12% of the total production value of the 
manufacturing  sub-sectors  relevant  for  construction),  and  employment  (7%  of  the  total  persons 
employed in the manufacturing sub-sectors relevant for construction).  

8.2  Nanotechnology in the construction industry 

There  are  applications  of  nanotechnology  in  various  areas  of  the  construction  industry,  including 
coatings,  insulation  materials,  fire  protection  and  cement-based  products311.  However,  the 
penetration  of  these  products  on  the  market  is  limited,  resulting  in  a  very  low  amount  of  wider 
economic  data  on  turnover,  value  added  etc.  In  this  section,  the  available  information  on  firms 
applying nanotechnology in the construction sector will be discussed. First, some information will be 
provided on the constraints which make the construction industry slower to adopt nanotechnology 
than some other industries. 

8.2.1  Constraints on the use of nanotechnology in the construction industry 

FIEC (the European Construction Industry Federation) and the EFBWW (the European Federation of 
Building and Wood Workers) investigated the role of nanotechnology in the European construction 
market312  and  showed  the  potential  for  nanotechnology  to  bring  many  technical  and  economic 
advantages to the construction sector in the future. For example, nano-based solutions to improve 
energy efficiency are expected to play a more important role in the construction sector in the coming 
years313.  However, only a limited number of nano products make it to the market for construction 
products simply because the techniques and materials are too expensive to produce products that 
can compete with the existing products. Some large players in the field mention: “in this respect, 
the construction industry falls about 10 years behind industry at large, because of the costs involved 
and because of the technical and safety standards required for the materials used”. Although this 
research  is  from  2009,  experts  confirmed  during  interviews  that  these  research  findings  are  still 
valid and more recent research cited this report.  

Different  reasons  are  given  for  the  limited  use  of  nano  applications  in  the  construction  sector7,8 
including that: 

•  Nano  applications  often  do  not  reach  the  construction  market  due  to  the  high  costs 
involved314: Nano‐materials and products are still more expensive than non‐nano alternatives 
because  of the technology required for manufacturing. For consumer products, the additional 
costs are not a big issue for market acceptance. However, this is not the case for the construction 
sector. Already at the R&D phase, initiatives to apply nanotechnology in construction are stopped 
when it is foreseen that the nano product to be produced will never reach competitive pricing. 
Construction products often have large volumes, and small price differences at the kilogramme 
level become enormous at  that scale. For  instance, industrial flooring nano-coatings could  be 
offered  at  a  maximum  price  difference  of  no  more  than  about  1  euro  per  kg.  This  makes 
manufacturers of construction materials reluctant to develop nano products (especially when the 

https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/378/publikationen/texte_23_2014_assessment_of_im

pacts_of_a_european_register_of_products_containing_nanomaterials-schwirn.pdf 
311https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/378/publikationen/texte_23_2014_assessment
_of_impacts_of_a_european_register_of_products_containing_nanomaterials-schwirn.pdf  
312 Van Broekhuizen F. & van Broekhuizen P., (2009), Nano products in the European production Industry State 
of the Art 2009, initiative financially supported by the European Commission in the framework of programmes 
and actions in the social and employment sectors.  
313https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/378/publikationen/texte_23_2014_assessment
_of_impacts_of_a_european_register_of_products_containing_nanomaterials-schwirn.pdf  
314https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/378/publikationen/texte_23_2014_assessment

_of_impacts_of_a_european_register_of_products_containing_nanomaterials-schwirn.pdf  

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performance of existing non‐nano products is believed to be sufficient) and those nano products 
that are developed remain niche products that are only applied upon request. This is especially 
the case for the larger volume products like concrete or mortar and for construction coatings. 
However, developments are being seen in the areas of, for example, insulation materials and 
architectural  and  glass  coatings.  These  niche  markets  have  improved energy  performance  as 
their goal. The current focus of society is also on the improvement of energy management in 
the  context  of  climate  change  and  the  reduction  of  greenhouse  gasses,  which  stimulates  the 
application of nanotechnology in the construction sector.  

•  Technical performance needs to be proven to meet the technical standards: Especially 
for  new  materials  with  new  functionalities,  this  involves  testing.  When  the  laboratory  results 
show positive results pilot projects are required to prove and test the behaviour under real life 
conditions. The uncertainty about substitution by other technologies does slow down the market 
introduction of nanotechnology in the construction sector. For concrete this is a major issue. For 
self‐cleaning window coatings, this issue is much smaller since the safety standards are much 
lower. 

•  Awareness  among  stakeholders  in  the  European  construction  sector  about  nano 
limited:  Construction  involves  product  manufacturers  and  suppliers, 
application 
construction workers and their employers, project developers and architects. Their knowledge 
of nanotechnology, and its potential in  construction,  is generally  quite  limited, leaving only  a 
small number of key players to develop the market. 

is 

The next section reports on products, markets and companies for nanotechnology and construction. 

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9  PRODUCTS AND MARKETS FOR CONSTRUCTION THROUGH 

NANOTECHNOLOGY 

9.1  Introduction 

The  commercial  applications  of  nanotechnology  in  the  field  of  building  and  construction  include 
coatings, lighting, and other products such as building insulation and concrete.  

Many  companies  identify  themselves  as  being  active  in  the  area  of  nanotechnology.  Where  their 
product is generic with many applications in a wide range of sectors, one of which is construction, 
their  product  will  often  not  appear  as  specific  to  construction.  Here,  efforts  have  been  made  to 
identify only products that are building and construction-specific, thereby increasing the relevance 
(but reducing the number) of products. 

Global markets and forecasts for construction products using nanotechnology are considered below. 

9.2  Global markets and forecasts for construction products using 

nanotechnology 

Global sales for nanotechnology products in the construction sector were estimated to be USD  1.8 
billion in 2013 and are forecast to be USD 4.7 billion in 2019. The figure below shows the forecast 
growth in commercialised products (USD 4.35 billion in 2019) and the expected growth in emerging 
products (USD 375 million in 2019). It is seen that much of the growth is expected to be driven by 
products that have already been commercialised. 

Source: BCC Research, 2014 

Figure 9-1: Global market outlook for nanotechnology in construction to 2019 

Nanotechnology can be used in construction in the form of particles, films and coatings, composites, 
etc. A comparison of global sales estimates by type of nanomaterial shows that solid nanoparticles 
accounted for the largest share in 2013, with a decrease to almost half its size forecast to 2019. In 
contrast to that decrease, global sales estimates of both nano-scale thin films and nano-structured 
monolithics  are  expected  to  almost  double  their  share  by  2019  (c.  15%  to  c.  27%).  Sales  of 
nanocomposites are projected to almost triple in relative share (4.3% to 11.7%). Carbon nanotubes 
are currently forecast to play only a marginal role in terms of shares of sales. 

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Source: BCC Research, 2014 

Figure 9-2: Global sales estimates for nanotechnology and construction by material type, 
2013 and 2019 

The section that follows explores these markets in greater detail, beginning in each case with the 
technology and products (including company examples in the form of snapshots and case studies) 
and concluding with market estimates and forecasts. In addition, information is presented on likely 
future products and markets where appropriate. First there is an overview of the products.  

9.3  Commercialised products for construction through nanotechnology 

9.3.1  Overview 

To date, 95 building and construction-related products using nanotechnology have been identified 
as being commercially available on the market. About one quarter of those are in the area of lighting 
(OLEDs 16% and LEDs 11%), and one fifth in the area of coatings (photocatalytic coatings 11% and 
anti-stick  coatings  9%).  Paints,  coatings  and  adhesives  account  for  17%  of  the  products  while 
insulation products have a share of 16% as shown in the figure below.  

The figure shows an approximate breakdown of the types of products, albeit that some categories 
overlap and a decision has been taken as to which category to put them in. The main message is 
that nanotechnology occurs most in components but also strongly in materials. 

9.3.2  Products for construction through nanotechnology, by application market 

The products identified as being relevant to nanotechnology and construction are divided as follows: 

•  Coatings; 
Lighting;  
• 
Energy recovery systems for buildings; 
• 
Insulation for buildings; 
• 
•  Nanocomposites: hydrophobic/oleophobic;  
•  Conductive fibre; 
•  Wire and cable sheathing; and 
•  Concrete and cement. 

In each case, details are given of the technology and its purpose as well as market estimates and 
forecasts. Company  case studies and company snapshots provide additional information. Existing 
applications and emerging applications are considered.  

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Figure 9-3: Nanotechnology in building and construction by product type 

9.3.2.1  Coatings 

A COATINGS AND ADHESIVES  

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

Of all nanotechnology products introduced into the construction industry, coatings and paints have 
probably up to now been the most successful in reaching the market to a significant extent315. Paint 
is a pigmented liquid chemical which is applied to a substrate (in case of construction to interior and 
exterior walls / roofs and pipes) to protect the surface and to give it a specific colour. Today, paint 
is also used for energy conservation e.g. by modifying the reflection of light or heat by a surface. 
Paint  is  also  used  on  metal  surfaces  e.g.  to  impede  corrosion.  Paint  is  composed  of  pigments, 
adhesives, binder, solvent and other additives316. 

Aqueous  polymer  dispersions  have  widespread  applications  as  exterior  paints,  coatings  and 
adhesives, as well as in the finishing of paper, textiles and leather. They can be both decorative and 
protective against weathering, as binders in paint or plaster work and as coatings for concrete roofing 
tiles. If the dispersions are made soft and tacky, they can be used as pressure-sensitive adhesives 
for labels or adhesive tape. As binders for paper coatings, they provide brilliance to a wide variety 
of printed products. However, not all of the polymer particles used in these dispersions have truly 
nanoscale dimensions, ranging up to 800 nm in diameter. It has been estimated317 that about 10% 
of the polymer particles measure less than 100 nm318. 

A research team at University College London has developed a nanoparticulate titanium dioxide for 
use  in  construction  paints.  The  new  paint  imparts  high  performance,  durability  and  self-cleaning 
properties. It is compatible with a many substrates including paper, glass and steel. It can be added 
with adhesives or simply coated and its self-cleaning properties remain even after wiping off with 

315 van Broekhuizen et al. (2009), Nano‐products in the European Construction Industry, Amsterdam 
316 ObservatoryNano (2009), Economical Assessment / Construction sector, Final report, p.30 
317 BCC Research 
318 BBC Research (2014), Nanotechnology, a realistic market assessment, p.?? 

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water  and  alcohol.  The  paint  can  be  used  on  the  exteriors  of  buildings  or  customised  for  use  on 
automotive vehicles and clothes319. 

Some examples of paints include: 

•  Bioni Roof is an acrylic-based, highly resilient, patented roof coating developed in conjunction 
with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT). With its Silver System Technology 
and  siliceous  light  fillers,  Bioni  Roof  is  durably  resistant  against  algae  and  moss  growth.  In 
addition,  it  is  highly  reflective  making  it  suitable  for  existing  roofing  as  a  protective  coating 
against environmental and climatic conditions320. 

• 

•  COL.9® is a nanobinder for paints from BASF that protects the paint against dirt and weather 
due to its ability to create a hydrophilic surface. Akzo Nobel has used COL.9® to develop Herbol® 
Symbiotec®, an exterior wall paint with dirt-repellent features. The paint prevents the build-up 
of dirt, bacteria, mould and algae on the surface and is also effective in maintaining the insulating 
properties of wall and other insulation systems through good moisture management321. 
I-Cannano  322  (Garia, India) wood paints are made using nanotechnology. They are moisture 
repellent,  UV  resistant,  microbe  resistant,  can  be  used  as  wood  paints  for  a  wide  variety  of 
exterior and interior surfaces and have a long shelf life I-CanNano products are established and 
in the last 10 years have been developed to serve a broad base of customers. The paint becomes 
embedded in the surface not just masking the wood. It does not weather out over time and is 
made from proprietary inorganic nano-particles incorporated in the paint matrix. Some of the 
innovative  attributes  include  termite  resistant,  hygienic  barrier,  scratch  resistant  and  anti-
sticking and a customised fire resistance option. 

•  Akzo Nobel has designed an exterior paint for buildings, NorsjöOne, with self-cleaning properties, 
durability,  mould  resistance  and  dust  resistance.  NorsjöOne  Supertech  is  environmentally 
certified  and  its  self-cleaning  properties  come  from  a  nano-silica  material  called  silicic  acid 
(colloidal  silica;  amorphous  silica,  SiO2).  Silicon  dioxide  particles  have  not  been  shown  to  be 
harmful to the user and are established particles used in the construction industry323.  

Other important retailers for paints are PPG, Rohm & Haas, Jotun Group and Nippon.324  

Company snapshot: Bioni CS GmbH 

BIONI is a medium-sized company founded in 2001 in Oberhausen, Germany. It works closely 
with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) and is the technology leader in 
the field of multi-functional wall, façade and roof paints based on  silver-system-technology. 
Based upon the latest scientific findings in nanotechnology and together with the researchers 
at Fraunhofer ICT, Bioni has developed a new nano-filler combination that, when used in both 
interior and façade paints, permanently prevents the formation of mould, bacteria and algae. 
These coating properties neither negatively affect the health of the residents nor pose a threat 
to the environment. The company has patented their product in the following countries: USA, 
Canada, Russian Federation, and the EU (pending). 

http://www.bioni.de/en/ 

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS 325 

Global consumption of polymer nanoparticles used to produce paints and other coatings was around 
55,000 tons, with an estimated value of USD 1.1 billion in 2013, based on a 10% proportion of the 
particles being nano in size, the cost of materials being about half of the value of the product and 

319http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=39293.php  
320 http://www.bioni.de/en/277.html  
321 ObservatoryNano (2009), Economical Assessment / Construction sector, Final report, p.32 
322http://www.icannanopaints.com/nanoWoodPaints.html  
323http://advantage-environment.com/buildings/self-cleaning-paint-for-the-nordic-climate/  
324 ObservatoryNano (2009), Economical Assessment / Construction sector, Final report, p.30 
325 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment  

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the worldwide market for aqueous polymer dispersions being worth an estimated USD 22 billion in 
2013.  

Source: BCC Research 2014 

Figure 9-4: Global market for coatings and adhesives to 2019 

The overall global coatings market is projected to grow at about 5% per year through 2015. Applying 
a similar percentage  to related sales of  polymer  nanoparticles yields the projections in the figure 
above. 

Company snapshot: Nanophos 

Nanophos was founded in 2005 in Greece, focused on making solutions for problems such as 
moisture,  mould  and  thermal  insulation.  It  provides  chemical  products  that  repel  water, 
provide thermal insulation and protect surfaces such as tiles, walls, metals and cement, adding 
new properties and boosting energy efficiency in buildings and construction projects. In 2014, 
NanoPhos shifted its focus to marine coatings and exported products to more than 25 countries 
in  Europe,  Middle  East,  Asia  and  America.  It  developed  materials  to  solve  issues  such  as 
fouling, sea water corrosion, incident heat radiation and accumulation of salt deposits.  

Antifouling coatings with no metal oxide biocides, thermal insulating paints and self-cleaning 
protection  are  only  some  of  the  product  enhancements  nanotechnology  can  offer.  The 
Nanophos marine product portfolio includes 25 products focusing on maintenance, cleaning, 
hull  protection,  antifouling  and  fuel  saving. The  managing  director  of  the  company  has  co-
authored more than 20 scientific articles that have been cited over 500 times. The company 
has  approximately  16  full-time  employees  and  generates  an  estimated  USD  3  million  (EUR 
2,67 million) in annual revenue. The company works in association with the Hellenic Federation 
of  Enterprises,  the  Hellenic  Association  of  Chemical  Industries,  HEMEXPO  Hellenic  Marine 
Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters European Cool Roofs Council and Advanced Polymer 
Coatings. 

http://nanophos-marine.com/eng/ 

B HIGH-STRENGTH COATINGS (NANOSTRUCTURED STEEL) 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

The trade-off between steel strength and ductility is a significant issue for steel. Modern construction 
requires high strength materials, with safety and stress re-distribution requiring high ductility. The 
presence of very hard nanometre-sized particles in a steel matrix can lead to a combination of these 
properties,  effectively  matching  high  strength  with  exceptional  formability.  However,  when  the 

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particles become too small, this effect can be reversed326. 

The range of possible properties available via nanostructuring may include steels with the hardness 
of  alumina  ceramics  and  the  strength  of  carbon-based  fibres.  Other  potential  attributes  may  be 
superior corrosion resistance over nickel-based superalloys, higher strength-to-weight ratios than 
titanium alloys, and better weldability than cobalt-based materials327. 

There  are  several  steel  products  that  have  been  marketed  using  the  word  ‘nano’  but  this  mainly 
refers to a refinement of their material phases, i.e. reduction of the crystal size into the nano-scale. 
MMFX2 Steel by MMFX Steel Corp, Sandvik NanoFlex by Sandvik and Super Hard Steel (SHS) by The 
NanoSteel Company are examples of products in which the metal crystal size structure is reduced 
to below 75 nm resulting in a very strong steel (the last of the three having a Rockwell hardness of 
66-69 HRc) 328. 

In  2013,  the  UK  National  Institute  for  Materials  Science  introduced  the  first  bulk  nanostructured 
metal into commercial production. The nanostructure-controlled high-strength bainitic steel has a 
thickness of bainitic ferrite platelets that is controlled to be between 20 and 50 nm329.   

Company snapshot: : Sandvik Materials Technology AB - nanostructured steel  

Sandvik Materials Technology AB, is based in Sandviken (Sweden), develops and manufactures 
products in stainless steel, special alloys, titanium and other high-performance materials. Its 
products are used in application areas including aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, 
industrial  heating,  medical  devices,  nuclear  power  generation,  oil  and  gas,  and  renewable 
energy. In transport, Sandvik products are used in airbags, fuel and hydraulic lines, exhaust 
systems, compressor valves, brakes, and shock absorbers. Sandvik NanoflexTM material has 
potential uses in the manufacture of engines and other moving mechanical parts.  

Sandvik has worldwide sales and services networks. In 2015, Sandvik Materials Technology 
AB  had  6,500  employees  and  registered  sales  of  13.9  billion  SEK  (EUR  1.5  billion).  The 
company operates as a subsidiary within the high-tech global engineering group Sandvik AB. 
In 2015, the Sandvik group as a whole had about 46,000 employees and sales of about 91 
billion SEK (nearly EUR 10 billion) in more than 150 countries. 

http://smt.sandvik.com/en/about-us/ 

326 van Broekhuizen et al. (2009), Nano-products in the European Construction Industry, p.32 
327 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology, a realistic market assessment, p.64 
328 van Broekhuizen et al. (2009), Nano-products in the European Construction Industry, p.33 
329 National Institute for Materials Science: "World's first commercial nanostructured bulk metal." ScienceDaily, 

10 November 2013.  

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MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS  

The market for nanostructured steel coatings was valued at USD 65 million in 2013 and is forecast 
to be USD 77 million in 2014 and USD 176 million in 2019.  

Source: BCC Research, 2014 

Figure 9-5: Global market for high-strength steel coatings to 2019 

NanoSteel Inc. is currently the main vendor of nanostructured steel coatings, although there are a 
few other players such as Sandvik. NanoSteel does not publish separate sales data on its different 
product lines, but it is estimated to have sold at least USD 50 million worth of nanostructured steel 
coatings in 2013. The overall market for nanostructured steel coatings is expected to grow at a CAGR 
of at least 18% over the next five years. 

C ANTI-SCRATCH/ANTI-STICK COATINGS 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

High  scratch  resistant  lacquers  for  wooden  flooring  systems  (e.g.  parquet  floors)  is  an  emerging 
market with several different types of coating systems. One is based on the addition of (amorphous) 
nano-SiO2 to an acrylic binder material. During drying of the lacquer, the SiO2 reacts chemically with 
the acrylic binder forming a highly branched and very strong network of silane polymers, the basis 
of the high scratch resistance330. Another high scratch resistant lacquer is based on the addition of 
nano  sized  Al2O3  particles  (although  the  mechanism  is  not  fully  clear  but  seems  related  to  an 
improvement of the elasticity of the coating matrix)331. 

In addition to these, various types of coatings are being developed to protect or treat wood surfaces. 
A principle aim is to preserve the initial (fresh) wood appearance as wood normally changes due to 
wear over time (e.g. from UV irradiation, moisture or temperature fluctuations)332. One way to slow 
the ageing process is by blocking the wood surface from UV light. UV protection of wood surfaces 
can  be  achieved  by  adding  various  metal  oxides  and  organic  chemicals  that  work  by  selectively 
filtering the UV radiation but leaving the visible light spectrum intact as much as possible (to maintain 
the natural wood appearance). 

Cetelon has introduced a series of acrylate nanocomposite lacquers (under the trade name Cetosil) 
that contain up to 30 wt% of nano-sized silica. The use of special surface-grafted silica nanoparticles 
ensures  the  transparency  and  low  viscosity  of  the  coatings.  The  main  application  areas  include 

330 van Broekhuizen et al. (2009), Nano-products in the European Construction Industry, p.41 
331 van Broekhuizen et al. (2009), Nano-products in the European Construction Industry, p.42 
332 Ibid 

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wooden floor finishes333. 

Percenta  AG334    (Glücksburg,  Germany)  has  developed  a  superhydrophobic  nanomaterial-based 
concrete coating solution with good dust and dirt  resistance. When treated with this coating, the 
shelf life of the concrete is expected to increase and less maintenance is needed. The Nano Concrete 
&  Flooring  Coating  incorporates  a  multi-functional  impregnator  for  all  porous  surfaces,  such  as 
cement, concrete or house façades, and any type of floor. 

Company snapshot: NANO-X GmbH - anti-scratch coatings 

NANO-X GmbH develops and produces customised materials with multi-functional properties. 
Founded in 1999 and based in Germany, it has more than 100 publications (scientific, trade 
and  press  articles),  over  45  patent  families  and  more  than  40  products.  Its  products  and 
services  range from innovation consultancy  to production and  support for customers in the 
application of the coating solutions. Many of its novel coating materials have been transferred 
from being niche and customised developments for clients to materials in production for the 
mass market. Application areas include binders and additives, as well as ready-to-use coating 
materials for corrosion protection, protection against oxide scale formation, anti-fingerprint, 
easy-to-clean, photocatalysis (Catalytic-CleanEffect®), anti-fog and scratch resistance, many 
of  which  are  used  in  transport  applications.  The  company  focus  is  mainly  on  industrial 
customers and in providing or enabling special surface properties for a variety of materials and 
objects. 

http://www.nano-x.com/start-english/ 

Company snapshot: Nanovations  

Nanovations  Pty  Ltd  is  a  manufacturer  of  innovative  product  solutions  and  is targeting 
problems that can appear on surfaces and materials used in construction, automotive, marine 
and industrial markets. The company was founded by a group of entrepreneurs in early 2002 
in New South Wales, Australia. Nanovations Pty Ltd is the only manufacturer of inorganic nano-
scale glass coating technology in Australia and they also produce solutions like the abrasive 
glass cleaners and metal care and protection and Nano-hybrid solutions.  The company has 
around 10-20 employees and annual revenue is estimated at around USD 1 million (EUR 0.89 
million). 

http://www.nanovations.com.au/ 

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS 335 

Scratch-resistant  nanostructured  thin  film  coatings  have  found  their  most  significant  commercial 
usage to date in scratch-resistant coatings for plastic ophthalmic lenses and abrasion-resistant floor 
coatings. Other commercial applications, such as automotive clearcoat, are still at an early stage of 
commercialisation. 

The total market for nanostructured anti-scratch coatings has been estimated to be 980 tonnes with 
a value of USD 74 million in 2013, a figure expected to grow to USD 82 million in 2014 and USD 145 
million  in  2019  (a  CAGR  of  12.1%  between  2014  and  2019).  In  2013  to  2014,  the  anti-scratch 
coating market was divided mainly between ophthalmic coatings and floor finishes. The market for 
polyurethane/alumina nanocomposite floor finishes in 2013 has been estimated to be USD 48 million. 
Most of the balance (USD 19 million in 2013) consisted of ophthalmic coatings. 

Both ophthalmic coatings and floor finishes are relatively mature market segments that are expected 
to grow at CAGRs of 8.2% and 8.1%, respectively, from 2014 through 2019. The market for other 
types of anti-scratch coatings (especially auto clearcoat) is expected to grow much faster (i.e., at a 
CAGR of 32.7%) between 2014 and 2019. 

333 Cetelon Nanolacke: CETOSIL Acrylate - Nanocomposite Coatings, product description 
334 www.percenta-nanoproducts.com  
335 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.153 

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Source: BCC Research, 2014 

Figure 9-6: Global market for thin film materials in optical recording media 

D PHOTOCATALYTIC COATINGS 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

The  surfaces of building facades are  under the constant corrosive influence  of  weathering, traffic 
exhaust  fumes  and  micro-organisms.  Nanotechnology  offers  ways  to  counteract  these  unwanted 
effects e.g. via self-cleaning coatings. Depending on the specific coating matrix, these can be used 
on  various  substrates  ranging  from  natural  stone  and  concrete  to  ceramics,  composite  material, 
metal, plastics or wood336. 

Self-cleaning coatings that actively degrade organic pollutants or micro-organisms (such as fungi, 
algae or bacteria) work due to the addition of small amounts of zinc oxide (ZnO) or titanium dioxide 
particles (TiO2) that act via a light induced (photocatalytic) mechanism. The photocatalytic activity 
of ZnO or TiO2 per gramme of substance increases significantly as their particle size gets smaller 
and their reactive surface area increases337. In addition to a photocatalytic effect, TiO2 gives rise to 
a hydrophobic, water-repellent coated surface on which water easily slides, washing dirt away338. 

Case study: Pilkington Group  

Pilkington Group Limited (UK) has been part of Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG, Japan) since 2006. 
NSG uses the Pilkington brand name. The company has a significant presence in Europe, both 
in terms of manufacturing facilities and sales. NSG has around 27,000 permanent employees 
of whom 12,000 are in Europe (UK, Germany, Finland, Italy, Poland Russia and Spain). Around 
40% of the Group's sales are in Europe, 26% in Japan and 16% in North America, with the 
remaining  18%  being  mainly  in  South  America,  China  and  South  East  Asia.  The  company 
operates in three main sectors:  

•  Architectural supplies glass for buildings and solar energy applications;  
•  Automotive  supplies 

for  original  equipment  manufacturers  (OEMs),  aftermarket 

336 van Broekhuizen et al. (2009), Nano-products in the European Construction Industry, p.36 
337 Ibid 
338 van Broekhuizen et al. (2009), Nano‐products in the European Construction Industry, p.37 

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• 

replacement and specialised transport glazing markets; 
Technical glass products, including very thin glass for displays, lenses and light guides for 
printers, and glass fibres, used in battery separators and engine timing belts. 

Pilkington Group Limited was originated in 1826 as St. Helens Crown Glass Company, founded 
by John William Bell with capital from three of the most influential local families, the Pilkingtons 
among them. In 1894 it became a private company owned by the Pilkington family. The 1950s 
were  of  most  significance  to  Pilkington  because  of  the  invention  of  the  float  glass  process, 
formation of a ribbon of glass by floating the melted raw materials at high temperature over 
a  bath  of  molten  tin.  Pilkington  reported  the  float  glass  process  in  1959  but  further 
development work was necessary  before the process  could  be  fully  exploited commercially. 
Pilkington decided on a policy of licensing the process to existing major glass manufacturers. 
It encouraged its licensees to further develop the process by granting them free use of any 
improvements  they  might  make,  on  condition  these  were  also  made  available  to  Pilkington 
itself.  The  modern  large  scale  float  glass  production  process  gave  the  firm  a  decisive 
competitive advantage. It was quickly spread globally and lead to Pilkington’s overseas growth.  

In  1970,  10  percent  of  the  family’s  shares  were  issued  to  the  public,  in  order  to  allow  the 
company to continue growing. Growth, diversification, recessions and a hostile takeover bid 
by BTR characterised the 1980s. Major growth came through acquisition in Europe and in the 
United States. Through the 1980s, the balance of the group changed considerably. In 1980, 
about 70% of operating profits came from the UK and Europe. Ten years later, the figure had 
reduced to 50%. In 1980, 22,600 out of 35,000 worked in the UK. In 1990, there were 13,700 
in the UK and nearly 47,000 overseas. By 1993, numbers had fallen to 41,600, only 8,200 of 
who were in the UK. In the 1990s, Pilkington refocused on flat and safety glass and worked 
on making the core business more efficient.  

The late 1990s and early  2000s were  characterised  by the license  of float glass processing 
technology to various companies (including the leading Japanese glassmaker, Nippon Sheet 
Glass Co Ltd. – NGS), the development of markets (opening of new plants, factories or centres 
all  over  the  world,  in  collaboration  with  companies  like  Shell,  BP  or  Saint-Gobain), 
organisational  change  aimed  at  rigorous  cost  reduction  as  well  as  by  technological 
development and successful introduction of new products, such as the first dual action self-
cleaning glass Pilkington ActivTM, which has been cited as an example of nanotechnology and 
meant a major innovation in the largest sector of the glass industry.  

The key element of Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass is a microscopically thin, transparent 
coating of titanium oxide. The environmental-friendly innovation is a result of a long process 
(starting from the early 1990s) of research and development into thin-film technologies by the 
company's Research & Development Centre in Lancashire. In the period 1990-1996, Pilkington 
led  two  FP  projects  (in  FP2  and  FP3,  under  the  JOULE  programme)  entitled  Solid  state 
electrochromic variable transmission windows. The total cost of the second stage of this project 
was  EUR  1.0  million.  Pilkington  ActivTM  was  launched  in  2001  after  extensive  field  and 
laboratory testing. Knowledge of the properties of the titanium oxide compound in relationship 
to glass has been widely available for as long as 20 years. However, it is the on-line application 
of  the  coating  that  has  been  patented  by  Pilkington  technologists.  In  July  2001  Kevin 
Sanderson,  the  Pilkington  research  scientist  who  led  the  team  which  pioneered  the 
development of this product, won the prestigious Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers Award 
of Excellence for that year. Early in 2002, Pilkington announced that the product was available 
in Austria, Benelux, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland. The same year it was one of just two 
“Best of  Show” products featured in  the  popular US TV  programme (Home  &  Garden).  The 
product was also shown in the 2003 Glassex exhibition held at the National Exhibition Centre. 

By June 2003, the world’s first dual-action self-cleaning glass had been successfully rolled-out 
to consumers throughout Europe in the largest new product launch programme ever staged 
by Pilkington. The UK’s leading independent consumer magazine Which? tested the product 
against a standard pane of glass over a period of two months, by exposing it to the elements 
and subjected to sprays of dirty water. The product was found to be noticeably cleaner than 
the standard pane. In September 2003, the UK window, door and conservatory giant, Everest 
Ltd.  described  Pilkington  ActivTM  as  the  most  ingenious  concept  product  to  reach  the  UK  in 
decades. In 2004, the product was selected as one of the finalists in the prestigious Mac Robert 
Awards. In September 2006 it was announced that the STG 2 million “Keep us World” national 
advertising and promotional campaign, which resulted in sales of the product multiplying ten-

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fold in just a year, had been voted Promotional campaign of the Year 2006 in the G06 Awards. 
Pilkington  participated  in  2004-2007  in  the  Self-Cleaning  Glass  Project  (FP6)  led  by  Saint-
Gobain. The EC contribution for this project amounted to EUR 2,293,000. Other varieties of 
Pilkington  Activ  offer  additional  features  like  solar  control,  thermal  insulation  and  low-
emissivity energy-saving glass. 

Other  new  products  launched  by  Pilkington  in  the  early  2000s  include:  the  electrochromic 
environmental glass for buildings - Pilkington E ControlTM, the Group’s first blue solar control 
glass  products  -  Pilkington  Arctic  BlueTM  and  Pilkington  Arctic  Blue  EclipseTM,  the  first  hard-
coated glass to offer both solar control and thermal insulation in the same product - Pilkington 
Solar ETM; 3RTM clean air process (which won a Queen’s environmental award and the American 
ceramic Society’s corporate environmental achievement award), new translucent float glass - 
Pilkington SatinTM, high performance mirror that protects people as well as the environment - 
Pilkington OptimirrorTM Protect. 

At the organisational level and in 2001, after a third consecutive year of profit growth, it was 
announced that the Nippon Sheet  Glass  Co. Ltd  (NSG)  had  completed the purchase  of 130 
million  shares  in  Pilkington  plc.,  bringing  its  total  shareholding  to  20.6%  of  the  company’s 
issued share capital. In June 2006, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd acquired Pilkington plc through 
NSG UK Enterprises Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary.  

All of the operations of the former Pilkington plc are now fully integrated into the NSG Group, 
one of the world's leading manufacturers of glass and glazing systems in Building Products, 
Automotive and Technical Glass. At the time of the acquisition, the decision was taken to brand 
the enlarged Group as ‘NSG Group’ and to use the ‘Pilkington’ brand for the Group’s flat glass 
businesses (building products and automotive). The NSG Group's European Technical Centre 
(which helped to deliver product innovations such as Pilkington Activ™ and more recently the 
energy efficient coated glass such as Pilkington K Glass™ S) is still currently located at Lathom 
in Lancashire (UK).  

http://www.pilkington.com/  

A  process  for  producing  photocatalytic,  self-cleaning  coatings  was  developed  by  scientists  at 
Singapore's A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), and licensed to Haruna (S) Pte 
Ltd. The patented process produces a coating containing the nano-particle, titanium dioxide (TiO2). 
When  exposed  to  an  ultraviolet  light  source,  such  as  the  sun,  the  coating's  oxidative  property 
decomposes organic substances such as microbes on its surface. In addition, the hydrophilic nature 
of the coating causes water that comes into contact with it to form an even layer, thereby allowing 
the dust and dirt that have accumulated on the surface to be washed away. These two properties of 
the coating create the "self-cleaning" effect339. 

Researchers  at  the  Universitario  Río  San  Pedro  in  Brazil  have  developed  a  simple  and  low  cost 
process to make a TiO2–SiO2 nanocomposite-based photocatalytic coating for outdoor applications 
and as a building material. The coating is reported to have long-term durability, self-cleaning and 
strengthening properties. To demonstrate the photocatalytic activity of the building materials, the 
team has also varied the loading and size of titanium dioxide nanoparticles to study the effect on 
the  photocatalytic  activity.  The  study  concludes  that,  though  the  nanocomposites  impart  high 
mechanical  durability  and  self-cleaning  attributes  to  the  coating  and  building  material,  when  the 
amount of it is significantly increased there is a rapid reduction in photocatalytic activity340. 

Products for construction include: 

•  Hydrotect  (now  HT),  developed  by  Agrob  Buchtal,  is  mainly  used  on  ceramic  floor  tiles.  The 
surface of Hydrotect tiles contains a coating of titanium dioxide (TiO2) that is baked onto the 
tiles at high temperatures,  ensuring the bonding of  the materials with the tile  surface.  When 
light hits the tiles, the titanium dioxide activates oxygen from the atmosphere and the organic 
dirt on the surfaces is broken down via photocatalysis. 341 
Erlus Lotus, introduced in 2004 as the first self-cleaning clay roof in the world. The burned-in 

• 

339 http://phys.org/news/2008-11-photo-catalytic-coating-exteriors.html  
340http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926337313000416  
341 ObservatoryNano (2009), Economic Assessment – Construction Sector, p.12 

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surface finish of the clay roof tile destroys dirt particles, grease deposits, soot, moss and algae 
with the aid of UV light342. 

•  MAXIT Airfresh Plaster is a plaster that can be applied on ceilings and walls. Making use of nano-
sized TiO2 particles, it eliminates unwanted odours, air pollutants and organic volatile compounds 
via photocatalysis343. 

•  Glass  incorporating  photocatalytic  coatings  are  available  on  the  market.  Examples  include 
Bioclean self-cleaning glass by  Saint-Gobain  Glass344  and Pilkington Active  self-cleaning glass 
from the British company Pilkington345. 

At  least  a  dozen  companies  worldwide,  including  TOTO,  Toshiba  Lighting  and  Technology,  Daikin 
Industries,  Hitachi  Metals,  Mitsubishi  Materials,  Deutsche  Steinzeug  Cremer  &  Breuer  AG,  Nissan 
Motor  Co.,  Matsushita  Refrigeration,  Airtech,  Purifics  Environmental  Technologies,  Matrix 
Photocatalytic,  Lynntech  and  Kawasaki  Heavy  Industries,  have  introduced  or  are  developing 
photocatalytic products346. 

Company snapshot: Toto Ltd. 

Toyo Toki K.K. (which became known as Toto Ltd.) was founded in Japan in 1917 as a ceramic 
sanitary-ware  laboratory.  Toto  Manufacturing  produced  Japan’s  first  ceramic  sanitary  ware 
(now  toilet  basins,  urinals,  sinks,  washbasins,  etc.).    It  has  expanded  into  producing  other 
bathroom  and  toilet  equipment  as  well  modular  kitchens,  bathroom  vanity  units, Marbright 
artificial  marble  counters, bathroom  ventilation,  heating  and  drying  systems, welfare 
equipment,  etc.  Currently  Toto  is  starting  to  produce  more  eco-friendly  materials  (tiles, 
Hydrotect  coating  materials,  etc.)  and ceramics  (precision  ceramics  &  optical  components), 
some of which use nanotechnology coatings. The annual turnover of the company is around ¥ 
35,579  million  (EUR  355,79  million)  with  holding  28,148  consolidate  and  7,283  non-
consolidate employees.  They have filed more than 1,300 domestic and overseas patent and 
have been granted approximately 350 worldwide patents to date. Toto Ltd also holds around 
60 publications under its name. 

http://www.toto.com/index.htm 

Company snapshot: Deutsche Steinzeug Cremer & Breuer AG 

Deutsche  Steinzeug  Cremer  &  Breuer  AG  produces  and  sells  ceramic  covering  materials  in 
Germany and internationally. It offers architectural ceramics under the Agrob Buchtal brand 
name, which includes modular systems for wall and floor; water inflow and pool edge systems; 
slip-resistant solutions for swimming pools; robust ceramics for industry and trade; special tile 
systems for the design of stairs, skirtings, edges, etc.; and design elements for public areas, 
as well as guiding tiles for the blind, shower tub systems, static electricity conducting ceramics, 
or laser-absorbing surfaces for operating theatres. The company also provides mosaic tiles, as 
well as matching wall and floor tiles under the Jasba brand name. Deutsche Steinzeug Cremer 
& Breuer AG was founded in 1890 and is based in Alfter-Witterschlick, Germany. In 2002, the 
company introduced a self-cleaning nano-coating technology, called Hydrotech® (now HT), in 
its ceramic products.  

In the fiscal year 2014, the Deutsche Steinzeug Cremer & Breuer AG had 1,213 employees 
and generated a turnover of almost EUR 175 million. 

http://www.agrob-buchtal.at/service/presse/presse_und_news_details.html?nd_ref=2673 

342 http://www.erlus.com/ModelleSelbstreinigend/lotus/  
343 http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.452.6825&rep=rep1&type=pdf  
344 http://uk.saint-gobain-glass.com/product/670/sgg-bioclean   
345 https://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/householders/types-of-glass/self-cleaning-glass  
346 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology, a realistic market assessment, p.65 

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MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS 347 

Nanoscale titanium dioxide thin films are used as photocatalytic coatings in a variety of products, 
ranging from anti-fogging mirrors, self-cleaning ceramic tiles and pollution-controlling construction 
materials. The total consumption of nanoscale TiO2 thin film materials in 2013 has been estimated 
at 5,900 metric tons with a value of USD 121 million. 

Reliable data on future trends in the production of mirrors, tiles and other articles that use these 
coatings are unavailable. The projections in the following figure are based on the assumption that 
the market will continue to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2014 to 2019. 

Source: BCC Research, 2014  

Figure 9-7: Global market for thin film catalytic coatings to 2019 

9.3.2.2  Lighting 

A LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LEDS) 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

LEDs have substituted light bulbs already in an increasing number of lighting applications. Unlike 
conventional incandescent lamps which need to convert the electricity into thermal energy first and 
then to light, LED illumination is achieved when a semiconductor crystal is activated so that it directly 
produces  visible  light  in  a  desired  wavelength  range348.  Nevertheless,  a  low-cost,  mass-market 
white-light diode with the potential to replace conventional incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes 
seems currently still out of reach for LED researchers and manufacturers. 

One possible solution is the use nanophosphors (i.e. semiconducting nanoparticles that emit light 
under  excitation)  in  white  LEDs.  If  the  phosphor  particles  are  smaller  than  20  nm  in  diameter, 
according to Mie theory, there will be in less scattering of light waves and thus greater optical and 
energy efficiency349. 

Phosphor Technology Ltd. (Hertfordshire, UK) has been a developer and manufacturer of phosphors 
for  blue  to  white  LED  conversion  for  several  years.  It  is  also  working  on  phosphors  for  CRTs350, 
FEDs351, plasma display panels, X-ray applications, IR and UV detection, scintillator applications and 
laser  detectors352.  Another  British  company  that  has  been  developing  nanophosphor  for  LED 

347 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology, a realistic market assessment, p.157 
348 LED inside: Advantages and Weaknesses of LED Application, December.20, 2007 
349 Zachau M, Konrad A (2004), Nanomaterials for Lighting, Solid State Phenomena Vols. 99-100 (2004): 13  
350 Cathode ray tubes 
351 Field emission displays 
352 Mills A (2005), Phosphors development for LED lighting, III-Vs Review Volume 18, Issue 3, April 2005: 33 

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applications  is  Forge  Europa  (Ulverston,  UK),  which  received  national  public  funding  of  STG  1.27 
million from 2004-2008 for its project on “Nanophosphors for Displays and Lighting” 353. 

Another solution has been found by QD Vision (Watertown, MA, USA) developing a quantum dot film 
coating for the lens of LED lamps that is reported to give the light emitted a warmer, more yellow 
glow  by  using  photoluminescence354.  Quantum  dots  absorb  one  wavelength  of  light  and  emit 
another, the emission being determined by the materials and size of the quantum dot. Because the 
two can be controlled precisely and the emission itself is at most a few tens of nanometres wide, the 
resulting light can be tuned to achieve the best visual quality and efficiency355. QD Vision and Nexxus 
Lighting  of  Charlotte,  N.C.,  announced  in  2010  what  they  called  the  first  commercially  available 
QLED lightbulb with an industry-leading 60-lm/W white-light output356. 

Nanosys quantum-dot-enhancement film (QDEF), as the company calls its product, uses the dots to 
adjust the spectrum of LEDs so that it is closer to that of the white light the human eye is used to. 
It does this, as the product's name suggests, by passing the LED light through a transparent film 
with  quantum  dots  which  absorb  and  re-emit  some  of  it357.  The  QDEF  is  composed  of  Nanosys 
proprietary quantum dot phosphors, which convert blue light from a standard GaN LED into different 
wavelengths based on their size. Blending together a mix of dot colours allows LCD manufacturers 
to accurately match their LED backlight to their LCD colour filters to achieve the best possible colour 
and  efficiency  performance.  Nanosys  has  begun  shipping  QDEF  material  to  OEMs  such  as  ASUS 
(Taiwan) and VP Dynamics Labs (San Diego, USA) 358. 

Company snapshot: Nanosys  

Nanosys is a nanotechnology company that designs products based on "architected materials," 
or  materials  purpose-engineered  for  a  given  manufacturing  process.  This  technology  is 
currently being applied to multiple industries, including LED backlighting, LED general lighting, 
power (batteries and fuel cells), medical applications, and specialized nano-surface coatings. 
Founded in 2001, the company is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California where it operates 
the world’s largest Quantum Dot nanomaterials fab with manufacturing capacity for over 25 
tons of quantum dot materials per year. By 2011, the invested capital in the company was 
USD 130 million and the business had generated more than USD 75 million in revenues.  

Their business model consists of two elements: sales of Quantum Dot Concentrate™ material 
and  technology  licensing  of  component  designs  to  industrial  supply  chain  partners.  For 
instance,  their  Quantum  Dot  Enhancement  Film  (QDEF®)  is  a  key  component  of  ultra-high 
definition (UHD) televisions. 

The company has one of the largest quantum dot patent portfolios with over 300 issued and 
pending  patents  worldwide  that  cover  all  processes  from  fundamentals  of  quantum  dot 
construction to component and manufacturing designs. This portfolio has been created through 
collaborations  between  Nanosys  and  universities  such  as  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology (MIT), Lawrence Berkeley National Labs and Hebrew University, as well as industry 
collaborations  with  companies  like  Philips-Lumileds  and  Life  Technologies.  Among  their 
partners for tablets and televisions are companies such as 3M, Samsung, Sharp and LG. 

http://www.nanosysinc.com/#lcd-revolution  

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS  

The first commercial LED products incorporating nanoparticles were Nexxus Lighting’s quantum dot-
coated LED ceiling lamp fixtures, which began arriving on the market in small quantities in 2010. 
High-brightness LEDs are a potential market for both quantum dots and rare earth nanophosphors. 

353 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3591192.stm  
354 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.40 
355 PHOTONICS Spectra: Quantum Dots Warm Up LED Lighting. October 2011. 
356 Ibid 
357 The Economist: Dotting the eyes - Quantum-dot displays, Jun 16th 2011 
358 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.40 

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The market for quantum dots used in LED applications could reach USD 34 million by 2019, matched 
by the demand for rare earth nanophosphors for LEDs, as shown in the table below359. 

Table 9-1: Global market for nanoparticles in LED production 

Global market (USD million) 

Quantum dots 

2013 

Negligible 

Rare  earth  nanophosphor 

Negligible 

Total nanoparticles 

Negligible 

  2019 

34.0 

34.0 

68.0 

Source: BCC Research 

Company snapshot: Zumtobel 

The  Zumtobel  Group  is  an  international  lighting  group  and  a  leading  player  in  the  field  of 
innovative lighting solutions and components. The Zumtobel Group is based in Dornbirn in the 
Vorarlberg  region  of  Austria  since  1950.   With  its  three  internationally  established  brands, 
Thorn, Tridonic and Zumtobel, and its two smaller brands, acdc and Reiss, the Group offers its 
customers around the world a comprehensive range of products and services. In the lighting 
business the Group with its Thorn, Zumtobel and acdc brands is the European market leader. 
The Reiss brand supplies OEMs with luminaires with a higher degree of protection. Through its 
lighting  components  brand,  Tridonic,  the  Group  plays  a  leading  role  worldwide  in  the 
manufacture of hardware and software for lighting systems (LED light sources and LED drivers, 
sensors and lighting management). The Group is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange (ATX) 
and on the balance sheet date (April 30, 2016) employed a workforce of 6,761 employees. In 
the 2015/16 financial year, the Group posted revenues of EUR 1,356.5 million. The Zumtobel 
Group currently holds more than 4,000 patents.  

http://www.zumtobel.com/com-en/company.html 

B ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES (OLEDS) 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

An OLED 'light bulb' is a thin film of material that emits light. OLED is the only technology that can 
create  large  "area"  lighting  panels  (as  opposed  to  point  or  line  lighting  enabled  by  LEDs  and 
fluorescent  bulbs).  OLEDs  can  be  used  to  make  flexible  and  transparent  panels,  and  can  also  be 
colour-tuneable.  OLEDs  emit  soft  diffused  light,  the  closest  light  source  to  natural  light  with  the 
exception of old incandescent lamps360. 

Applications in flexible signs and lighting are being developed361. Philips Lighting have made OLED 
lighting samples under the brand name "Lumiblade" available online since 2009362 and Novaled AG 
(Germany) introduced a line of OLED desk lamps called "Victory" in September, 2011363. 

Osram  AG  (Munich,  Germany),  the  lighting  subsidiary  of  Siemens  AG,  took  a  step  closer  to  true 
commercial production of OLED lighting in 2011 with the opening of a pilot-line manufacturing plant 
for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The facility in Regensburg West, which currently employs 
220 people, required an investment of EUR 20 million364. At about the same time, Philips announced 
it  was  expanding  its  production  capacity  for  Lumiblades  as  other  companies  began  to  enter  the 
market. Also in 2011 Verbatim’s VELVE line was introduced which is based on Mitsubishi Chemical 
Corporation’s materials and production process to manufacture colour (RGB) tuneable OLED panels. 

359 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.135 
360 http://www.oled-info.com/oled-light  
361 Michael Kanellos, "Start-up creates flexible sheets of light", CNet News.com, December 6, 2007 
362 http://oledworks.com/  
363 TMC NEWS: New OLED Luxury Luminaire Series Launched Under German Brand Name Liternity®, September 

13, 2011 

364 Leds magazine: Osram opens OLED pilot-production facility in Germany 

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Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation announced in 2014 the development of an organic light-emitting 
diode (OLED) panel with a life of 30,000 hours, twice as much as conventional OLED panels. The 
new longer-life OLED module has a range of uses in offices, households and medical facilities. The 
new product will be manufactured by Pioneer OLED Lighting Devices, a Pioneer subsidiary, and sold 
by MC Pioneer OLED Lighting, a joint marketing venture of Mitsubishi Chemical and Pioneer365. 

Konica Minolta recently started mass producing flexible OLED lighting panels in what is probably the 
world's  most  advanced  OLED  fab  -  a  roll-to-roll  flexible  OLED  lighting  fab  that  has  a  capacity  to 
produce  a  million  flexible  and  colour-tuneable  OLED  panels  each  month.  The  Japanese  company 
recently announced that it shipped 15,000 flexible OLEDs to a Japanese tulip festival - by far the 
largest OLED installation to date366. 

Company snapshot: Philips 

Koninklijke  Philips  N.V.  (Royal  Philips,  commonly  known  as  Philips)  is  a  Dutch  technology 
company  headquartered  in  Amsterdam  with  primary  divisions  focused  in  the  areas  of 
electronics, healthcare  and  lighting. It  was founded in Eindhoven in 1891 by Gerard Philips 
and his father Frederik. It is one of the largest electronics companies in the world. At the end 
of  2013  Philips  had  111  manufacturing  facilities,  59  R&D  Facilities  across  26  countries  and 
sales and service operations in around 100 countries. 

Philips  is  organised  into  three  main  divisions:  Philips  Consumer  Lifestyle  (formerly  Philips 
Consumer Electronics and Philips Domestic Appliances and Personal Care), Philips Healthcare 
(formerly  Philips  Medical  Systems)  and  Philips  Lighting.  Philips  achieved  total  revenues  of 
€22.579 billion in 2011. At the end of 2011 Philips had a total of 121,888 employees, of whom 
around 44% were employed in Philips Lighting, 31% in Philips Healthcare and 15% in Philips 
Consumer Lifestyle.  Philips invested a total of €1.61 billion in research and development in 
2011,  equivalent  to  7.1%  of  sales.  The  company  currently  holds  around  54,  patent  rights, 
39,000 trademarks, 70,000 design rights and 4,400 domain name registrations. 

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS  

The market  for OLED lighting was negligible  in 2013 and 2014. Most of this early market was  in 
niche applications such as high-end residential lamps and commercial showroom installations. In the 
longer  term,  though,  potential  markets  for  OLED  lighting  include  architectural  lighting  and 
backlighting for displays and signage, switches, keypads, instrument panels and possibly automotive 
dashboards. The total market for OLED lighting could reach USD 765 million by 2019367. 

365 Xinhua News Agency: Japanese company doubles diode panel's life span, Oct. 13, 2014 
366 http://www.oled-info.com/oled-light  
367 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.161 

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Source: BCC Research  

Figure 9-8: Global market for OLED lighting to 2019 

Backlighting applications are likely to represent the main market for OLED lighting between 2014 
and 2019, with an initial emphasis on backlights for cell phone and PDA displays, later expanding 
into  medium  and  large  flat-panel  displays.  The  main  competitor  for  OLED  backlights  comes  from 
LEDs, which started replacing cold cathode fluorescent lighting (CCFL) backlights around 2004. It 
has been estimated that the global market for LED backlights was worth USD 3.2 billion in 2013 and 
could reach USD 8 billion by 2019. It is difficult to forecast the potential market for OLED backlights, 
which  have  not  yet  reached  the  market  in  significant  quantities.  However,  based  on  the  market 
history of LED  backlights, it is estimated that the market for OLED backlights could reach USD 1 
billion by 2019, with the OLED thin film materials themselves accounting for about 50% of the total 
cost of the backlights, or USD 500 million368. 

Table 9-2: Global market for nanoparticles in OLED production (USD million) 

Global market (USD million) 

Type 

2013 

Backlighting 

Negligible 

Architectural  lighting 

Negligible 

2019 

500.0 

265.0 

Source: BCC Research 

OLED lights generally cast a diffuse light, which makes them more of a competitor for fluorescent 
tube  lights  than  for  directional  lights  such  as  incandescent  lights  or  LEDs.  The  global  fluorescent 
lighting  market  is  expected  to  reach  at  least  USD  26.5  billion  by  2019  with  the  OLED  thin  film 
materials themselves representing about USD 265 million of a market369. 

9.3.2.3   Energy recovery systems for buildings 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

Energy  recovery  ventilation  (ERV)  is  the  energy  recovery  process  of  exchanging  the  energy 
contained in the air of a normally-exhausted building or space and using it to treat (precondition) 
the incoming outdoor ventilation air in residential and commercial HVAC systems. During the warmer 

368 Ibid 
369 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.161 

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seasons,  the  system  pre-cools  and  dehumidifies  while  humidifying  and  pre-heating  in  the  cooler 
seasons370. 

Dais  Analytic  Corp.  (Odessa,  Fla.)  manufactures  and  markets  the  ConsERV  system,  which 
preconditions  incoming  air  by  passing  it  through  a  proprietary  nanostructured  polymer  filter. 
According to the company, the ConsERV system is twice as effective as alternative technologies in 
managing latent heat. Dais uses the same nanostructured polymer filter in its NanoAir system, which 
is still under development. NanoAir could replace traditional heaters as well as air conditioners while 
simultaneously delivering better air quality and significantly higher efficiency. NanoAir is targeted at 
all types of commercial and residential buildings, data centres, medical facilities, homes, cars, trains, 
buses, retail display coolers, refrigerated trucks and others371. 

Viessmann  (Allendorf,  Germany)  has  developed  a  gas-driven  zeolite  heating  device  to  increase 
energy conversion efficiency and emission reduction for the heating of houses using a combination 
of a zeolite-water adsorption heat  pump and a gas condensing boiler. The goal of the adsorption 
heat pump is the supply of useful heat  at a higher  temperature level by adding low-temperature 
heat to the work process. Due to the additional supply of ambient heat to the process, efficiencies 
of up to 135% relative to the heating value can be achieved, outperforming conventional condensing 
boilers with a maximum efficiency of 111%. This corresponds to a reduction in CO2-emission of 20% 
compared to the state-of-the-art in gas heating of detached and semi-detached houses372. 

Company snapshot: Dais Analytic 

Dais Analytic Corp. is a nanotechnology company providing applications for heating & cooling, 
water treatment and energy storage. Their formation goes back to 1993 as Dais Corporation, 
but it was not until 1999 that the company was incorporated as a nanotechnology polymer 
materials  and  processes  company  when  they  purchased  the  assets  of  Analytic  Power 
Corporation.  It  is  located  in  the  Tampa  Bay  area  of  Florida,  U.S.A  and  counts  with  25 
employees. The revenue of the company in 2014 was USD 1.90m and came primarily from 
the sale of ConsERV™ cores and Aqualyte membranes. In the last 4 years their net income 
has been negative (-USD 1.5m in 2014). For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, 
the  company  incurred  research  and  development  costs  of  approximately  USD  763,100  and 
USD 676,100, respectively. 

The first commercial product of the company was the energy recovery ventilator ConsERV™. 
Nowadays  Dais  Analytic  Corp.  includes  a  number  of  products  in  their  portfolio  such  as 
NanoAir™  HVAC  products  for  heating,  ventilation,  and  air  conditioning,  NanoClear™  clean 
water systems for water treatment and desalination and NanoCap™ ultracapacitors for energy 
storage in a battery form. The company owns eleven US and one Chinese patent and has a 
substantial  international  impact  in  applied  nanotechnology  within  the  energy  and  water 
industries. 

http://www.daisanalytic.com/  

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS  

In 2013, Dais Analytic Corp. earned about USD 1.7 million from sales of its ConsERV energy recovery 
ventilation system, which  is built around a nanostructured polymer filter. Sales of ConsERV have 
grown at a CAGR of more than 10% since 2008. At this rate, sales should approach USD 3.1 million 
by 2019373. 

370 Dieckmann, John. "Improving Humidity Control with Energy Recovery Ventilation" ASHRAE Journal. 50, no. 

8, (2008) 

371 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology, a realistic market assessment, p.77 
372 Hessen Nanotech (2008), Application of Nanotechnologies in the Energy Sector, p.60 
373 BCC Research (2014), p.169 

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Source: BCC Research, 2014  

Figure 9-9: Global market for nanostructured polymer ERV filters to 2019 

9.3.2.4  Insulation for building 
TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

Aerogels are a diverse class of porous, solid materials that exhibit an array of extreme materials 
properties.  Most  notably  aerogels  are  known  for  their  extreme  low  densities  (which  range  from 
0.0011 to c. 0.5 g cm-3). In fact, the lowest density solid materials that have ever been produced 
are all aerogels, including a silica aerogel that as produced was only three times heavier than air, 
and could be made lighter than air by evacuating the air out of its pores. However, aerogels usually 
have densities of 0.020 g cm-3 or higher (about 15 times heavier than air). Typically aerogels are 
95-99% air (or other gas) in volume, with the lowest-density aerogel ever produced being 99.98% 
air in volume374. Essentially an aerogel is the dry, low-density, porous, solid framework of a gel (the 
part of a gel that gives the gel its solid-like cohesiveness) isolated from the gel’s liquid component 
(the part that makes up most of the volume of the gel). Aerogels are open-porous (that is, the gas 
in  the  aerogel  is  not  trapped  inside  solid  pockets)  and  have  pores  in  the  range  of  <1  to  100 
nanometres (billionths of a meter) in diameter and usually <20 nm375. 

Aerogels have been prepared from many materials, including alumina, tungsten oxide, ferric oxide, 
tin  oxide,  nickel  tartrate,  cellulose,  cellulose  nitrate,  gelatin,  agar,  egg  albumen  and  rubber. 
However,  most  aerogels  are  formed  from  silica.  Aerogels  reportedly  have  the  highest  thermal 
insulation value of any solid material376.  

Aspen Aerogels, Inc.,377 (Northborough, MA, USA) is an energy technology company that designs, 
develops  and  manufactures  aerogel  insulation  products  used  primarily  in  energy  infrastructure 
facilities. These include Pyrogel XT/XT-E that reduces the risk of corrosion under insulation in high 
temperature operating systems; Pyrogel XTF, which provides strong protection against fire; Cryogel 
Z  for  use  in  sub-ambient  and  cryogenic  applications  in  the  energy  infrastructure  market;  and 
Spaceloft  Subsea  used  in  pipe-in-pipe  applications  in  offshore  oil  production.  The  company  also 
provides Spaceloft that is used in the building and construction market; and Cryogel X201, which is 
used  in  cold  system  designs,  including  refrigerated  appliances,  cold  storage  equipment,  and 
aerospace systems where space is at a premium. 

374 http://www.aerogel.org/  
375 Ibid 
376 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology, a realistic market assessment, p.76 
377 www.aerogel.com  

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Quartzene®  by  Svenska  Aerogel  AB378  (Gävle,  Sweden)  is  a  silica  aerogel  which  has  excellent 
insulation properties and can resist temperatures up to 650°C due to the material’s porosity. Even 
when exposed to high temperatures, the material will never burn. Quartzene® is a fine and porous 
silica-based powder. To handle the powder and use its insulation capacity, it has to be made into a 
more manageable form, such as a board or a blanket, using a binding agent. 

Fixit  222  Aerogel  High-Performance  Insulating  Plaster  by  Fixit  AG379  (Holderbank,  Switzerland)  is 
another example of a silica aerogel that is specially designed for the retrofitting of old building stock 
that is very common in Central Europe. 

Aerogels  Australia380  (Perth,  Australia)  has  developed  Spaceloft,  an  aerogel-based  insulating 
material that is flexible and nanoporous and has a very high R-value381. It is highly flexible with high 
compression  resistance,  and  hydrophobicity,  is  easy  to  handle  and  is  highly  durable382.  Being  a 
nanoporous aerogel insulation blanket, its purpose is to reduce energy loss without taking up much 
space. It is thin and lightweight, for a range of residential and commercial building applications. It 
is operational temperatures between -40°C and 200°C. 

Alison  Aerogels383  (Guangdong,  China)  has  developed  a  unique  series  of  nanoporous  panels  for 
thermal insulation with a large variety of customised thickness and temperature. It is hydrophobic, 
has  good  insulation  properties,  and  is  easy  to  handle  and  environmentally  safe.  With  a  new 
nanotechnology, Alison Aerogel Panel GY06 Series combines the nano-sized silica aerogel with fibres 
which makes it a leading product in its range in Asia. 

A team from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology has developed a unique hollow 
nanosphere for thermal insulation, the end-goal being energy efficient buildings. The nanospheres 
are  hollow,  and  hence  lightweight,  thermal  insulation.  The  researchers  report  that  hollow  silica 
nanospheres with a typical wall thickness of 10-15 nm and a pore diameter of about 150 nm gave 
low thermal conductivity (about 0.02 W/(mK)). When compared against these, traditional silica had 
thermal conductivity of 1.4 W/(mK) significantly  higher. Customising the wall thickness and pore 
diameter reduced the thermal conductivity for the nano structured silica384.  

A team at Stockholm University in Sweden has developed thermally insulated nano vacuum panels 
to  improve  the  energy  efficiency  of  buildings.  The  materials  are  developed  to  challenge  the 
conventional  fossil-fuel-derived  insulation  materials  which  have  high  thermal  conductivity  and  do 
not suit the requirements of current commercial buildings. Traditional vacuum insulating panels are 
prone  to  perforation.  The  researchers  used  cellulose  nanofibres,  graphene  oxide  and  sepiolite 
nanorods to test the insulating properties of these materials in comparison to expanded polystyrene 
and other non-eco-friendly insulators. The nano-materials have proven to be highly fire-retardant 
and are much better in terms of insulating properties than polymer-based insulating materials. In 
addition, being nanomaterials, they are lightweight and have low thermal conductivity385. 

Company snapshot: Cabot  

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT), established in 1882, is a leading global specialty chemicals 
and  performance  materials  company  headquartered  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  USA.  Its 
products are  for energy efficiency  and  process  technology and include rubber and specialty 
carbons, caesium  formate brines, activated carbon,  aerogel, fine caesium chemicals, fumed 
metal oxides, graphenes, inkjet colorants, master-batches and conductive compounds. It also 
sells aerogel additives, which have more than twice the insulating performance of still air. 

 Aerogel  has  an  open  structure  that  allows  vapour  to  readily  diffuse  through  its  matrix. 

378 www.aerogel.se/  
379 www.fixit.ch  
380http://www.aerogel.com.au/  
381 The R-value depends on a solid material's resistance to conductive heat transfer. 
382http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/aerogels-australia/ultra-thin-spaceloft-insulation-

blankets-available  

383http://www.ydalison.com/en/product/215.html  
384https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258286511_Nano_insulation_materials_for_energy_efficient_build

ings_a_case_study_on_hollow_silica_nanospheres  

385http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v10/n3/abs/nnano.2014.248.html#author-information  

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Incorporating it into existing or new insulation materials can displace air and replace it with 
the  superior  performance  of  aerogel  which  enable  insulation  boards,  blankets,  plasters, 
coatings and composites to achieve previously unattainable thermal performance, increased 
space  capacity,  flexibility  and  higher  moisture  capacity.  The  company  has  4,600  employs 
worldwide  (in  2015)  and  according  to  its  2015  annual  review  the  company  had  generated 
strong  cash  flow  from  operations  of  USD  499  million  (EUR  444  million).  It  has  around  126 
patent families and around 120 publications. 

http://www.cabotcorp.com/ 

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS 386 

The global consumption of  aerogel insulation materials has been estimated at USD 250 million in 
2013. Over the next five years, the largest source of growth in the aerogel market is expected to be 
the  commercialisation  of  aerogel  building  insulation.  The  global  market  for  building  insulation  is 
currently estimated at about USD 20 billion. By 2017, it is projected to approach USD 29 billion. At 
present,  aerogel  insulation  has  about  a  1.25%  share  of  this  market.  Comparing  with  cellulose 
insulation, aerogels could take 10 years after introduction to capture a 15% share of the U.S. market. 
It seems unlikely that aerogel sales would go from USD 250 million in 2013 to USD 4.3 billion (i.e. 
15%  of  the  projected  world  market  for  building  insulation),  a  nearly  20-fold  increase,  in  just  six 
years. However, a fivefold increase, to some USD 1.2 billion, might be achievable387. 

Source: BCC Research  

Figure 9-10: Global market for aerogels in building insulation to 2019  

Case study: Svenska Aerogel AB 

Svenska  Aerogel  AB388  is  a  Swedish  SME  that  was  founded  in  2000  as  a  spin-off  from  the 
University  of  Gävle  and  the  Royal  Institute  of  Technology  in  Stockholm  by  two  researchers 
from these institutions. In the first decade of its history, the company focussed on research 
and  development  and,  in  2010,  Svenska  Aerogel  AB  made  a  breakthrough  and  started 
producing different grades of nanoporous silica-based aerogel material, Quartzene®.  

386 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, pp.177-178 
387 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology, a realistic market assessment, p.167 
388 http://www.aerogel.se/  

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Quartzene® is an input material that is then incorporated in different products by downstream 
users  before  it  reaches  the  consumer.  Three  different  versions  of  this  aerogel  have  been 
developed to be used in insulation panels, paints and coatings or for filtration. 

Svenska Aerogel AB received funding from Swedish soft loans, and Swedish and EU grants as 
well as private equity funding. Fundraising campaigns took place in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 
and another campaign  is planned for  2016.  Since  2010, the company has relied equally on 
grants, soft loans and private equity funding (one third each).  

Svenska Aerogel has received grants from VINNOVA, the Swedish innovation agency. In 2013, 
the programme granted SEK 500,000 for research and in 2014, the Forska & Väx programme 
of  VINNOVA  gave  the  company  SEK  2.787  million  to  upscale  its  production.  In  2013, 
Tillväxtverket (the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) channelled to Svenska 
Aerogel another SEK 250 000 for product development. 

Svenska Aerogel AB also  joined two FP7  projects in 2013 under the theme Energy efficient 
buildings, nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production (EeB NMP). SESBE 
(smart  elements  for  sustainable  building  envelopes)  and  H-House  (healthier  life  with  eco-
innovative components for housing constructions) brought a total of EUR 836,000 to Svenska 
Aerogel AB as well as a chance to build a strong European network in consortiums. For the 
company, such projects are considered very important for it considers it ‘very difficult or even 
impossible to rely solely on venture capital and soft loans’. At the moment, no patents have 
been filed as an output from these projects but it is not excluded for the future. Participating 
into such projects has also generated business leads with some potential customers. These 
two projects will end in 2017. 

Svenska Aerogel AB is submitting proposals for further projects to other funding frameworks 
such as LIFE+ and the Horizon2020 SME Instrument. 

Internationally, Svenska Aerogel AB cultivates links with the United States where a US-based 
investor serves as a lead funding generator, and with Asia. 

Two patent families were filed by Svenska Aerogel AB in 2005 and 2014 in different countries 
including  Sweden,  the  US,  Canada,  China  and  the  European  Union.  These  were  funded 
internally  and  Svenska  Aerogel  AB  still  holds  these  patents,  which  are  at  the  core  of  the 
business.  

The  company  now  works  on  customer-based  research  and  development  projects  which  are 
reaching  the  end  of  their  term.  For  this  reason,  Svenska  Aerogel  AB  expects  to  drastically 
increase its sales in the upcoming 6 months. 

Svenska Aerogel AB grew from two to eleven staff members in 2015, and expects to hire up 
to four more staff members in the coming year. In 2016, the company will invest in production 
and plans to hire four or five new staff members.  

Quartzene® does not consist of nanoscale particles. The product is in the micron range and it 
is the pores of this material that are nanometric. For this reason, Svenska Aerogel AB is not 
concerned by the uncertainties of the growing regulation around nanomaterials. The company 
nevertheless keeps an eye on the ongoing developments and enforces strict control measures 
to ensure both the safety of its workers and the quality of its product. 

9.3.2.5  Nanocomposites: hydrophobic/oleophobic 

Hydrophobic  surfaces  have  established  themselves  as  candidates  for  various  engineering 
applications,  including  self-cleaning,  anti-bio-fouling,  anti-icing,  anti-corrosion,  drag  reduction  at 
micro- and macro-scales and textiles. Superhydrophobicity provides a pathway toward protecting 
sensitive properties of the surfaces, which can be easily affected by environmental factors such as 
rain, dirt, etc.389. 

389 Asthana et al. (2014), Multifunctional Superhydrophobic Polymer/Carbon Nanocomposites: Graphene, 

Carbon Nanotubes, or Carbon Black? ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 

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Nanogate GmbH (Saarbrücken, Germany) has developed and markets a variety of products based 
on  its  proprietary  hydrophobic/oleophobic  nanocomposites.  Little  information  is  available  on  the 
composition  of  these  nanocomposites.  According  to  some  published  reports,  the  nanocomposite 
technology  of  Nanogate  is  based  on  a  self-organising  nanocomposite  material  that  is  created  by 
breaking down a composite material consisting mainly of alcohol and sand into nanoparticles. Some 
of the resulting nanoparticles are adhesive and move naturally toward the substrate surface to which 
they adhere, whereas other anti-adhesive nanoparticles move toward the air, where they help to 
prevent dirt and grease from attaching themselves to the protective film. Nanoparticles with binding 
qualities  keep  the  outside  and  inside  layers  of  film  together,  creating  a  surface  that  is  both 
hydrophobic and oleophobic390. 

Wondergliss, is a coating developed by Duravit together with Nanogate AG. This coating has been 
used on sanitary ware ceramics e.g. at washbasins, toilets, bidets and urinals. WonderGliss deprives 
dirt of a suitable surface to attack - dirt and lime are unable to establish and hold on the smooth 
surface. Residues run off with the water droplets391.  

Villeroy  Boch  has  a  series  of  easy  cleaning,  hydro-  and  oleophobic  products  under  the  name  of 
Ceramicplus.  Ceramicplus  provides  an  easy  to  clean  and  dirt  repellent  surface.  This  feature  is 
obtained through a special finishing treatment392.  

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS  

Nanogate AG, the main supplier of hydrophobic/oleophobic nanocomposites, had sales of USD 50.5 
million in 2013. In terms of volume, Nanogate sold 673 metric tons of its nanocomposite products 
at an average price of USD 75,000 per ton. 

Nanogate’s sales increased at a CAGR of 24% between 2014 and 2019. At this rate, consumption of 
hydrophobic/oleophobic  nanocomposites  is  expected  to  reach  USD  62.6  million  in  2014  and  USD 
183.6  million  by  2019.  The  cost-per-ton  of  the  nanocomposites  is  projected  to  remain  relatively 
constant at around USD 75,000 in real terms. 

Source: BCC Research  

Figure 9-11: Global market for hydrophobic/oleophobic nanocomposites to 2019 

390 BCC Research (2015), Global Markets for Nanocomposites, Nanoparticles, Nanoclays, and Nanotubes, p.66 
391 Duravit – Wondergliss Products User Manual 
392 https://pro.villeroy-boch.com/en/gb/bathroom-and-wellness/architects- planners/innovations/innovationen-

detailseiten/ceramicplus.html  

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Case study: Nanogate AG 

Nanogate was founded in 1999 as a spin-off from the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) 
in Saarbrücken and changed in 2006 to an AG (a public limited company). The Nanogate Group 
consists of the parent company Nanogate AG, Quierschied-Göttelborn, and the consolidated 
portfolio companies Nanogate Industrial Solutions GmbH (NIS), Quierschied-Göttelborn, GfO 
Gesellschaft für Oberflächentechnik AG, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Nanogate Textile & Care Systems 
GmbH (NTCS), Quierschied-Göttelborn, and Plastic-Design GmbH, Bad Salzuflen. The shares 
in Eurogard B.V., Geldrop, the Netherlands, and Nanogate Glazing Systems B.V., Geldrop, the 
Netherlands,  are  pooled  in  the  intermediate  holding  company  Nanogate  Nederland  B.V., 
Geldrop,  the  Netherlands.  In  July  2014,  the  Nanogate  Group  acquired  all  of  the  shares  in 
surface specialist, Vogler, which now trades under the name Vogler GmbH, Lüdenscheid. At 
the  end  of  2015,  Nanogate  AG  transferred  all  of  the  shares  in  Vogler  GmbH  to  Nanogate 
Industrial Solutions GmbH. Following the end of the reporting period, the Group also acquired 
a 75 % stake in plastics specialist Walter Goletz GmbH. 

Nanogate is a leading international integrated systems provider for high-performance surfaces. 
The Group enables the programming and integration of additional properties – such as non-
stick, scratchproof and anti-corrosive – into materials and surfaces. Nanogate opens up the 
diverse possibilities of multifunctional surfaces based on new materials for companies in a wide 
range of industries. 

the 

concentrates  on 

Nanogate 
sectors  of  automotive/mechanical  engineering, 
buildings/interiors, sport/leisure and functional textiles as well as on the strategic growth areas 
of  innovative  plastics  (e.g.  glazing)  and  energy  efficiency.  The  Group  focuses  primarily  on 
optically  high-quality  plastic  and  metal  coatings  for  all  surface  types  (two  and  three-
dimensional components). Its value drivers are the opening up of new, international markets, 
the development of new applications for the strategic growth areas of innovative plastics (e.g. 
glazing) and energy efficiency, as well as external growth. In the medium term, Nanogate also 
intends  to  achieve  a  considerable  revenue  share  from  environmentally  friendly  systems. 
Nanogate  has  first-class  references  (Airbus,  Audi,  August  Brötje,  BMW,  BSH  Bosch  und 
Siemens Hausgeräte, Daimler, FILA, Jaguar, Junkers, Porsche, Volkswagen). Several hundred 
projects have already gone into mass production. The company also has strategic partnerships 
with many international corporations. 

As of 31st December 2015, Nanogate Group had 586 employees. Nanogate increased sales in 
the 2015 financial year by about 30 % to over EUR 90 million (previous year: EUR 68.6 million). 
Overall  performance  exceeded  EUR  94  million  (previous  year:  EUR  71.1  million).  In  the 
expansion of its volume of business, the Group benefited from strong demand for systems in 
its  strategic  application  areas  of  advanced  metals  and  advanced  polymers,  as  well  as  from 
consolidation  effects  and  strong  end-of-year  business.  The  operating  result  (consolidated 
EBITDA) improved by around 35 % to over EUR 10 million (previous year: EUR7.4 million). 
Consolidated EBIT totalled more than EUR 2.8 million (previous year: EUR 2.5 million).  

Nanogate will continue its expansion strategy in the 2016 financial year, focusing on extending 
its  range  of  applications.  Production  relating  to  the  new  technology  platform  for  the 
multifunctional metallisation of surfaces,  primarily of plastics, should therefore begin in the 
course of the year. The Group is investing in the high single-digit million range in setting up 
production facilities and in its centre of excellence for high-quality metal applications, which 
was opened in 2015. 

Nanogate is again optimistic about the current 2016 financial year. On the basis of existing 
projects as well as the majority acquisition of plastics specialist Goletz, the Group expects to 
see a substantial increase in sales to more than EUR 105 million. The Group would therefore 
exceed its medium-term sales target of EUR 100 million initially announced in 2014, reaching 
an important milestone in its Phase5 growth strategy, having generated sales of EUR 53 million 
in 2013. Despite the continued expenses associated with the expansion strategy as well as the 
one-off transaction and integration costs, the Group also expects the operating result (EBITDA) 
to increase significantly in 2016 and exceed the EUR 12 million mark. Substantial funds will 
continue to flow into the ongoing investment programme and international expansion. In view 
of the growth strategy, consolidated  net  income  will  continue to be shaped by depreciation 
and amortisation as well as financing costs. 

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Nanogate expanded its expertise and applications portfolio again in 2015. The Group’s R&D 
ratio therefore came to 10 % in the reporting year (2014: 11 %). The company will continue 
this course in the current financial year. As a result, significant funds are currently flowing into 
the strategic growth areas of  advanced  metals and  advanced polymers. With the expanded 
range,  the  Group  is  exploiting  the  opportunities  offered  by  the  growing  demand  for 
multifunctional  high-performance  surfaces.  In  doing  so,  the  company  is  primarily 
concentrating on the further development of existing technologies and on customer projects. 
The Group is currently focusing on the set-up and market launch of the new N-Metals® Chrome 
technology platform, which is scheduled to commence operations in the course of 2016. 

For  reasons  of  efficiency,  Nanogate  collaborates  on  fundamental  and  applied  research  with 
recognised  research  institutes,  such  as  the  Leibniz  Institute  for  New  Materials  (INM)  in 
Saarbrücken, the plastics technology department of the Kaiserslautern University of Applied 
Sciences,  the  Öko-Institut  Freiburg  and  the  Kunststoff-Institut  Lüdenscheid.  Nanogate  has 
furthermore successfully participated in projects within the EU’s Sixth and Seventh Framework 
Programmes (FP6 and FP7). 

To secure its competitive edge and to protect its ongoing innovation partnerships, Nanogate 
regularly  reviews  its  patent  portfolio,  considering  costs  and  future  benefits,  and  pursues  a 
market-oriented patent strategy. As at the end of 2014, the Group was in possession of 81 
patents.  Nevertheless,  for  reasons  of  cost,  the  company  allows  patents  that  are  no  longer 
required to expire. From the Group’s perspective, internal expertise, especially in procedures 
and processes, is becoming increasingly more important than individual property rights. 

9.3.2.6  Conductive Fibre 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

Thread spun from polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) in which single-wall nanotubes have been dispersed is a 
candidate to meet at least some of the growing demand for conductive fibre in smart and interactive 
textiles applications such as built-in furniture controls393. 

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS394 

It has been forecast that the global market for conductive fibre will grow from approximately USD 
60 million in 2013 to more than USD 3 billion in 2019. If they are commercialised, carbon nanotube 
fibres could compete for this market with non-nanoconductive fibre such as coated yarns and fibres 
made from pure (i.e., noncomposite) nanotubes. PVOH/SWNT composites could capture 10% of the 
market for conductive fibres, worth at least USD 300 million, by 2019, while CNT based fibres could 
reach USD 75 million. 

393 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.144 
394 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.186 

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Source: BCC Research, 2014 

Figure 9-12: Global market for conductive fibres to 2019 

9.3.2.7  Wire and cable sheathing 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

One of the best-known commercial applications of clay nanocomposites is EVA/montmorillonite wire 
and cable sheathing materials. In addition, Nanocor has developed a PP/montmorillonite concentrate 
for use in heavy-duty electrical enclosures that must meet various fire ratings395. 

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS396 

Consumption  of  EVA/clay  nanocomposite  material  for  wire  and  cable  sheathing  and  other  fire-
retardant applications has been estimated at USD 21.2 million in 2013, 0.37% of the USD 5.7 billion 
global flame-retardant market. 

According to industry sources, the global market for flame retardants is expected to grow at a CAGR 
of 9% over the next five years, reaching USD 9.6 billion by 2019. EVA/clay nanocomposites could 
increase their share of this market significantly, due to an environmentally motivated switch away 
from  halogenated  fire  retardants.  To  illustrate  the  market  potential  of  EVA/montmorillonite  fire 
retardants,  if  they  succeed  in  doubling  their  market  share  from  0.37%  in  2013  to  just  0.74%  in 
2019, sales could reach USD 71 million by 2019. 

395 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.84 
396 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.177 

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Source: BCC Research  

Figure 9-13: Global market for nanocomposite wire and cable sheathing to 2019 

9.3.2.8  Concrete and Cement 

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS 

Cement is the basic material of concrete, an indispensable and traditional building material since the 
Stone  Age.  Cement  is  made  by  crushing  and  grinding  calcium  carbonate  (limestone)  and  other 
materials containing silicon, aluminium and iron oxides. The blended material is heated at extremely 
high temperatures (1400-1500°C) in a kiln where the compounds react. Products leave the kiln in 
the form of a nodular material which is called clinker. Later on, clinker is cooled and ground with 
small portions of gypsum, fly ash, aggregates and other additives to produce cement. To be used 
for construction applications cement is combined with sand, gravel and water to form concrete397. 
Concrete is a very versatile material which can be adapted to meet different needs like durability, 
enhanced ductility, improved thermal and acoustic insulation. It is made from natural raw materials 
with  impurities  and  variability  in  the  materials  size  ranging  from  nanometres  to  centimetres. 
Concrete is reinforced with metal bars, glass fibres, etc. to increase its strength398. 

Nanoparticles  and  materials  offer  interesting  possibilities  for  the  optimisation  of  cement-based 
materials. This involves the optimisation of strength and durability e.g. by increasing its resistance 
to microbial growth and crack progression. As the strength of concrete is based on its nanometre-
size crystal structure, the use of nanoparticles as an additive, combined with new insights into crystal 
structure  mechanics,  has  provided  many  new  ideas  for  the  improvement  of  cement  based 
products399. The use of nanoparticles in cementaceous and concrete materials concentrates on TiO2 
and silica fume. Both additives are used in small quantities or in a two-layer system and only when 
specifically required for performance reasons because of the costs involved. Examples of products 
on a basis of silica fume that are currently at the market include Chronolia™, Agilia™ and Ductal™ 
by Lafarge and EMACO®Nanocrete by BASF400. Some products are described below: 

•  Chronolia™  is  a  quick-setting  ready-mix  concrete  made  possible  by  nanotechnology  and  the 
understanding of crystalline growth. Agilia™ was the world’s first self-compacting, self-levelling 
concrete, while Ductal™ is one of the first commercial concrete where steel bars are not used. 

397 ObservatoryNano (2009), Economical Assessment / Construction sector, Final report, p.15 
398 Ibid 
399 van Broekhuizen et al. (2009), Nano-products in the European Construction Industry, p.32 
400 http://nano.elcosh.org/index.php?module=NanoProduct&id=4&title=Ductal%E2%84%A2  

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• 

• 

It exhibits high mechanical strength, durability and self-healing properties 401. 
EMACO®Nanocrete  by  BASF  (Ludwigshafen,  Germany)  is  a  concrete-repair  concrete  with 
exceptional  properties,  improved  bond  strength,  improved  densities  and  impermeability, 
reduced shrinkage, improved tensile strengths and reduced cracking tendency. It also provides 
improved compatibility with concrete over previous products402.  
TX Active® by Italcementi and Heidelberg Cement can reduce organic and inorganic pollutants 
that are present in the air by photocatalysis. Its formulation is the result of ten years of research, 
tests and applications by CTG, Group Technical Centre, a company in the Italcementi Group, to 
reach the final formulation403. Italcementi offers two products with the TX label: TX Arca and TX 
Aria.  TX  Arca  cement  is  specifically  designed  for  the  construction  of  prestigious  architectural 
works.  The  decomposition  of  micro-organisms  responsible  for  dirtying  façades,  the  growth  of 
which is promoted by the accumulation of fats, particulate matter and rain, ensures that surfaces 
remain clean. TX Aria is a binder for paints, mortars and smoothing materials, plasters & renders, 
concrete  for  photoactive  building  elements,  capable  of  resisting  the  adhesion  of  unwanted 
substances  produced  by  human  activities  (industry,  transport  and  residential  heating 
systems)404. 

•  Vicon Ecosystems405 (USA) has developed a nano-based eco-cement. Vicon is among the first 
cement companies in the USA to apply nanotechnology in their products. The advanced concrete 
cement  is  produced  using  proprietary  nanomaterials  that  impart  high  performance  and 
environmental  benefits.  The  proprietary  formulations  for  the  nanocement  ensures  its 
sustainability as well as other attributes such as enhanced durability, lower cost, and even lower 
weight. The cement is made by encapsulation technologies of nanomaterials and even negates 
low level radon. 

Case study: Italcementi 

third 

in  Europe  after 

Italcementi is an Italian multinational company which produces cement, ready-mix concrete 
and construction aggregates. In 2015, it was the world’s sixth-largest cement producer and 
the 
the  German 
HeidelbergCement406. It has a staff of more than 20,000 employees, 42 cement plants and an 
annual  production  capacity  of  60  million  tons.  In  2015,  the  Group  reported  consolidated 
revenues of EUR 4.3 billion. 400 employees from its workforce are engaged in technical support 
and  research  activities  under  the  Groups  Technical  Centre  CTG  Spa  (Centro  Tecnico  di 
Gruppo)407. 

the  French-Swiss  LafargeHolcim  and 

Italcementi  was  founded  in  1864  and  has  been  listed  on  the  Italian  Stock  Exchange  since 
1925408. Until the early 1990s, Italcementi was the market leader in the cement market in 
Italy, concentrating on the domestic market where both competition and demand for product 
innovation  were  relatively  weak.  Italcementi’s  research  activities  were  confined  to  the 
company’s  in-house  technical  support  centre,  improving  internal  production  processes  and 
product reliability for general construction uses. Rare attempts to launch innovative products 
failed to generate meaningful customer interest.  

Italcementi sensed the need to alter its approach to innovation with the advent of globalisation 
and  in  particular  with  changes  in  EU  legislation  in  1991  that  lowered  the  entry  barriers  to 
national markets. Their first step was to integrate the expertise from leaders in other markets 

401 Concretes for the 21st Century, Lafarge www.lafarge.com/lafarge/CONTENT_SHEET/20070612/06122007-

press_themabookextensia_ 

chronolia-uk.pdf 
402 www.emaco-nanocrete.com  
403 http://www.italcementigroup.com/ENG/Research+and+Innovation/Innovative+Products/TX+Active/  
404 Ibid 
405http://www.viconecosystems.com/  
406 The top 100 global cement companies and global per capita ... 2015. 20 Apr. 2016 

(http://www.globalcement.com/magazine/articles/964-preview-the-top-100-global-cement-companies-
and-global-per-capita-capacity-trends) 

407 Italcementi Group profile, 31 Dec. 2014 (http://www.italcementigroup.com/NR/rdonlyres/0F6719F2-B57D-

490C-A607-ADB130015C09/0/ItalcementiGroupprofile_311215.pdf)  

408 The Open Innovation Model. International Chamber of Commerce 

(http://www.iccwbo.org/Data/Documents/Intellectual-property/THE-OPEN-INNOVATION-MODEL/) 

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with the acquisition in 1992 of the French enterprise Ciments Français and then adopting new 
strategies to maintain competitiveness through innovation409. For this purpose, the company 
created  new  innovation  facilities,  including  a  distinct  R&D  unit,  a  network  of  academic 
researchers,  an  Intellectual  Property  (IP)  function  and  a  scientific  committee  composed  of 
academic professors. 

It is in 1995 that Italcementi further develops its strategy to distinguish the company through 
innovation,  launching  a  major  project  named  the  “TX  project”  to  enhance  its  innovative 
potential.  The  TX  project  was  based  on  the  idea  of  mixing  traditional  cement  with  photo-
catalytic  nanoparticles  able  to  capture  and  neutralize  polluting  gases  from  the  external 
environment.  To  obtain  the  necessary  chemical  knowledge  for  this  project,  the  company 
engaged in an open innovation process by establishing formal relationships with a number of 
leading  Italian  research  institutions.  This  meant  that  research  projects  multiplied  and  the 
company  had  to  adapt  its  ICT  systems  to  more  effectively  manage  cross-functional  teams 
across different countries. As a result, Italcementi strengthened the in-house IP function and 
began filing for patents. The first patent was filed in 1996 with  the following title “Hydraulic 
binder and cement compositions containing photocatalyst particles”. Nowadays, Italcementi 
together with the French enterprise Saint-Gobain Glass are among the top owner of patents 
in photocatalytic applications. In total, (not only nanotechnology related patents) the Group 
has filed 92 patents since 1992 410.1998 was the year in which the first meaningful application 
of photocatalytic concrete was carried out: the church “Dives in Misericordia” in Rome designed 
by the architect Richard Meier and made by white precast photocatalytic concrete panels in 
order to preserve the aesthetics of the building411. 

In 2002 Italcementi took part in a collaborative project named PICADA (EUR 1.9 million) and 
funded by the EU FP5412. PICADA aimed at developing and assessing coverings for de-pollution 
based  on  photocatalysis.  The  photocatalytic  performances  of  the  products  developed  were 
tested  first  at  laboratory  scale  and  then  in  different  real  situations.  It  is  in  2005  that 
Italcementilaunches  TX  Millennium,  its  first  version  of  photocatalytic  cement.  Later  on, 
Italcementi launched two product lines based on TX Active (TX Aria with depolluting effect and 
TX Arca with self-cleaning effect), the active principle with photocatalytic properties developed 
by  the  company.  The  TX  Project,  which  led  to  the  development  of  the  TX  Active  principle, 
required an investment of EUR 10 million. Half of this budget (EUR 5 million) came from the 
EU within the framework of on-going research and innovation programs. 

Following the success of TX Project Italcementi further embraced an open innovation paradigm 
when it opened a new research centre named “i.lab” in the Kilometro Rosso Science Park near 
Bergamo413. This centre aims at exploiting cross-fertilization in the presence of research labs 
of  firms  from  different  industry  sectors  (mechatronics,  ICTs,  biotechnology,  energy  and 
environment, etc.). The  centre  hosts about 170 people between engineers, technicians and 
researchers from the R&D and Laboratories of the Group’s Technical Centre CTG and also from 
Italcementi’s  Innovation  Direction,  all  engaged  in  investigating  and  developing  innovative 
technological,  functional  and  aesthetic  solutions  for  new  construction  materials.  An  annual 
budget of 13 million euro is allocated to R&I activities, about 0.5% of the Group’s turnover. 
The Groups’ innovation rate (ratio of revenues generated by innovation projects to total sales) 
is equal to 4 and is increasing to achieve a target rate of 5 in the medium to long term414. 

The Group’s research activity is structured as a synergistic network of international scientific 
partnerships  involving  research  centres,  universities  and  enterprises  from  the  building 
materials  and  construction  industry.  At  present,  the  network  is  comprised  of  10  external 

409 Ibid 
410 NANOfutures project: A cross-ETP Coordination Initiative on Nanotechnology 

(http://www.nanofutures.eu/sites/default/files/Successful_cases_on_nanotechnology_0.pdf)  

411 “Dives in Misericordia”, the church of the Third Millennium 

http://www.italcementigroup.com/NR/rdonlyres/38BC84DA-6F1C-476B-A827-
22E67B61AEC1/0/DivesinMisericordia_UK.pdf  

412 PICADA Project: http://www.picada-project.com  
413 I.Lab The heart of innovation: http://www.italcementigroup.com/NR/rdonlyres/096FC255-89F7-46BC-B1B7-

511EEC9861B1/0/Booklet_UK.pdf  

414 Italcementi Group: Research and Innovation 

(http://www.italcementigroup.com/ENG/Research+and+Innovation)  

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centres,  30  enterprises  and  26  universities  in  Italy,  Europe  and  in  other  non-European 
countries. 

Since 2006, Italcementi increased considerably the involvement of customers in its innovation 
activities, creating new organizational units that allow the company to evaluate the commercial 
potential of innovation products, to receive rapid feedback on their practical use, and to co-
develop  ad  hoc  solutions  if  necessary415.  The  company  also  began  designing  long-term  IP 
strategies, making them an integral part of its business development plans. 

MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS 416 

No market data are available for nano-enabled concrete and cement products.  

The next section looks at the wider environment for nanotechnology and construction – regulation 
and standards, environmental health and safety issues, communication and public attitudes. 

415 The Open Innovation Model. International Chamber of Commerce 

(http://www.iccwbo.org/Data/Documents/Intellectual-property/THE-OPEN-INNOVATION-MODEL/) 

416 BCC Research (2014), Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment, p.132 

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10  THE WIDER ENVIRONMENT FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND 

CONSTRUCTION  

10.1  Regulation and standards for nanotechnology 

The  use  of  nanotechnology  in  construction  has  implications  for  three  main  areas  of  regulation: 
construction products; occupational health and safety aspects of construction work; and compliance 
with environmental performance legislation for new construction. 

10.1.1   European regulations for nanotechnology 

In  Europe,  construction  products  are  covered  by  the  Construction  Products  Regulation  (CPR) 
305/2011.  This  legislation  establishes  the  European  rules  for  marketing  construction  product.  It 
contains provisions on the CE marking of construction products, and sets up a system of notified 
bodies as well as a system of harmonised technical specifications for construction products. 

CPR defines a construction product as follows:  

Article 2(1): A ‘construction product’ means any product or kit which is produced and placed on the 
market  for  incorporation  in  a  permanent  manner  in  construction  works  or  parts  thereof  and  the 
performance of which has an effect on the performance of the construction works with respect to 
the basic requirements for construction works.  

This regulation evaluates the environmental impact of construction products but does not specifically 
cover  nanomaterials.  Nanomaterials  used  in  construction  must  also  comply  with  the  overarching 
regulatory framework in place for chemical substances: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning 
the  Registration,  Evaluation,  Authorisation  and  Restriction  of  Chemicals  (REACH),  and  CPR 
specifically  refers  to  REACH.    However,  recital  25  of  the  CPR  states  that  ‘the  specific  need  for 
information  on  the  content  of  hazardous  substances  in  construction  products  should  be  further 
investigated with a view to completing the range of substances covered so as to ensure a high level 
of protection of the health and safety of workers using construction products’. 

With  the  first  Regulatory  Review  on  Nanomaterials  SEC  (2008)  2036  and  the  Second  Regulatory 
Review  on  Nanomaterials  SWD  (2012)  288  final,  the  European  Commission  has  given  REACH  a 
central role in regulating nanomaterials.  “There are  no provisions in  REACH  referring  explicitly to 
nanomaterials.  However, nanomaterials are covered by the ‘substance’ definition in REACH”, states 
the 2008 EC Communication. A third Regulatory Review is planned in 2016. 

Since  the  summer  of  2013,  there  has  been  ongoing  work  to  adapt  the  Annexes  of  REACH  to 
specifically cover nanomaterials. An impact assessment and a large consultation on this issue have 
been run by the European Commission but discussions are still ongoing. However, the rules of ECHA 
(the European Chemicals Agency) prevent the modification of the regulation two years prior to the 
next  round  of  registration,  which  is  set  for  June  2018.  A  modification  of  the  REACH  annexes  is 
therefore  very  unlikely  before  that  date.  This  rule  also  applies  to  guidance  documents  that  the 
Agency provides to support registrants. In 2016, ECHA nevertheless announced that four guidance 
documents  related  to  nanomaterials  would  be  released  in  May  2017,  one  year  prior  to  the  next 
registration deadline. These are: 

•  Guidance on nanoforms 
•  Guidance on information requirements for nanomaterials for human health 
•  Guidance on information requirements for nanomaterials for the environment 
•  Guidance on read-across for nanoforms. 

One  of  the  milestones  of  the  European  regulatory  framework  is  the  European  Commission 
Recommendation on the Definition of a Nanomaterial.  This non-binding document has been used 
by other pieces of regulation that needed to define the term ‘nanomaterial’. 

The definition is the following: 

“2.  ‘Nanomaterial’ means a natural, incidental or manufactured material containing particles, in an 
unbound state or as an aggregate or as an agglomerate and where, for 50 % or more of the particles 
in the number size distribution, one or more external dimensions is in the size range 1 nm-100 nm.  
In  specific  cases  and  where  warranted  by  concerns  for  the  environment,  health,  safety  or 
competitiveness  the  number  size  distribution  threshold  of  50  %  may  be  replaced  by  a  threshold 
between 1 and 50 %.” 

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Developed in 2011, this definition is undergoing a review process with a planned conclusion date of 
December  2014.  An  outcome  of  this  review  could  be  a  revision  of  the  definition.  The  process  of 
review of this definition is still ongoing. 

Construction  workers  are  also  covered  by  occupational  health  and  safety  legislation.  Under  the 
European Framework Directive on Safety and Health at Work (Directive 89/391 EEC), employers are 
required to assess and manage the risks of  nanomaterials for their workers. While nanomaterials 
are not expressly covered by the directive, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-
OSHA), dedicates a part of its work to nanomaterials.  

In 2013, the Agency published E-Fact 74 Nanomaterials in Maintenance Work: Occupational Risks 
and Prevention. A fact sheet on the use of nanomaterials in maintenance work which according to 
which  it  ‘could  be  the  main  activity  for  construction  workers’.  The  fact  sheet  notes  the  lack  of 
information on nanomaterials accessible to workers on Safety Data Sheets, depending directly on 
REACH and CLP. 

Finally, the building industry must comply with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive –EPBD 
(2010/31/EU) and the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU). With this directive, the European 
Union set a target for all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by the end of 2020.  EU Member 
States are required to set minimum energy performance requirements as well as independent control 
systems. In order to attain these objectives, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 
the European  Investment  Bank (EIB) support the investment in energy-efficient materials,  which 
may include nanotechnology innovations. 

An overview of regulations for nanotechnology use in Europe is given below, followed by information 
about nanoregistries. 

Table 10-1: Overview of regulations for nanotechnology use in Europe  

Country
/Region 
EU 

Scope 

Nano-specific 

Chemicals & Raw 
Materials 

No, but 
‘substance’ 
covers 
nanomaterials 

EU 

Substances at the 
nanoscale  

France 

Substances at the 
nano-scale 

Belgium 

Substances 
manufactured at the 
nano-scale  

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Denmark 

Nanomaterials  

Yes 

Status 

Implemented 

Implemented 

Implemented 

Implemented 

Implemented 

Name of the 
document 
Regulation concerning 
the Registration, 
Evaluation, 
Authorisation and 
Restriction of 
Chemicals (REACH) - 
1907/2006(EC) 
European Commission 
Recommendation on 
the Definition of a 
Nanomaterial 
Decree on the annual 
declaration on 
substances at nano-
scale - 2012-232 
Royal Decree 
regarding the 
Placement on the 
Market of Substances 
manufactured at the 
Nano-scale 
Order on a Register of 
Mixtures and Articles 
that contain 
Nanomaterials as well 
as the Requirement 
for Manufacturers and 
Importers to report to 
the Register – BEK no. 
644 

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Nanomaterial registries 

While  the  European  Union  has  been  developing  a  regulatory  framework  for  nanomaterials  under 
REACH,  some  European  Member  States  have  sought  to  find  additional  ways  to  regulate 
nanotechnologies. In recent years, databases and reporting schemes for nanomaterials have been 
developed in Europe. Whilst these are not specific to the market sector covered by this report, they 
are still relevant to the regulation of nanotechnologies. 

Under the Belgian Presidency of the European Union, in 2010, the European Union has opened the 
discussion on a 'harmonised database of nanomaterials’. This was followed by a 2012 letter to the 
European Commission calling for a European Reporting Scheme and signed by ten European Member 
States,  plus  Croatia.  The  European  institutions  are  still  weighing  up  the  pros  and  cons  of  such  a 
reporting scheme. Nevertheless, some European Member States have been proceeding.   

In addition, as part of the electoral promises of the 2007 French Presidential Elections, the ‘Grenelle 
de  l’Environnement’,  a  large  environmental  debate  was  organised  in  France  and  resulted  in  two 
major environmental acts, the Grenelle Acts (Lois Grenelle I & II), that enacted the future creation 
of a mandatory reporting scheme for nanomaterials. France hence took steps towards setting up the 
first registration scheme for substances at the nano-scale in Europe. In 2012, the Decree417 on the 
annual declaration on substances at nano-scale - 2012-232 was published: it came into force on 1 
January 2013. It grants to the French Agency for Food Safety, the Environment and Labour (ANSES) 
the authority to collect “information from a production, distribution, import of nano-scale substances 
of 100 grams”. The 2015 report of r-nano418 identified 122 declarations referring to the use code 
su19, Building and Construction work. This represents 0.81% of the total registrations that year. 

The Belgian FPS (Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment) has also been working on a 
similar  scheme.  In  February  2014,  the  Belgian  Council  of  Ministers  validated  the  Royal  Decree 
regarding the Placement on the Market of Substances manufactured at the nano-scale (Koninklijk 
besluit betreffende het op de markt brengen van als nanodeeltjes geproduceerde stiffen or Arrêté 
royal relatif à la mise sur le marché des substances manufacturées à l’état nanoparticulaire).  The 
registration of substances began on 1 January 2016, while mixtures will have to be registered from 
1 January 2017.   

In June 2014, the Danish Order on a Register of Mixtures and Articles that contain Nanomaterials as 
well as the Requirement  for Manufacturers and  Importers to report to the Register  -  BEK  nr 644 
came  into  force.  With  this  Order,  the  Ministry  of  the  Environment  creates  a  national  mandatory 
database of nanomaterial-containing products that will register the first products for the year 2014 
in the year 2015. 

Other EU Member States and associated countries have been considering options for a registration 
scheme for nanomaterials. Norway is considering such a register under its Pollution Control Authority 
(SFT). Since 2013, the Norwegian Product Register has required information for chemicals containing 
‘a substance in nano form’ with a ‘tickbox’ system. Sweden has given the mandate to its chemical 
agency (KEMI) to develop a reporting scheme. In the spring of 2016, KEMI declared that it aimed to 
establish  a  Swedish  registry  in  2019  which  would  register  manufactured  and  imported  quantities 
during 2018. Italy is also considering setting up a similar system. 

With these initiatives, EU Member States have been leading the way and encouraging the European 
Commission to act.  The Second Regulatory  Review on Nanomaterials of 2012 included an impact 
assessment of potential transparency measures (which include approaches similar to the reporting 
schemes  set  in  action  in  several  Member  States).  The  Study  to  Assess  the  Impact  of  Possible 
Legislation to Increase Transparency on  Nanomaterials on the Market  was led  by RPA and  BiPro. 
Three  reports  were  published  to  help  the  EC  to  decide  on  an  eventual  EU-wide  registry  of 
nanomaterials. Early in 2016, the European Commission has stated that it will not go forward with 
an EU-wide nanomaterial registry but would rather support the establishment of a knowledge base 
entitled  the  ‘Nanomaterials  Observatory’  which  would  contain  publically  available  information  on 

417  Décret  n°  2012-232  du  17  février  2012  relatif  à  la  déclaration  annuelle  des  substances  à 

l'état nanoparticulaire pris en application de l'article L.  523-4 du code de l'environnement 

418    Ministère  de  l’Environnment  de  l’Energie  et  de  la  Mer.  2015,  Bilan  2015  des  déclarations  des  substances 
importées,  fabriquées  ou  distribuées  en  France  en  2014.  Available  at ;  http://www.developpement-
durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Rapport_public_R-nano_2015.pdf  

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nanomaterials and their use in Europe. 

10.1.2  Nanotechnology regulation in the rest of the world 

No  country  has  currently  developed  specific  legislation  to  cover  the  use  of  nanomaterials  in 
construction. 

In  the  United  States  of  America,  the  Toxic  Substances  Control  Act  (TSCA)  is  the  main  chemical 
regulation. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of adapting this regulation 
to  nanoscale  materials  (the  US  authorities  have  decided  not  to  write  a  binding  definition  of  a 
nanomaterial). The latest regulatory initiative was taken by US EPA in April 2015 with the publication 
of a proposed rule for section 8 (a) of TSCA. This proposal would introduce reporting and record-
keeping requirements for nanoscale materials as well as a 135-days pre-notification requirement for 
the manufacturers of ‘chemical substances as discrete nanoscale materials’. The inclusion of a new 
rule addressing nanomaterials under TSCA is intended to be promulgated in Autumn 2016. 

The 2013 American Occupational Safety and Health Administration fact sheet on Working Safely with 
Nanomaterials states that nanomaterials fall under OSHA Construction Standards.  

In  Canada,  Health  Canada  and  Environment  Canada  have  been  looking  at  similar  approaches. 
Canada  requires  manufacturers  and  importers  to  register  information  on  a  selection  of  206 
substances at the nanoscale under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA 1999).  

10.1.3  Standardisation and nanotechnology 

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) technical committee on nanotechnologies, 
ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies, has not directly addressed construction in its work.  

However, at ISO level, a number of technical committees cover areas linked  to construction. The 
main  committees  are:  ISO/TC  59  Buildings  and  civil  engineering  works,  ISO/TC  195  Building 
construction machinery and equipment,  and  ISO/TC 205 Building environment design. Standards 
covering construction developed in these  and other  technical  committees are gathered  under  the 
International Classification for Standards (ICS) code 91: Construction materials and building. At the 
moment, however, these do not provide for the use of nanotechnologies in these products. 

In  Europe,  the  European  Committee  for  Standardisation  (CEN)  committee  on  nanotechnology 
(CEN/TC  352)  is  currently  working  on  a  technical  report  dealing  with  the  construction  sector. 
Tentatively entitled: ‘Manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in the construction industry. Guidelines 
for occupational risk management’ this project is being developed under Working Group 3: Health, 
safety and environmental aspects. It originates from the SCAFFOLD419 project of the European Union 
Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7), which aimed to develop ‘innovative strategies, 
methods  and  tools  for  occupational  risks  management  of  manufactured  nanomaterials  in  the 
construction industry’. The project produced a toolkit for risk management and is looking to translate 
its findings into a standardised guidance document. 

Over 80 technical committees are dealing with construction at CEN420. However, these have not yet 
produced standards dealing with the use of nanotechnology in construction.  

419 SCAFFOLD ; http://scaffold.eu-vri.eu/   
420 See CEN website: https://www.cen.eu/work/areas/construction/products/Pages/default.aspx  

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10.2  Environment, health and safety and nanotechnology 

Exposure  to  nanomaterials  in  the  construction  sector  may  be  quite  diverse.  Seven  categories  of 
categories of construction materials were identified within the NanoData project. All combinations of 
nanoparticles and sectors were evaluated. The basis for the evaluation was “Stoffenmanager Nano” 
application421, 422, 423, a risk-banding tool developed for employers and employees to prioritise health 
risks occurring as a result of respiratory exposure to hazardous nanoparticles for a broad range of 
worker scenarios. 

The respiratory route is the main route of exposure for many occupational scenarios, while the oral 
route of exposure is considered minor and sufficiently covered, from a safety point of view, by good 
hygiene practices established in production facilities as prescribed through general welfare provisions 
in national health and safety legislation in EU countries424. In view of the nature of the products in 
this sector, oral exposure of consumers is also considered to be minor.  

The dermal route may be the main route of exposure for some substances or exposure situations, 
and cause local effects on the skin or systemic effects after absorption into the body425. However, 
nanoparticles  as  such  are  very  unlikely  to  penetrate  the  skin426  and  consequently  nano-specific 
systemic  toxicity  via  the  dermal  route  is  improbable.  Therefore,  when  evaluating  risks  from 
nanotechnology for the respiratory route, the most important aspects of occupational and consumer 
safety are covered. 

10.2.1  Hazard assessment of nanoparticles 

In Stoffenmanager Nano, the available hazard information is used to assign specific nanoparticles to 
one  of  five  hazard  bands,  labelled  A  to  E  (A=  low  hazard,  E=  highest  hazard).  The  table  below 
presents an overview of nanoparticles (selected for their use in the construction sector) and their 
hazard bands, either taken from le Feber et al. (2014)427 or van Duuren et al. (2012)428 or derived 
in this project. 

421 Le Feber, M., Kroese, E.D., Kuper, C.F., Stockmann-Juvala, H., Hyytinen, E.R., 2014. Pre-assigned hazard 

bands for commonly used nanoparticles. TNO2014 R11884. 

422 Marquart, H., Heussen, H., Le Feber, M., Noy, D., Tielemans, E., Schinkel, J., West, J., Van Der Schaaf, D., 
2008. 'Stoffenmanager', a web-based control banding tool using an exposure process model. Ann. Occup. 
Hyg. 52, 429-441. 

423 Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., Van Niftrik, 
M.F.J.,  Tielemans,  E.,  Fransman,  W.,  2012.  Stoffenmanager  Nano  version  1.0:  a  web-based  tool  for  risk 
prioritisation of airborne manufactured nano objects. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 56, 525-541. 

424 ECHA, 2012. Chapter R.14:  Occupational exposure estimation in: Anonymous Guidance on Information 

Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment., Version: 2.1 ed. European Chemicals Agency, Helsinki, 
Finland. 

425 Ibid 
426 Watkinson, A.C., Bunge, A.L., Hadgraft, J., Lane, M.E., 2013. Nanoparticles do not penetrate human skin - A 

theoretical perspective. Pharm. Res. 30, 1943-1946 

427 Le Feber, M., Kroese, E.D., Kuper, C.F., Stockmann-Juvala, H., Hyytinen, E.R., 2014. Pre-assigned hazard 

bands for commonly used nanoparticles. TNO2014 R11884. 

428 M.F.J., Tielemans, E., Fransman, W., 2012. Stoffenmanager Nano version 1.0: a web-based tool for risk 

prioritisation of airborne manufactured nano objects. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 56, 525-541. 

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Table 10-2: Hazard bands for the specified nanoparticles 

Nanoparticles 

Hazard band 

Carbon nanotubes 

Carbon nanofibres 

Copper 

Graphene 

Graphite nanoparticles 

Iron oxide 

Molybdenum 

Silicon carbide 

Silicon dioxide (silica), crystalline 

Silicon dioxide (silica), synthetic amorphous 

Titanium dioxide 

Tungsten oxide 

Vanadium pentoxide 

Zinc oxide 

E 

D 

D 

E 

E 

D 

C 

C 

E 

C 

D 

E 

E 

B 

Source 

This report 

This report 

This report 

This report 

This report 

This report 

van Duuren et al. (2012) 

This report 

van Duuren et al. (2012) 

le Feber et al. (2014) 

le Feber et al. (2014) 

van Duuren et al. (2012) 

van Duuren et al. (2012) 

le Feber et al. (2014) 

Details of the hazard bands derived for each material are given below. 

CARBON NANOTUBES (CNTS), SINGLE- (SWCNTS) AND MULTI-WALLED (MWCNTS) 

Carbon nanotubes have often been demonstrated to have severe toxicity; however, this seems to 
be  largely  dependent  on  the  dose,  the  degree  of  agglomeration  and  the  route  of  administration.  
Differences in toxicity are also expected between single and multi-walled CNTs and are presumably 
dependent on their aspect ratio. 

Upon  inhalation,  single  walled  carbon  nanotubes  (SWCNTs)  have  shown  various  chronic 
inflammatory  responses  in  rat  and  mice,  depending  on  type  of  exposure  (inhalation,  oral 
administration). For example, while no tumours were reported in the case of short to medium term 
pulmonary exposures to SWCNTs or MWCNTs in rodents, several studies have shown the potential 
for MWCNTs to act like the persistent fibres of asbestos, causing thoracic inflammation and fibrosis. 
In addition, MWCNT have been shown to penetrate into the alveolar region of the lung and to cause 
inflammation.  These  biological  events  have  been  shown  to  lead  to  the  cancer  mesothelioma, 
although MWCNTs have not been demonstrated to de facto cause mesotheliomas. Still the weight-
of-evidence  for  certain  types  of  MWCNT  (e.g.,  those  with  high  aspect  ratios)  is  increasing.  In 
conclusion,  flexible,  rigid,  high-aspect-ratio  MWCNT  may  cause  cancer  in  a  similar  fashion  to 
asbestos and may be as potent in this respect.   

Based on the data summarised above, there are indications that carbon nanotubes are mutagenic 
and carcinogenic while some can be classified as persistent fibres. Therefore, they are consigned to 
the highest hazard band, E. 

CARBON NANOFIBRES (CNFS) 

CNFs are related to CNTs429,  430. The  former consist of stacked graphite platelets, while the latter 
consist of graphite platelets rolled up in cylinders. Due to their graphitic structure, CNFs are highly 
insoluble, and thus highly bio persistent, and are not expected to be broken down when inhaled431. 

429Fubini, B., Fenoglio, I., Tomatis, M., Turci, F., 2011. Effect of chemical composition and state of the surface 
on  the  toxic  response  to  high  aspect  ratio  nanomaterials.  Nanomedicine  (Lond).  6,  899–920. 
doi:10.2217/nnm.11.80  

430 NIOSH, 2013. Current Intelligence Bulletin 65. Occupational exposure to carbon nanotubes and nanofibres. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute 
for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington DC, USA. 

431 Fubini, B., Fenoglio, I., Tomatis, M., Turci, F., 2011. Effect of chemical composition and state of the surface 
on  the  toxic  response  to  high  aspect  ratio  nanomaterials.  Nanomedicine  (Lond).  6,  899–920. 
doi:10.2217/nnm.11.80 

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The in vitro toxic properties of CNFs have been summarised432 in comparison with carbon black, an 
extremely fluffy fine powder with a large surface area composed of elemental carbon (IARC, 2010), 
and CNTs. The most important observations are mentioned below. 

Several studies show that the cytotoxicity of CNFs is very low. The sequence of increasing potency 
for carbon black, CNTs and CNFs is: carbon black < CNFs < CNTs.  

Carbon nanofibres also have a low inflammatory potential. While CNTs induced a dose-dependent 
increase  in  DNA  damage  at  all  dose  and  treatment  times,  CNFs  induced  DNA  strand  breaks  and 
chromosomal damage in human bronchial epithelial only after a long time of treatment with no dose 
dependence.  However,  CNFs  containing  iron  impurities  (<1.4%  wt)  showed  a  genotoxicity 
comparable with asbestos and stronger than SWCNTs433. Exposure to CNFs can cause respiratory 
effects similar to those observed for CNTs. CNFs are a less potent inflammatory agent than MWCNTs 
and of comparable potency as carbon black. 

Concluding,  CNFs  appear  to  be  of  comparable  toxicity  with  carbon  black  and  are  less  toxic  than 
MWCNTs.  Since  MWCNTs  are  attributed  to  hazard  band  E  and  carbon  black  to  hazard  band  D  in 
Stoffenmanager Nano (Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012), carbon nanofibres are placed in hazard 
band D. 

COPPER 

No in vivo inhalation toxicity studies adequate for toxicological risk assessment of metallic copper 
nanoparticles  were  identified  in  public  literature.  As  metallic  copper  is  insoluble  in  water, 
classification  of  the  bulk  material  could  be  used  to  derive  a  hazard  band  for  metallic  copper 
nanoparticles. Bulk copper is not classified for human toxicological endpoints, which would mean it 
should  be  attributed  hazard  band  C  (Van  Duuren-Stuurman  et  al.,  2012).  However,  the  ECHA 
registration dossier explicitly mentions the classification is only applicable to copper powders, with 
particle size > 10µm and <1 mm. Furthermore, like e.g. silver nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles 
are  antimicrobials  whose  effectiveness  increases  with  decreasing  size434,  435  suggesting  that 
nanocopper, like nanosilver, is more toxic than its bulk counterpart. Comparative in vitro evaluation 
of cytotoxicity showed nanocopper to even be slightly more cytotoxic than nanosilver436. Nanosilver 
has been attributed hazard band D437 and based on the comparison mentioned above, nanocopper 
is attributed the same hazard band. 

GRAPHENE 

Graphene is composed of sp2-hybridised carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional structure. The 
various  forms  of  graphene  include  few-layer  graphene,  reduced  graphene  oxide,  graphene 
nanosheets and graphene oxide (GO)438. 

The UK government body, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and 
the  US  Food  and  Drug  Administration  (FDA)  are  now  reviewing  all  forms  of  graphene  and 
functionalised graphene oxide (GO) because of their poor solubility, high agglomeration, long-term 

432 Ibid 
433 Fubini, B., Fenoglio, I., Tomatis, M., Turci, F., 2011. Effect of chemical composition and state of the surface 
on  the  toxic  response  to  high  aspect  ratio  nanomaterials.  Nanomedicine  (Lond).  6,  899–920. 
doi:10.2217/nnm.11.80 

434 Nuñez-Anita, R.E., Acosta-Torres, L.S., Vilar-Pineda, J., Martínez-Espinosa, J.C., de la Fuente-Hernández, J., 
Castaño, V.M., 2014. Toxicology of antimicrobial nanoparticles for prosthetic devices. Int. J. Nanomedicine 
9, 3999–4006. doi:10.2147/IJN.S63064 

435  Schrand,  A.M.,  Rahman,  M.F.,  Hussain,  S.M.,  Schlager,  J.J.,  Smith,  D.A.,  Syed,  A.F.,  2010.  Metal-based 
nanoparticles and their toxicity assessment. Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Nanomed. Nanobiotechnol. 2, 544–68. 
doi:10.1002/wnan.103 

436 Lanone, S., Rogerieux, F., Geys, J., Dupont, A., Maillot-Marechal, E., Boczkowski, J., Lacroix, G., Hoet, P., 
2009. Comparative toxicity of 24 manufactured nanoparticles in human alveolar epithelial and macrophage 
cell lines. Part. Fibre Toxicol. 6. 

437 Le Feber, M., Kroese, E.D., Kuper, C.F., Stockmann-Juvala, H., Hyytinen, E.R., 2014. Pre-assigned hazard 

bands for commonly used nanoparticles 

438 Seabra, A.B., Paula, A.J., De Lima, R., Alves, O.L., Durán, N., 2014. Nanotoxicity of graphene and graphene 

oxide. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 27, 159-168. 

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retention, and relatively long circulation time in the blood439.  

Currently, limited information about the in vitro and in vivo toxicity of graphene is available440. The 
toxicity  profiles  of  graphene  and  graphene  oxide  (GO)  nanoparticles  remain  difficult  to  separate, 
since their characterisation, bulk and chemical composition are very similar at the nanometre length 
scale441. 

In vitro graphene has been demonstrated to be cytotoxic, be it overall to a lesser degree than carbon 
nanotubes (Seabra, et al. 2014). However, the  reliability of  this conclusion can be doubted since 
Seabra et al. stated that graphene showed an inverse dose-relationship, being more cytotoxic than 
carbon nanotubes at low concentrations. The only elaborate comparative study reported by Seabra 
et  al.,  refers  to  genotoxicity  towards  human  fibroblast  cells.  GO  proved  to  be  the  most  potent 
genotoxic agent compared to iron oxide (Fe304), titanium dioxide (Ti02), silicon dioxide (Si02), zinc 
oxide  (ZnO),  indium  (In),  tin  (Sn),  core—shell  zinc  sulphate-coated  cadmium  selenide 
(CdSe(3)ZnS), and carbon nanotubes. 

GO has been shown to cause severe pulmonary distress in mice after inhalation causing excessive 
inflammation, while non-functionalised graphene442. Single intravenous (i.v.) injection of graphene 
oxide into mice accumulated in the lung resulting in pulmonary oedema and granuloma formation443. 
Furthermore,  surface  functionalised  graphene  (PEGylated)  appears  to  be  far  less  toxic:  no  toxic 
effects  after  single  i.v.  injection444.  In  mice,  PEGylated  GO  materials  showed  no  uptake  via  oral 
administration,  indicating  limited  intestinal  absorption  of  the  material,  with  almost  complete 
excretion.  In  contrast,  upon  intra-peritoneal  (i.p.)  injection  in  mice,  PEGylated  GO  was  found  to 
accumulate in the liver and spleen445.  

The toxicity of graphene is dependent on the graphene surface (the chemical structure or the nature 
of the functionalised coatings), size, number of layers, cell type, administration route (for  in vivo 
experiments), dose, time of exposure, and synthesis methods446. Generalisations are therefore hard 
to make, but graphene nanostructures are not fibre-shaped and theoretically may be assumed to be 
safer than carbon nanotubes447. 

Based on the scarce available evidence, and in spite of its theoretical advantage in relation to carbon 
nanotubes, it cannot be excluded that some forms of graphene will be as potent a toxicant as carbon 
nanotubes. Therefore, graphene is assigned to hazard band E. 

GRAPHITE NANOPARTICLES 

Graphite is one of only three naturally-occurring allotropes of carbon (the others being amorphous 
carbon and diamond) and has a honeycomb lattice structure. For some researchers, nanographite 

439 Begum et al. 2011 cited in Nezakati, T., Cousins, B.G., Seifalian, A.M., 2014. Toxicology of chemically modified 

graphene-based materials for medical application. Arch. Toxicol. 88, 1987-2012. 

440 Seabra, A.B., Paula, A.J., De Lima, R., Alves, O.L., Durán, N., 2014. Nanotoxicity of graphene and graphene 

oxide. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 27, 159–168. 

441 Nezakati, T., Cousins, B.G., Seifalian, A.M., 2014. Toxicology of chemically modified graphene-based materials 

for medical application. Arch. Toxicol. 88, 1987–2012 

442 Duch, M.C., Budinger, G.R.S., Liang, Y.T., Soberanes, S., Urich, D., Chiarella, S.E., Campochiaro, L.A., 

Gonzalez, A., Chandel, N.S., Hersam, M.C., Mutlu, G.M., 2011. Minimizing oxidation and stable nanoscale 
dispersion improves the biocompatibility of graphene in the lung. Nano Letters 11, 5201-5207. 
443 Zhang, X., Yin, J., Peng, C., Hu, W., Zhu, Z., Li, W., Fan, C., Huang, Q., 2011. Distribution and 

biocompatibility studies of graphene oxide in mice after intravenous administration. Carbon 49, 986-995 
444  Yang,  K.,  Wan,  J.,  Zhang,  S.,  Zhang,  Y.,  Lee,  S.-T.,  Liu,  Z.,  2011.  In  vivo  pharmacokinetics,  long-term 

biodistribution, and toxicology of pegylated graphene in mice. ACS Nano 5, 516–522. 

445 Yang, K., Gong, H., Shi, X., Wan, J., Zhang, Y., Liu, Z., 2013. In vivo biodistribution and toxicology of 

functionalised nano-graphene oxide in mice after oral and intraperitoneal administration. Biomaterials 34, 
2787–95. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.01.001 cited in Seabra, A.B., Paula, A.J., De Lima, R., Alves, 
O.L., Durán, N., 2014. Nanotoxicity of graphene and graphene oxide. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 27, 159–168. 
446 Seabra, A.B., Paula, A.J., De Lima, R., Alves, O.L., Durán, N., 2014. Nanotoxicity of graphene and graphene 

oxide. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 27, 159–168. 

447 Seabra, A.B., Paula, A.J., De Lima, R., Alves, O.L., Durán, N., 2014. Nanotoxicity of graphene and graphene 

oxide. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 27, 159–168. 

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is synonymous with graphene448, while others449 make a distinction between graphene and graphite 
nanoplatelets, without being specific on how the one is distinguished from the other, both possessing 
the  hexagonal  graphite  structure  at  the  molecular  level.  As  long  as  the  distinction  between 
nanographite and graphene is not clear, it is considered to be one of the many forms of graphene 
and evaluated in that category (see section above). 

IRON OXIDE 

Classified by Stoffenmanager Nano in hazard band D for sizes ≤50 nm (C for sizes >50 nm)450. Since 
the size distribution of the iron oxide nanoparticles used may include sizes below 50 nm, the highest 
risk band is used in the risk assessment applied here. 

MOLYBDENUM  

No relevant toxicity studies on nano-molybdenum were identified in public literature. It is insoluble 
in  water  and  therefore,  applying  the  methodology  of  van  Duuren  et  al.  (2012)451,  the  hazard 
characteristics of the parent material are used. Molybdenum is classified by a considerable number 
of CLP-notifiers as a suspected reprotoxicant (category 2) (affecting reproduction) as confirmed by 
the  WHO452.  Based  on  the  self-classification  of  (bulk)  molybdenum  as  a  reprotoxicant, 
nanomolybdenum  should  be placed in hazard  band  E according to the criteria of Stoffenmanager 
Nano453. 

SILICON CARBIDE (SIC) 

SiC  occurs  in  several  forms:  (spherical)  particles,  fibres,  and  whiskers.  SiC  particles  are 
manufactured (mostly for use as industrial abrasive) mainly by the Acheson process, with SiC fibres 
being  unwanted  by-products.  SiC  fibres  are  generally  poly-crystalline  and  of  variable  length  and 
diameter.  They  may  include  fibres  that  are  indistinguishable  from  whiskers.  SiC  whiskers  are 
intentionally produced by different processes as durable industrial substitutes for asbestos; they are 
physically  homogeneous  and  monocrystalline,  and  their  dimensions  are  similar  to  asbestos 
amphiboles454. 

SiC nanoparticles were not genotoxic in an in vitro Comet assay nor were they cytotoxic455. However, 
SiC nanoparticles did cause oxidative stress reactions in vitro as well as inflammatory responses456, 
457. Long and short CNTs were also investigated as well as different nanoTiO2 compounds458,. SiC 

448  Figarol,  A.,  Pourchez,  J.,  Boudard,  D.,  Forest,  V.,  Akono,  C.,  Tulliani,  J.-M.,  Lecompte,  J.-P.,  Cottier,  M., 
Bernache-Assollant, D., Grosseau, P., 2015. In vitro toxicity of carbon nanotubes, nano-graphite and carbon 
black, similar impacts of acid functionalisation. Toxicol. In Vitro 30, 476–85. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2015.09.014 
449 Ma-Hock, L., Strauss, V., Treumann, S., Küttler, K., Wohlleben, W., Hofmann, T., Gröters, S., Wiench, K., van 
Ravenzwaay,  B.,  Landsiedel,  R.,  2013.  Comparative  inhalation  toxicity  of  multi-wall  carbon  nanotubes, 
graphene, graphite nanoplatelets and low surface carbon black. Part. Fibre Toxicol. 10. 

450 Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., Van Niftrik, 
M.F.J.,  Tielemans,  E.,  Fransman,  W.,  2012.  Stoffenmanager  Nano  version  1.0:  a  web-based  tool  for  risk 
prioritisation  of  airborne  manufactured  nano  objects.  Ann.  Occup.  Hyg.  56,  525–541. 
doi:10.1093/annhyg/mer113 

451 Ibid 
452 WHO, 2011. Molybdenum in Drinking-water, Background document for development of WHO Guidelines for 

Drinking-Water Quality. Geneva, Switzerland. 

453 Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., Van 

Niftrik, M.F.J., Tielemans, E., Fransman, W., 2012. Stoffenmanager Nano version 1.0: a web-based tool for 
risk prioritisation of airborne manufactured nano objects. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 56, 525-541. 

454 Grosse, Y., Loomis, D., Guyton, K.Z., Lauby-Secretan, B., El Ghissassi, F., Bouvard, V., Benbrahim-Tallaa, L., 
Guha, N., Scoccianti, C., Mattock, H., Straif, K., 2014. Carcinogenicity of fluoro-edenite, silicon carbide fibres 
and whiskers, and carbon nanotubes. Lancet. Oncol. 15, 1427–1428. 

455 Barillet, S., Simon-Deckers, A., Herlin-Boime, N., Mayne-L’Hermite, M., Reynaud, C., Cassio, D., Gouget, B., 
Carrière, M., 2009. Toxicological consequences of TiO2, SiC nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes 
exposure  in  several  mammalian  cell  types:  an  in  vitro  study.  J.  Nanoparticle  Res.  12,  61–73. 
doi:10.1007/s11051-009-9694-y 

456 Ibid 
457 Pourchez, J., Forest, V., Boumahdi, N., Boudard, D., Tomatis, M., Fubini, B., Herlin-Boime, N., Leconte, Y., 
Guilhot,  B.,  Cottier,  M.,  Grosseau,  P.,  2012.  In  vitro  cellular  responses  to  silicon  carbide  nanoparticles: 
impact of physico-chemical features on pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative effects. J. Nanoparticle Res. 14, 
1143. doi:10.1007/s11051-012-1143-7 

458 Barillet, S., Simon-Deckers, A., Herlin-Boime, N., Mayne-L’Hermite, M., Reynaud, C., Cassio, D., Gouget, B., 
Carrière, M., 2009. Toxicological consequences of TiO2, SiC nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes 

131 

 
 
 
                                                 
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nanoparticles were less potent than all the other particles on a per weight basis. The degree to which 
SiC nanoparticles caused these toxic reactions depended on surface area, crystallite size, nature of 
crystallite phase, and iron content459. 

The carcinogenicity of SiC fibres was investigated in two studies on workers who were exposed to 
fibrous  and  non-fibrous  SiC,  quartz,  and  cristobalite  while  involved  in  the  production  of  SiC 
nanoparticles via the Acheson process. Based on these studies, occupational exposures associated 
with the Acheson process were classified IARC as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) on the basis of 
sufficient  evidence  in  humans  that  they  cause  lung  cancer460.  Since  the  correlation  between 
exposures  to  SiC  fibres  and  cristobalite  made  it difficult  to disentangle  their independent effects, 
IARC  concluded  that  fibrous  SiC  is  possibly  carcinogenic  to  humans  (Group  2B)461.  No  data  on 
humans  exposed  to  SiC  whiskers  were  available.  In  experimental  animals,  there  was  sufficient 
evidence  for  the  carcinogenicity  of  SiC  whiskers  for  IARC  to  classify  SiC  whiskers  as  probably 
carcinogenic  to  humans  (Group  2A),  on  the  basis  that  the  physical  properties  of  the  whiskers 
resemble those of asbestos and erionite fibres, which are known carcinogens. In addition, the results 
of  available  mechanistic  studies  were  consistent  with  proposed  mechanisms  of 
fibre 
carcinogenicity462, although carcinogenicity of SiC nanoparticles was not explicitly discussed. 

Since  SiC  fibres  and  whiskers  are  persistent  fibres  and  are  suspected  carcinogens,  they  should 
attributed hazard band E, according to Stoffenmanager Nano463. SiC nanoparticles are not genotoxic, 
be it based on scant evidence, but exhibit characteristics (ROS formation, inflammatory responses) 
similar  to  e.g.  titanium  dioxide  nanoparticles.  In  an  update  on  some  metal  oxide  nanoparticles  
hazard band C was attributed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles464, consequently the same hazard 
band is attributed to SiC nanoparticles. 

SILICON DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES, CRYSTALLINE 

Classified by Stoffenmanager Nano in hazard band E465. 

SILICON DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES, SYNTHETIC AMORPHOUS 

In an update on some oxide nanoparticles  hazard band B was attributed to synthetic amorphous 
silicon dioxide nanoparticles466 

TITANIUM DIOXIDE 

In an update on some metal oxide nanoparticles, hazard band C was attributed to titanium dioxide 
nanoparticles467. 

exposure  in  several  mammalian  cell  types:  an  in  vitro  study.  J.  Nanoparticle  Res.  12,  61–73. 
doi:10.1007/s11051-009-9694-y 

459 Pourchez, J., Forest, V., Boumahdi, N., Boudard, D., Tomatis, M., Fubini, B., Herlin-Boime, N., Leconte, Y., 
Guilhot,  B.,  Cottier,  M.,  Grosseau,  P.,  2012.  In  vitro  cellular  responses  to  silicon  carbide  nanoparticles: 
impact of physico-chemical features on pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative effects. J. Nanoparticle Res. 14, 
1143. doi:10.1007/s11051-012-1143-7 

460 Grosse, Y., Loomis, D., Guyton, K.Z., Lauby-Secretan, B., El Ghissassi, F., Bouvard, V., Benbrahim-Tallaa, L., 
Guha, N., Scoccianti, C., Mattock, H., Straif, K., 2014. Carcinogenicity of fluoro-edenite, silicon carbide fibres 
and whiskers, and carbon nanotubes. Lancet. Oncol. 15, 1427–1428. 

461 Ibid 
462 Ibid 
463 Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., Van Niftrik, 
M.F.J.,  Tielemans,  E.,  Fransman,  W.,  2012.  Stoffenmanager  Nano  version  1.0:  a  web-based  tool  for  risk 
prioritisation  of  airborne  manufactured  nano  objects.  Ann.  Occup.  Hyg.  56,  525–541. 
doi:10.1093/annhyg/mer113 

464 Le Feber, M., Kroese, E.D., Kuper, C.F., Stockmann-Juvala, H., Hyytinen, E.R., 2014. Pre-assigned hazard 

bands for commonly used nanoparticles. 

465 Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., Van Niftrik, 
M.F.J.,  Tielemans,  E.,  Fransman,  W.,  2012.  Stoffenmanager  Nano  version  1.0:  a  web-based  tool  for  risk 
prioritisation of airborne manufactured nano objects. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 56, 525-541. 

466 Le Feber, M., Kroese, E.D., Kuper, C.F., Stockmann-Juvala, H., Hyytinen, E.R., 2014. Pre-assigned hazard 

bands for commonly used nanoparticles. TNO2014 R11884. 

467 Ibid 

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TUNGSTEN OXIDE 

Nano  tungsten  oxide  is  insoluble  in  water468.  No  toxicity  studies  on  it  were  identified  in  public 
literature. Due to this lack of data, it needs to be hazard banded based on the hazardous properties 
of  its  bulk  parent  compound469.  There  is  no  official  EU  classification  for  tungsten  oxide  and  most 
registrants  have  not  (self)classified  tungsten  oxide,  while  some  have  classified  it  as  possibly 
carcinogenic. In the  registration dossier  published by  ECHA, no data supporting one or the other 
conclusion has been submitted. ATSDR470 has published a toxicity profile for tungsten as well as an 
update of the earlier profile471. Its sodium salt (sodium tungstate) is not mutagenic in the Ames test 
nor did it cause chromosome aberration  in vitro, but it did prove to be mutagenic in the Chinese 
hamster lung V79 cell HGPRT forward mutation assay472. Sodium tungsten dehydrate was negative 
in in vivo micronucleus tests in rats and mice, but positive in in vivo Comet assays in mice473. Alloys 
with  cobalt  and  tungsten carbide  are  carcinogenic when  implanted  in  mice.  It  is  unclear  whether 
cobalt  or  tungsten  is  the  causative  agent.  A  drinking  water  carcinogenicity  study  with  sodium 
tungstate  dehydrate  has  been  performed  by  the  NTP474  but  so  far  the  results  have  not  been 
published475. Epidemiological studies did  not show an  association between tungsten exposure (as 
measured by urinary tungsten levels) and carcinogenicity, however the power of the studies was too 
low  to  draw  definitive  conclusions476.  Concluding,  there  are  indications  tungsten  oxide  may  be  a 
mutagenic carcinogen and therefore tungsten oxide nanoparticles should be attributed hazard band 
E according to the criteria of Stoffenmanager Nano477. 

VANADIUM PENTOXIDE (DI-VANADIUM PENTOXIDE) 

No toxicity studies on nano-vanadium pentoxide were found in public literature. It is soluble in water 
and  can  therefore  be  hazard  banded  based  on  the  hazardous  properties  of  its  bulk  parent 
compound478. Vanadium pentoxide is classified in the EU as reprotoxic and mutagenic and should 
therefore be assigned to the highest hazard band, E. 

ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES 

In  an  update  on  some  metal  oxide  nanoparticles,  hazard  band  B  was  attributed  to  zinc  oxide 
nanoparticles479. 

10.2.2  Exposure assessment 

10.2.2.1  Cement/lime concrete and mortars and other derivatives 

Concrete is widely used in the world. An ordinary concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, gravel and 
water.  Additives  are  used  for  special  properties,  e.g.  to  increase  strength,  hardness  or  corrosion 

468 ATSDR, 2005. Toxicological profile for Tungsten. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, 

USA. 

469 Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., Van Niftrik, 
M.F.J.,  Tielemans,  E.,  Fransman,  W.,  2012.  Stoffenmanager  Nano  version  1.0:  a  web-based  tool  for  risk 
prioritisation  of  airborne  manufactured  nano  objects.  Ann.  Occup.  Hyg.  56,  525–541. 
doi:10.1093/annhyg/mer113 

470 ATSDR, 2005. Toxicological profile for Tungsten. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, 

USA. 

471 ATSDR, 2015. Addendum to the Toxicological Profile for Tungsten. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 

Registry, Atlanta, USA. 

472 ATSDR, 2005. Toxicological profile for Tungsten. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, 

USA. 

473 ATSDR, 2015. Addendum to the Toxicological Profile for Tungsten. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 

Registry, Atlanta, USA. 

474 Ibid 
475 NTP site last checked on March 7, 2016 
476 ATSDR, 2015. Addendum to the Toxicological Profile for Tungsten. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 

Registry, Atlanta, USA. 

477 Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., Van Niftrik, 
M.F.J.,  Tielemans,  E.,  Fransman,  W.,  2012.  Stoffenmanager  Nano  version  1.0:  a  web-based  tool  for  risk 
prioritisation  of  airborne  manufactured  nano  objects.  Ann.  Occup.  Hyg.  56,  525–541. 
doi:10.1093/annhyg/mer113 

478 Ibid 
479 Le Feber, M., Kroese, E.D., Kuper, C.F., Stockmann-Juvala, H., Hyytinen, E.R., 2014. Pre-assigned hazard 

bands for commonly used nanoparticles. 

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resistance. Among these additives, silica fumes are very important materials. By adding microsilica, 
high performance concrete is produced, but by using nanosilica ultra-high performance concrete is 
formed, which is used increasingly. In addition, nanotitania particles have been added to concrete 
for self-cleaning properties at the surface.  

Furthermore, CNTs and CNFs are being incorporated in concrete, as both of them can fill the pore 
spaces in concrete more effectively than more conventional fillers like sand. CNFs are considered to 
be superior to CNTs for this because their stacked structure has exposed edges, increasing surface 
area and thus improving bonding characteristics. 

In “Stoffenmanager Nano” sets of exposure scenarios are assigned to exposure bands labelled 1 to 
4  (1=low  exposure,  4=  highest  exposure).  As  explained  in  the  introduction,  only  respiratory 
exposure is considered here.   

The likelihood of exposure to nanoparticles while handling cement, concretes etc. is highly dependent 
upon the type of process and the type of equipment involved in the process. Nevertheless, the usage 
(building  phase  e.g.  mixing,  dumping,  transferring)  of  powder  materials  results  in  the  highest 
exposure  potential  (4).  If  the  nanomaterial  is  included  in  a  liquid  mixture  (the  cement/concrete, 
building phase) the exposure potential is highly reduced (2). If the nanomaterial is in a matrix (use 
phase,  hardened  cement/mortal)  the  exposure  potential  is  low  (1).  During  abrasive  activities 
(demolition  phase)  on  the  cement/concrete  the  worker  can  be  exposed to  nanomaterials  but  the 
exposure potential is still relatively low (2). The most common applications are considered below. 

10.2.2.2  Steel: nano-modified steel and nano-additions to steel 

In addition to carbon and iron, some compounds like copper, vanadium oxide and molybdenum may 
be added to steel as nanoparticles. The likelihood of exposure to nanoparticles during the handling 
of nano-additions in powder form results in the highest exposure potential (building phase, 4). If the 
nanomaterial is in the steel the exposure potential is low (use phase, 1). Abrasion of an object which 
includes  nanomaterial  may  result  in  exposure  to  steel  aerosols  which  include  nanomaterials, 
resulting in a relative low exposure potential (demolition phase, 2). 

10.2.2.3  Glass: self-cleaning, energy-saving windows 

Nanomaterials  (titanium  dioxide)  are  used  in  glass  for  self-cleaning  properties  and  to  reduce  the 
sunlight and heat entering a building. When the nanomaterial is in the glass, the exposure potential 
is low (use phase, 1). Handling powder titanium dioxide to produce the glass results in the highest 
exposure potential (building phase, 4).  

10.2.2.4  Heat insulation materials 

The use of nanomaterials (e.g. nanoscale silica, graphite or silicon carbide) here includes aerogels 
and vacuum insulation panels for heat insulation. In the occupational setting, powder nanomaterials 
may be handled, resulting in the highest exposure potential (building phase, 4). If the nanomaterial 
is in the matrix of the insulation material the exposure potential is low (use phase, 1).  

10.2.2.5  Coatings and paints 

Paints or coatings are frequently used in construction to protect the surface from harmful weathering 
effects (e.g. in the case of wood, for durability, water resistance, fungi resistance). They can also 
make surfaces more attractive. Paints are composed of base; vehicle or binder; solvent or thinner; 
drier and colouring pigments. In addition, several nanomaterials (e.g. TiO2, ZnO, SiO2) are applied 
as coatings for self-cleaning properties, better water resistance etc. Naturally, silica dioxide can be 
present as amorphous or crystalline nanoparticles, but in most applications the amorphous form is 
used480. In the building phase, the exposure potential is relatively low (2) since the nanomaterial is 
dispersed  in  the  coating,  except  when  the  coating  is  sprayed  on  a  surface,  when  the  exposure 
potential is high (4). When the coating is on the surface, the exposure potential is again low (use 
phase, 1). 

480 Kaiser, J.-P., Zuin, S., Wick, P., 2013. Is nanotechnology revolutionizing the paint and lacquer industry? A 

critical opinion. Sci. Total Environ. 442, 282–9. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.10.009 

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10.2.3  Risk assessment 

The  hazard  and  exposure  bands  discussed  above  are  combined  to  yield  so-called  priority  bands, 
according to the scheme depicted in the table below.  

A high priority implies that it is urgent to apply exposure control measures or to assess the risks 
more  precisely,  and  a  low  priority  implies  that  it  is  not  very  urgent  to  apply  exposure  control 
measures  or  to  establish  the  risk  involved  with  more  precision.  It  should  be  emphasised  that, 
because of the general scarcity of available information, the scheme is set in a conservative way 
(according to the precautionary principle). 

Roughly four phases can be discerned in the life cycle of construction materials: production, building, 
use and demolition. If in a phase different degrees of exposure may occur, the highest exposure 
scenario is taken into account in the risk assessment (worst case scenario). 

Table 10-3: Priority bands in the Stoffenmanager system 

Hazard band 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

Exposure band 

1 

2 

3 

4 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

3 

2 

1 

3 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Key: 
Hazard: A = lowest hazard and E = highest hazard;  
Exposure: 1 = lowest exposure and 4 = highest exposure;  
Overall result: 1 = highest priority and 3 = lowest priority (Van Duuren-Stuurman, et al. 2012) 

Risks based on the hazard and exposure banding applied to the  construction sector are listed the 
table below. 

135 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Table 10-4: Priority bands for the construction sector 

Exposure band 

Use phase 

Building 
phase 

Demolition 
phase 

Nanoparticle 

CNTs/CNFs 

Copper 

Graphene / nanographite 

Iron oxide 

Molybdenum 

Silicon carbide, fibres & 
whiskers 
Silicon carbide, spherical 
particles 
Silicon dioxide (silica), 
crystalline 
Silicon dioxide (silica), 
synthetic amorphous 
Titanium dioxide (titania, 
rutile, anatase) 
Tungsten oxide 

Vanadium pentoxide  

Zinc oxide 

Hazard 
band 

E 

D 

E 

D 

E 

E 

C 

E 

B 

C 

E 

E 

B 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

3 

1 

3 

3 

1 

1 

3 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

3 

2 

1 

1 

3 

Due  to  the  high  expected  exposure,  all  nanomaterials  reach  the  highest  risk  priority  during  the 
building phase.  

In  the  use  phase,  amorphous  silicon  dioxide,  titanium  dioxide,  spherical  SiC  and  zinc  oxide 
nanoparticles have a low risk priority while carbon nanotubes, molybdenum, nanographite, silicon 
carbide fibres and whiskers, crystalline silicon dioxide, tungsten oxide and vanadium pentoxide have 
the highest risk priority and the remainder of the nanomaterials have an intermediate risk priority. 
It should be noted that in the use phase all nanomaterials are contained in a solid matrix, meaning 
exposure will be negligible and thus health risks will be low.  

In  the  demolition  phase,  risk  management/evaluation  of  building  materials  containing  carbon 
nanotubes,  molybdenum,  nanographite,  silicon  carbide  fibres  and  whiskers,  crystalline  silicon 
dioxide,  tungsten  oxide  and  vanadium  pentoxide  should  receive  the  highest  priority,  while 
amorphous silicon dioxide and zinc oxide have a low risk priority. The building materials containing 
the remainder of the listed nanomaterials should receive intermediate priority during the demolition 
phase. 

This section on human health and safety is presented in full in the Annex: Human Health and Safety. 

The next section looks at communication on nanotechnology and construction. 

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10.3  Communication, public attitudes and societal issues 

This section looks at nanotechnology and construction in printed and online media and then reviews 
some surveys of the public. 

10.3.1  Printed and online media 

A search on the web of terms related to nanotechnology and keywords related to construction is 
summarised in the table below. News sites were searched using the Google News search tool. The 
number of news items is an indication of where the media perceive  that the interest of the public 
lies.  

Table 10-5: Frequency of articles on the web, in the news for nanotechnology construction 
topics 

Selected construction 
keywords 

Web, 
thousands 

News, 
thousands 

News / Web, 
% 

Asphalt 

Construction 

Cement 

Concrete 

Glazing 

Masonry 

427 

8,780 

971 

888 

230 

280 

2.8 

19.6 

7.5 

12.2 

0.4 

0.2 

0.66% 

0.22% 

0.77% 

1.37% 

0.17% 

0.07% 

A second search, using Google Scholar481, was done in order to obtain an indication of where the 
interests  of  academics  lie.  The  ratio  of  news  web-pages  to  total  web-pages  for  each  search  was 
much lower than the ratio of scholarly to general web-pages.  

Table 10-6: Frequency on Google Scholar of nanotechnology construction topics 

Selected construction 
keywords 

Scholar, thousands 

Scholar/Web % 

Asphalt 

Construction 

Cement 

Concrete 

Glazing 

Masonry 

10.9 

1,100 

1,020 

2,130 

6 

3.9 

2.6% 

12.5% 

105.1% 

239.9% 

2.61% 

1.39% 

While these data are approximate, they may be useful in identifying where the public can find the 
most information, relatively speaking, on a given nanotechnology and construction topic.  

More than 200 scientific journals regularly publish articles on nanotechnology482. For the academic 
community, the International Scientific Journal & Country Ranking (SJR) index provides a means of 
identifying which are perceived to be the most prestigious. The h-5 index is a measure of the number 
of highly cited articles, and is thus dependent on how many articles are published annually by the 

481 Google Scholar is an online database of many of the peer-reviewed online journals of Europe and the US, plus 
books and non-peer reviewed journals, containing an estimated 160 million documents in 2014 (Orduña-
Malea, E.; Ayllón, J.M.; Martín-Martín, A.; Delgado López-Cózar, E. (2014). About the size of Google Scholar: 
playing the numbers. Granada: EC3 Working Papers, 18: 23 July 2014.)   

482 http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/nanotechnology_periodicals.php  

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journal.  The top five journals, as measured by the SJR index largely follows the metric of citations 
per document published, as shown in the table below.  

Table 10-7: Bibliometric data for nanotechnology 

Title of journal 

SJR 

h-5 index 
2010-15483 

Total articles 
(3 years) 

Nature Nanotechnology 

19.8 

Advanced Materials  

Nano Letters 

ACS Nano 

Nano Today 

9 

9 

7.1 

6.5 

203 

345 

341 

202 

86 

711 

2860 

3234 

3875 

198 

Source: http://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php?category=2509 

Citations 
per article (2 
years) 

Country 

27 

18.4 

14.2 

13.2 

13.5 

UK 

DE 

US 

US 

NL 

No journals specialising in construction related aspects of nanotechnology were found.  

While it should be noted that many nanotechnology publications may not have a Facebook page, 
one indication of popularity of nanotechnology media can be seen in the figures for the number of 
“Likes” on Facebook: 

Table 10-8: Facebook likes as a measure of interest in nanotechnology 

Facebook page 

Nanotechnology 

Nanotechnology World Association 

Nanotechnology Now 

Nanowerk Media/News/Publishing 

The International Nano Science Community 

Nature nanotechnology 

Likes 

68,785 

33,612 

10,012 

9,552 

6,539 

2,562 

This information may be useful in targeting any information for the public in future over and above 
the EC’s own web pages. 

10.3.2    Surveys of the public 

More  rigorous  measures  of  public  awareness,  attitudes  and  communication  can  be  seen  through 
surveys.  Although  not  representative  for  the  ‘average’  EU-citizen,  the  results  provide  some 
indications of trends in attitudes.   

NanOpinion was an FP7 project, which ran from 2012 to 2014, focused on monitoring public opinion 
on nanotechnology in Europe484. An online hub, social media, education and information booths in 
public  spaces  and  special  events  were  used  to  develop  a  dialogue  with  the  general  public  about 
nanotechnology.    Over  1,500  questionnaires  were  completed  in  which  participants  answered 
questions designed to gauge their understanding and opinions of nanotechnology.  

Analysis  of  the  questionnaires  revealed  that  Europeans  in  general  have  little  understanding  of 
nanotechnology  but  are  generally  interested  in  and  positive  about  it.    Respondents  expected 
information on nanotechnology to be honest and balanced and wished there was more information 
available,  particularly  in  the  popular  media.  Across  all  educational  backgrounds,  they  would  be 
interested  in  buying  products,  including  food  containers,  clothing  and  sun  cream,  containing 

483  h-5 index is the largest number h such that h articles published in 2010-2015 have at least h citations each. 
484 www.nanopinion.eu  

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nanomaterials.    However,  they  would  like  to  see  nano-containing  products  labelled  with  detailed 
information and the testing and regulation of these products carried out by independent national or 
international bodies rather than profit-oriented companies.  Their main policy recommendations were 
to promote consistent and detailed product labelling carried out by an independent body, to update 
teachers’  knowledge  of  nanotechnology  and  to  encourage  more  interdisciplinary  STEM  (science, 
technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum.   

The objectives of NanoDiode, an FP7 project running from mid-2013 to mid-2016, is to develop a 
co-ordinated and innovative strategy to  engage  EU  civil society in a dialogue about responsibility 
around nanotechnologies485. As part of their approach they reviewed the experiences and outputs of 
previous  European  projects  on  nanotechnology  dialogue  and  outreach  in  order  to  identify  best 
practices they could adopt for educational workshops and other activities486.  The scope of NanoDiode 
is more ambitious than NanOpinion in as much as they aim to facilitate dialogue across all levels of 
the  nanotechnology  value  chain,  from  the  general  public  to  policy  makers.  Through  outreach, 
education and specific events they will involve a cross-section of researchers, industrialists, citizens, 
scientific  advisers  and  policy  makers  with  the  aim  of  learning  where  and  how  society  wish 
nanotechnologies to be applied.  For example, they aim to bring groups of potential nanotechnology 
‘users’  (industrial  customers  as  well  as  consumers)  together  with  researchers  working  on  near-
market products in order to facilitate discussions which could help steer the research towards social 
values and user needs. 

In  addition  to  these  FP7  projects,  two  population  surveys  in  Germany  provide  some  data  on  the 
public’s attitudes (Zimmer et al, 2009)487, as well as a survey among young people conducted within 
the  framework  of  the  NANOYOU  project  (NANOYOU,  2010)488  and  a  recent  survey  in  the  USA 
(Shipman,  2010)489.  Work  has  also  been  undertaken  by  the  OECD  on  public  engagement  with 
nanotechnology and a guide produced to assist policymakers in working with the public on issues 
related to nanotechnology (OECD, 2010)490. 

Relatively favourable situations may exist if citizens have concrete experiences with, or expectations 
towards  specific  applications;  they  tend  to  support  applications  “that  are  linked  to  a  wider  social 
good or perceived individual benefit” (Böl, 2010; Fleischer et al., 2012)491,492.  Construction is not 
specifically included in the assessment (the closest being ‘surface treatment’) but may fall into this 
category in the future.  

485 www.nanodiode.eu  
486 Analysing previous experiences and European projects on nanotechnology outreach and dialogue and 

identifying best practices, Daan Schuurbiers and De Proeffabriek, March 2014, (Accessed at 
http://www.proeffabriek.nl/uploads/media/NanoDiode_WP1_Best_Practices.pdf in November 2015) 

487 Zimmer, R., Hertel, R., Böl, G.F., 2009, “Public perceptions about nanotechnology: Representative survey and 

basic morphological-psychological study”, Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) 

488 Nanoyou, 2010 http://cordis.europa.eu/publication/rcn/15319_fr.html 

489 Shipman, M., 2010, “Hiding risks can hurt public support for nanotechnology”, News Services of the 
North Carolina State University 

490 http://www.oecd.org/sti/biotech/49961768.pdf  

491  Böl,  G.F.,  Epp  A.,  Hertel,  R.,  2010,  “Perception  of  nanotechnology  in  internet-based  discussions”, 
Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) 
492  Fleischer,  T.,  Jahnel  J.,  Seitz  S.B.,  2012,  “NanoSafety  –  Risk  governance  of  manufactured 
nanoparticles”, European Commission 

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Table 10-9: Assessments by the public of various applications of nanotechnology  
From German online discourses and a questionnaire survey (Böl et al. 2010) 

Application 

Ratio of positive to negative assessments 

Online discourses 

Population survey 

Cancer therapies 

“Other serious medical applications” 

Surface treatment (textile & vehicle) 

Cosmetics (excl.  sunscreens) 

Textile; other than surface treatment 

Food packaging 

Foodstuffs 

Sunscreen products 

Dietary supplements 

90 : 10 

88 : 12 

67 : 33 

59 : 41 

56 : 44 

25 : 75 

10 : 90 

10 : 90 

0 : 100 

(not asked) 

87 : 13 

93 : 7 (paints) 
91 : 9 (textile) 

51 : 49 

76 : 24 

81 : 19 (detection) 
64 : 36 (foil quality) 

25 : 75 (lump 
prevention) 
10 : 90 (appearance) 

78 : 22 

not asked 

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11  CONCLUDING SUMMARY 

Nanomaterials can be found in many ordinary construction materials and products such as cement, 
mortar and concrete, paints, coatings, insulation materials and glass. The properties that they offer 
include self-cleaning and non-wetting, photocatalytic cleaning, weight reduction, energy efficiency, 
safety, longevity, fire resistance and thermal stability. Currently, nanotechnology is largely applied 
only to niche markets in the construction industry and market penetration is limited. 

Policy  supports  in  Europe  include  the  EU  RTD  Framework  Programmes  projects,  ERA-NETs493, 
European Technology Platforms and Networks of Excellence. Member States support nanotechnology 
within broad science and technology initiatives but usually do not single out construction specifically. 

The  largest  proportion  of  funding  for  nanotechnology  and  construction  in  the  EU  Framework 
Programmes was under the NMP theme of the Co-operation Programme in both FP6 (88%) and FP7 
(80%). Participants from Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy received more than half of 
total nanotechnology and construction funding  throughout FP6 and FP7. Unlike  other  sectors and 
nanotechnology  overall,  where  research  under  the  FPs  is  led  (in  terms  of  funding)  by  higher 
education organisations, research organisations receive almost a third of the funding closely followed 
by SMEs.  

The strongest publishing countries for nanotechnology and construction in 2014 were the China and 
the US, followed by Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Korea. Of the EU28, the strongest in 
publications in 2014, after Spain, France and the United Kingdom, were Germany, Italy and Portugal.  

The top EU and EFTA countries for patents (applications and granted) are Germany, the Netherlands, 
France, the United Kingdom and Italy. Of the top ten, only the United Kingdom is in also the top ten 
for  publications  on  nanotechnology  and  construction  and  that  Spain  is  missing  despite  its  strong 
performance in both FP projects and publications.  

In terms of individual organisations in the EU28, the countries of Germany (Fraunhofer Gesellschaft) 
and Spain (Tecnalia and Acciona Infraestructuras S.A.) are strongly represented in projects, while 
in  patents,  France  (CEA494,  CNRS495)  and  Germany  (Fraunhofer  Gesellschaft,  Leibniz  Materials 
Institute) are the strongest. Evonik Degussa and Merck are the strongest European companies for 
patent applications and Evonik Degussa (DE), Wacker Chemie (DE), Rhodia Chemie (FR) and ASML 
(NL) have patents granted, albeit low numbers of patents.  

The global market for products in nanotechnology and construction is expected to grow from  USD 
1.8 billion in 2013 to USD 4.7 billion in 2019. Most of the growth is expected to come from products 
that already exist in some form. 95 building and construction-related products using nanotechnology 
have been identified as being commercially available on the market. About one quarter of those are 
in the area of lighting (LEDs and OLEDs) and one fifth in the area of coatings (photocatalytic and 
anti-stick). Paints, coatings and adhesives account for 17% of products and insulation products 16%. 

493 Also ERA-NET plus 
494 Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives 
495 Centre national de la recherche scientifique 

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ANNEXES 

142 

 
 
 
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ANNEX  1:  METHODOLOGIES  FOR  LANDSCAPE  COMPILATION 

REPORTS  

The outline of this report is as follows: 

Introduction; 

• 
•  Development of keywords; 
•  Methodology by task and sector: projects, publications, patents and products; 
•  Methodology  for  additional  information:  markets,  wider  economic  data,  environmental  health 

and safety, regulation and standards; and 

•  Concluding remarks. 

A Introduction  

This paper outlines the main methodologies used in the NanoData project. 

The  data  were  in  large  part  identified  using  keywords  to  search  existing  databases  (e.g.  for 
publications  and  patents)  and  to  select  projects  (from  eCorda)  and  products  (e.g.  from  product 
databases). The report explains how the keywords were identified and what quality control measures 
were put in place.  

It should be noted that eight sectors were included in the work – construction, energy, environment 
health, ICT, photonics, manufacturing and transport. Thus, the data are not comprehensive across 
all of nanotechnology. They are, instead, representative of the sectors selected within the context 
of the overall project for the European Commission. 

B Development of keywords 

The keywords were identified from known data sources, web searches and expert input. They were 
validated  through  discussions  with  consortium  members496  (where  they  had  expertise  and 
experience in the area concerned) and other experts. Following that validation process, the keywords 
were also tested by one or both of the following methods: 

• 

• 

The  word ‘nano’ and the keywords were used to select the FP projects relevant to the sector 
(and  sub-sectors  if  appropriate).  The  projects  identified  were  checked  manually  for  false 
positives. False negatives were also identified (projects that were expected to be selected that 
were not). The keywords were refined to optimise the number of projects correctly selected. 
The keywords were used to select publications. The lists of publications were checked, in part 
manually and in part semi-automatically using the CWTS VOSViewer bibliometric mapping tool 
(http://www.vosviewer.com/Home).  Using  the  tool,  it  was  possible  to  see  how  terms  group 
together in publication space (by their proximity on a VOSViewer map) and how often they occur 
(by their size on the VOSViewer map). Thus, it was possible to determine which terms would be 
the most significant in the sector and also which terms would be likely to cause false positives. 
For example, in the partial map for nanotechnology and health below (bottom left corner) it can 
be seen that a very important term is ‘scaffold’, and related terms are about tissue and bone 
engineering. Moving further to the right, the related term ‘biocompatibility’ is seen and nearby 
the significant and related but more generic terms ‘surface’, ‘morphology’ and ‘synthesis’. 

496  Partners  of  the  Joint  Institute  for  Innovation  Policy  for  this  project  i.e.  CWTS,  Frost  &  Sullivan, 
Joanneum Research, Oakdene Hollins, the Nanotechnology Industries Association, Tecnalia and TNO. 

143 

 
 
 
                                                 
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Figure A: Partial VOSViewer map for nanotechnology and health 

Additional terms could also be identified for inclusion in the keyword list.  

It should be noted that, where the use of a keyword could lead to false results, the keyword was 
omitted. This inevitably leads to some data of relevance being omitted from the resource base of 
the project, the alternative being the inclusion of much irrelevant information. For example, some 
words (e.g. photodetector, laser, photolithography) were omitted from the keywords for photonics 
as they have much wider applications that photonics alone.  

In the searches, keywords were truncated to maximise the possible results. For example, in energy, 
“thermoelectrics”, 
related 
identify  data 
“thermoelectric*” 
“thermoelectrical” and “thermoelectricity”, the * indicating the truncation. 

“thermoelectric”, 

could 

to 

Where possible, both British and American spellings were included (e.g. tumour and tumor) as were 
alternative spellings (e.g. orthopaedic and orthopedic).  

Methodology by task and sector  

C Framework Programme projects 

The Framework Programme (FP) project details were provided by the European Commission from 
the eCorda database for FP6 and FP7. Abstracts for the FP6 projects were provided separately as 
these were not in the original database received. The total number of FP projects in eCorda database 
is 35,365 of which 25,238 are FP7 projects and 10,027 FP6 projects. These projects involved 210,177 
participations by researchers of which 76,562 are in FP6 and 133,615 in FP7.  

The table below presents an overview of the data for FP6 and FP7 according to the variables used in 
the NanoData analysis. It also identified the number of missing values per variable. It shows that 
the eCorda database is a nearly complete source of FP6 and FP7 project data and participant data 
with only relatively few data missing (between 2.4% and 0% of the total for FP6 and FP7 depending 
on the variable).    

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Table  A:  Number  of  actual  observations  and  missing  values  for  each  of  the  eCorda 
variables used for the NanoData analysis.  

Variable 

FP6 

FP7 

Total 

Actual  Missing 

Actual  Missing 

Actual  Missing  % Missing 

Number of observations 

25,238 

0 

35,265 

0 

Project ID 

Start date 

End date 

Duration 

Number of 
partners 

Specific 
Programme 

Sub-
Programme497 

Call 

Instrument 

EC contribution 

10,027 

9,966 

9,965 

10,027 

10,027 

10,027 

10,027 

9,989 

1,0027 

10,027 

0 

61 

62 

0 

0 

0 

0 

38 

0 

0 

24,906 

24,906 

25,238 

25,238 

25,238 

25,238 

25,238 

25,238 

25,238 

Project total cost 

9,771 

256 

25,238 

76,562 

76,550 

76,562 

76,561 

76,562 

76,562 

0 

12 

0 

1 

0 

0 

133,615 

133,615 

133,615 

133,615 

133,615 

133,615 

74,271 

2,291 

133,615 

Project ID 

Participant ID 

Participant role 

Participant legal 
name 

Participant 
country498 

Participant 
region 

Participant 
organisation type 

EC contribution 
per participant 

Project cost per 
participant 

34,872 

34,871 

35,265 

35,265 

35,265 

35,265 

35,227 

35,265 

35,265 

393 

394 

0 

0 

0 

0 

38 

0 

0 

35,009 

256 

210,177 

210,165 

210,177 

210,176 

210,177 

210,177 

0 

12 

0 

1 

0 

0 

332 

332 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.0% 

1.1% 

1.1% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.1% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.7% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

0.0% 

207,886 

2,291 

1.1% 

71,748 

4,814 

133,569 

46 

205,317 

4,860 

2.4% 

72,960 

3,602 

133,575 

40 

206,535 

3,642 

1.8% 

In the eCorda database, the EC contribution per project shows some small differences between the 
data  presented  by  project  (project  database)  and  the  data  presented  by  participant  (participant 
database). The table below illustrates the differences, both in millions of euros and as shares of the 
EC  contribution.  It  can  be  seen  that  the  difference  in  EC  contribution  between  the  project  and 
participant  data  is  almost  zero  in  FP7  and  small  in  FP6.  However,  the  differences  can  become 
significant when the data is aggregated. 

497 In FP6 these were called Priorities and in FP7 Work Programmes.  
498 The report uses ISO 2-digit codes for countries. See http://www.iso.org/iso/country_codes 

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Table B: Number of projects and EC contribution for the project data and participant data 
in eCorda 

Number of projects 

EC contribution 
(MEUR) 

Project 
Data 

Participant 
Data 

Project  
Data 

Participant 
Data 

Difference 
(Project – 
Participant) 
(MEUR) 

Difference 
% 

FP 

FP6 

FP7 

10,027 

10,027 

16,692.320  16,653.860 

38.460 

25,238 

25,238 

44,917.330  44,917.200 

0.130 

Total 

35,265 

35,265 

61,609.650  61,571.060 

38.600 

NT 

NT-FP6 

908 

908 

1,702.740 

1,695.500 

NT-FP7 

2,636 

Total 

3,544 

2,636 

3,544 

4,660.840 

4,660.750 

6,363.580 

6,356.250 

7.250 

0.090 

7.340 

0.23% 

0.00% 

0.06% 

0.43% 

0.00% 

0.12% 

C1 Classification of projects 

C1.1 Classification of nanotechnology projects 

In order to identify the baseline set of nanotechnology-related projects for the NanoData work, a 
search was made for all FP projects that contained ‘nano’499 in the title or abstract of the project. 
3,544 projects were  selected in this way500, of which  74%  were FP7  projects and 26% were FP6 
projects. Comparing the distribution of projects between FP6 and FP7 for nanotechnology and for 
the two FPs overall, it is found that the distributions are very similar the latter being 72% in FP7 and 
28% in FP6. Nanotechnology projects make up 10% of Framework Programme projects, the share 
increasing slightly from FP6 (9.1%) to FP7 (10.4%). 

The table below shows the distribution of total FP projects and of nanotechnology projects. 

Table C: Number and share of nanotechnology projects in FP6 and FP7 

FP total 

Number of FP projects 

Share of FP (total) 

Nanotechnology  Number of FP projects 

Share of FP  

Share of nanotechnology of total FP 

Total 

35,265 

100% 

3,544 

100% 

10.0% 

FP7 

25,238 

71.6% 

2,636 

74.4% 

10.4% 

FP6 

10,027 

28.4% 

908 

25.6% 

9.1% 

499  The  term  “nano”  could  appear  as  a  part  of  a  word  (e.g.  nanotechnology,  nanoscience,  nanomaterial, 
nanoscale), as a part of compound word separated with hyphen (e.g. nano-science) or as an independent 
word “nano”. 

500 Unlike the other sectors considered by the project (HT, EN, PH, MF), for ICT additional projects were identified 
by use of keywords such as graphene. These were judged to be too important in ICT to be omitted. This did, 
however, result in the total number of nanotechnology projects being different for ICT (4,143) and the other 
sectors (3,544). 

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C1.2 Classification of projects by sector and sub-sector 

The 3,544 projects relevant to nanotechnology were subjected to a search using the sector keywords 
to identify projects relevant to each sector. This search was undertaken using the keywords identified 
for each sector. The project details for the selected projects were reviewed manually, where possible, 
as a further check of the quality of the outputs of the keyword search process.  

For example, using the method described above, 944 projects were categorised as being related to 
nanotechnology  and  health,  approximately  27%  of  total  nanotechnology  projects.  Using  the 
keywords identified for each of the five health sub-sectors501, a further classification could be made. 
In addition, nanotechnology projects relevant to health but not specifically to any of the five sub-
sectors were categorised as Other. In this way, the breakdown of health nanotechnology projects 
was found to be: cancer 26% (CT); infectious diseases 7.8% (ID); cardiovascular diseases 5.2% 
(CV);  neurodegenerative  diseases  4.6%  (ND);  and  diabetes  (2.2%)  (DB)  with  Other  being  62% 
(OTH).  

Where projects were classified as belonging to more than one sub-sector, a proportion of each such 
project was allocated to the sub-sector concerned. Thus a project relevant to cardiovascular disease 
and cancer would be allocated 50% to cardiovascular disease and 50% to cancer. The aim was to 
ensure an accurate analysis of the FP project data and to minimise double counting. The table that 
follows shows the number of project overlaps and the distributions of fractions of projects for the 
health sub-sectors. 

501 Cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. 

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Table D: Distribution of projects with overlaps across health sub-sectors 

     Total 

CT 

CV 

ID 

NE 

DB 

Other 

Projects without 
overlaps 

883 

196 

23 

48 

24 

11 

581 

Projects with overlaps: fractions as allocated 

CT & ID 

CT & CV 

CT & ND 

CV & ID 

CV & ND 

CT & DB 

CV & DB 

ND & DB 

CT, ID & ND 

CT, ND & DB 

CT, CV & ID 

CT, CV, ID & ND 

ID & ND 

6 

2.5 

2 

1.5 

8.5 

6 

4.5 

2 

0.33 

0.33 

0.33 

0.33 

0.25 

0.25 

17 

12 

9 

5 

4 

4 

3 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Sum of fractions 

61 

22 

Total 
nanotechnology 
and health 

944 

218 

13 

36 

8.5 

2.5 

0.33 

0.33 

0.25 

0.5 

12 

60 

4.5 

2 

1 

0.33 

0.33 

0.25 

0.5 

9 

33 

2 

1.5 

1 

0.33 

5 

16 

0 

581 

C2 Harmonisation of data across FP6 and FP7 

In order to have harmonised variables across both Framework Programmes, some names and coding 
of variables were required. These included the following: 

i)  Harmonising the participant types. The categories used in this report are presented in the table 
below. In the tables of top performers, if the same organisation appeared in FP6 and FP7, the 
FP7 code was used.  

Table E: Harmonising participant type codes 

Codes used  Description 

FP6 Code 

FP7 Code 

HES 

REC 

PRC 

SME 

OTH 

Higher or secondary education 
establishment 
Research organisations 

Private commercial (excluding SMEs) 

Small and medium-sized enterprises 

Other including public bodies excluding 
research and education 

HES 

REC 

IND 

SME 

OTH 

HES 

REC 

PRC 

SME 

OTH, PUB 

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NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

ii)  Introducing a classification of instruments in order to allow enhanced comparison between the 

varieties of instruments. The categorisation follows that of Arnold et. al (2012)502. 

Table F: Classification of instruments 

Action 

Instrument 

Research 
actions 

Collaborative 
RTD actions 

ERC Grants 

Integrated Projects 

Specific Targeted Research Projects 

Large-scale Integrating Project 

Actions for 
RTD 
knowledge 
transfer  

Small or medium-scale focused research project 

Integrating Activities / e-Infrastructures 

Collaborative project (generic) 

Specific Actions to Promote Research Infrastructures 

Marie Curie Actions 

Coordination Actions 

Network of Excellence 

Coordinating Action 

Marie Curie Actions 

Research Infrastructure 

Collaborative 
dedicated 
cooperation partner countries (SICA) 

project 

to 

international 

Actions for 
adoption and 
innovation  

Co-operative Research Projects 

Collective Research Projects 

Joint Technology Initiatives  

Actions to 
support 
policymaking  

Research for SMEs 

Specific Support Actions 

Supporting Action 

FP 

FP7 

FP6 

FP6 

FP7 

FP7 

FP7 

FP7 

FP6 

FP6 

FP6 

FP6 

FP7 

FP7 

FP7 

FP7 

FP6 

FP6 

FP7 

FP7 

FP6 

FP7 

iii) Participant organisations identifiers 

For the FP6 and FP7 participants the following organisation identifiers were used: 

•  FP7: CD_ORG_ID and  
•  FP6: Participant Identifying Code-PIC. 

If these were not available, the programme participant identifiers were used. In order to improve 
the  comparability  of  the  FP6  and  FP7  participant  identifiers,  some  manual  matching  based  on 
organisation legal name and address data was conducted for the NT participant sample. As a result, 
5,945 unique nanotechnology participants were identified. 

502  In  their  work  Arnold  et.  al.  (2012)  Understanding  the  Long  Term  Impact  of  the  Framework  Programme 
classifies  the  instruments  of  FP4,  FP5  and  FP6  into  four  categories  that  are  used  as  guidance  for  our 
classification. For FP7 the classification is done by authors of this report.  

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C3 Treatment of decimals 

As a general rule, the data in the tables and figures are produced by utilising the method of first 
summing the unrounded figures and then rounding the sum. Due to this process, some totals may 
not correspond with the sum of the separate figures (generally presented as limited to one decimal).  

C4 Key terminology and abbreviations used 

Table G: FP6 funding instrument types 

Code 

FP6 Type of instrument 

STREP 

Specific Targeted Research Projects 

CA 

SSA 

II 

IP 

NOE 

MCA 

Coordination Actions 

Specific Support Actions 

Specific Actions to Promote Research Infrastructures 

Integrated Projects 

Networks of Excellence 

Marie Curie Actions 

CRAFT 

Co-operative Research Projects 

CLR 

I3 

Collective Research Projects 

Specific Actions to Promote Research Infrastructures 

Table H: FP7 funding instrument types 

Code 

FP7 Type of instrument 

CP 

ERC  

MC 

Collaborative project 

Support for frontier research (European Research Council) 

Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie 
Curie) 

JTI/169  

Activities under Article 169 or 171 European Treaty, Joint Technology 
Initiatives, Public Private Partnerships 

CSA  

BSG  

NOE  

Coordination and support action 

Research for the benefit of specific groups 

Network of Excellence 

Table I: Organisation types 

Code 

Description 

HES 

PCO 

REC 

SME 

OTH 

Higher or secondary education est. 

Private companies excluding SMEs 

Research organisations 

Small and medium-sized enterprises 

Other (incl. public bodies and bodies 
with unknown organisation types) 

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Table J: Country codes EU28+503. 

NUTS0 

Country 

  NUTS0 

Country 

AT 

BE 

BG 

CY 

CZ 

DE 

DK 

EE 

ES 

FI 

FR 

EL505 

HU 

HR 

IE 

IT 

LT 

Austria 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Cyprus 

Czech Republic 

Germany 

Denmark 

Estonia 

Spain 

Finland 

France 

Greece 

Hungary 

Croatia 

Ireland 

Italy 

Lithuania 

LU 

LV 

MT 

NL 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SE 

SI 

SK 

Luxembourg 

Latvia 

Malta 

Netherlands 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Sweden 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

  UK504 

United Kingdom 

CH 

IL 

IS 

TR 

NO 

ZK 

Switzerland 

Israel 

Iceland 

Turkey 

Norway 

Macedonia 

D Publications 

Identification of publications relied on analysis of the data in the database at CWTS (the Centre for 
Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, the Netherlands), data that is based on that in 
the Web of Science506.  

The CWTS database is organised and structured such that it allows (dynamic) field delineation and 
the  collection  of  relevant  publications.  Hence  it  was  possible  to  identify  nanoscience  and 
nanotechnology (NST) publications and, within those, to identify publications relevant to the sectors. 
More specifically, publications were sought within the NST group using the keywords. In addition, 
using the tools available at CWTS, related publications could be identified and included in the output.  

Data available from the resource at CWTS included the journals in which the publications are found, 
the date of publication and the doi (digital object identifier). For licensing reasons, some of the data 
in the database at Leiden can be accessed by external parties only in aggregate form. For example, 
personal details of individual researchers cannot be accessed (e.g. address, email, phone number). 

The report uses ISO 2-digit codes for countries. See http://www.iso.org/iso/country_codes 

503 Data was also analysed from countries outside of the EU28 namely Iceland (IS), Israel (IL), Norway (NO), 

Switzerland (CH) and Turkey (TR). 

504 GB is also used  
505 GR is also used 
506 http://thomsonreuters.com/en/products-services/scholarly-scientific-research/scholarly-search-and-

discovery/web-of-science.html  

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E Patents 

The patents analysed were collected from the database PATSTAT.  That database includes patents 
from over 30 patent offices e.g. the European Patent Office, the US Patent Office and the Japanese 
Patent Office.  

All patent offices worldwide tag nanotechnology-related patent applications using a special symbol 
of the International Patent Classification (IPC), namely B82Y. This special symbol is also part of the 
CPC  (Co-operative  Patent Classification).  The  core  dataset  of  nano-related  patents  were  selected 
using this special symbol (B82Y) from both the IPC and the CPC classifications. 

All patent applications at the USPTO, the EPO and PCT (WIPO) classified as B82Y were identified in 
PATSTAT as well as the (simple) patent family to which they belong. From all these patent families, 
only patent applications at the USPTO, the EPO and PCT (WIPO) were collected. Such use of multiple 
patent offices helps to diminish the bias that might be caused by the so called ‘home advantage’ 
effect,  i.e.  the  propensity  of  nationals  to  file the  first  patent  application  in  their  own  country.  By 
analysing across these three patent authorities a less biased overview of nanotechnology patents 
worldwide can be obtained. 

As the patent information is being collected from more than one patent authority, and given that 
the same invention might be protected in more than one of these patents authorities, the (simple) 
patent families are used to avoid multiple counting of the same invention. 

The identification of patents by sector from amongst the nanotechnology patents was based in most 
cases on the combination of two strategies. First, all patents including in their title and/or abstract 
at least one relevant keywords for a particular sector  were retrieved. Second, to ensure  that the 
patents retrieved in the first step are  truly related to  the sector, a number of representative IPC 
symbols of the sector were selected from PATSTAT507. For example, for the nanotechnology patents 
related to the health sector, the IPC symbols related to ‘Pharmaceuticals’ and ‘Medical technology’ 
were used. However, it was not possible to undertake this second step for all sectors as for some 
(e.g. manufacturing) there were no appropriate IPC symbols.  

Organisations  and/or  individuals  are  listed  in  patent  applications,  these  being  applicants  and/or 
inventors. This information is used in the identification of companies, universities and other research 
organisations active in patenting. The year of reference used is the year when the oldest priority of 
each  patent  family  was  applied  (the  closest  date  to  the  invention).  The  report  uses  ISO  2-digit 
codes508 for countries.  

F Products 

Products were identified primarily through keyword, sector and sub-sector searches of reports and 
databases.  This  search  strategy  was  based  on  a  triangulation  approach  making  use  of 
complementing perspectives. For all perspectives the NanoData team made use of the sector specific 
lists of key words. 

The first step was to use peer-reviewed and grey literature on products in the different sectors509 as 
well as existing market reports510. The market reports were used to identify where nanotechnology 
is being applied already in products as there are many reports that appear to identify products but 
no product is for sale at a commercial level, being at the research stage or for very limited supply 
e.g. to the research community or for test purposes. These investigations were then complemented 
by querying web-based databases on nanotechnology products such as AZONANO511, Nanowerk512, 

507 PATSTAT also contains a table mapping 44 industrial sectors and the IPC classification. The linkage between 

technology areas and industrial sector is described in Schmoch et al (2003), “Linking Technology 

Areas to Industrial Sectors”, final report to the European Commission, DG Research. 
508 http://www.iso.org/iso/country_codes 
509 E.g. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine 9 (2013) 1–14, Hessen Nanotech (2008) 

Applications of Nanotechnologies in the Energy Sector.  

510 See BCC Research www.bbcresearch.com  
511 http://www.azonano.com/ 
512 http://www.nanowerk.com/ 

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the  consumer  products  inventory  of  the  Project  on  Emerging  Nanotechnologies513,  the  product 
database of understandingnano.com514, the Nanoinformationsportal of the Österreichische Agentur 
für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit GmbH515, the Danish Inventory of Nanoproducts516 and the 
nanowatch.de  database517.  Further  sector-specific  databases,  such  as  the  German  database  for 
medical  practitioners  and  the  database  on  European  public  assessment  reports  of  the  European 
Medicines Agency518,  were used for  the  identification  and classification of  nanotechnology related 
products in health, for example. 

By querying databases on existing innovation policy projects, initiatives and industry platforms such 
as  NANORA519,  the  Nano-Map  of  the  German  Federal  Ministry  of  Research520,  the  database  on 
photonic  companies  compiled  by  EPIC,  the  members  directory  of  SEMI521,  and  the  Nano-Bio 
Manufacturing  Consortium  (USA)522,  additional  enterprises  active  in  nanotechnology  sectors  were 
identified. 

A  third  perspective  on  products  was  developed  by  gathering  additional  information  about  the 
products  from  company  websites  identified  in  previous  work,  commercial  databases  and  open 
sources of information on the web. The information was verified through additional searches (e.g. 
of product data sheets and company websites).  

The information in the database was extensively verified. Where, for example, it was found that a 
product  was  identified  but  not  verified,  searches  were  made  of  sources  including  reports  and 
company websites to check the information. Contact was also made, in some cases, directly with 
the  company  in  order  to  ratify  the  existence  on  the  market  of  the  product.  While  some  other 
databases  actually  state the  level  of  known  accuracy  of  their  information  (e.g.  the  entries  in  the 
Woodrow Wilson database are classified using a system that has categories from level 1 (extensively 
verified claim) to level 5 (not advertised by manufacturer – claims made only by third party)) others 
are not specific.  

In NanoData, the aim is only to include products that can be verified. 

G Other information 

Several types of information are provided on the NanoData site as fixed text where data is limited 
or one-off. These include information on markets and wider economic data, as well as reports on 
environmental health and safety and information about regulation and standards. 

Markets 

The market data is based on available sources of information and sources of Frost & Sullivan and 
BCC Research, who gather their information through discussions with practitioners (e.g. company 
representatives)  and  open  sources  (e.g.  commercial  reports,  web  sites).  The  aim  was  to  track, 
evaluate  and  measure  the  activities  of  major  industry  participants  in  the  nanotechnology  arena, 
looking  at  markets  and  usage  of  nanotechnology.  The  activities  included  the  definition  and 
specification of nano-materials and nano-enabled products, identification of current and upcoming 
products  and  applications,  accumulating  qualitative  and  quantitative  data,  identification  and 
mapping of EU participants and last but not the least, identification and analysis of target markets. 

A wide set of definitions, categorisations, data collection and forecasting methods were available. 
Data gathering was driven by experienced analysts and based on a data-rich portfolio of previous 
EU and OECD projects as well as on internal Frost & Sullivan databases and consortium members, 

513 http://www.nanotechproject.org/cpi/ 
514 http://www.understandingnano.com/nanotechnology-product-suppliers.html 
515 http://nanoinformation.at/produkte.html 
516 http://nanodb.dk/ 
517 http://www.bund.net/nc/themen_und_projekte/nanotechnologie/nanoproduktdatenbank/ 
518 http://www.ema.europa.eu/ 
519 http://www.nanora.eu/ 
520 http://www.werkstofftechnologien.de/en/ 
521 http://www.semi.org/en/Membership/MemberDirectory/ 
522 http://www.nbmc.org/members-only/ 

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and public database. European Patent Office523, PRODCOM524 and patentlens525 databases could be 
used to provide in-depth information about a particular technology and to identify the key industry 
participants dominating the sector. Analysis of key value chains was undertaken and corroborated 
with other work-streams. The information thus acquired would be verified with the help of an array 
of  primary  interviews  with  leading  technology  researchers,  industry  experts  and  other  active 
stakeholders. 

The  range  of  primary  and  secondary  research  processes  would  be  followed  by  the  application  of 
innovation diffusion tools in order to forecast probable market scenario of the future. This would also 
include estimating the shape of the diffusion curve and prediction of market development of nano-
enabled products. 

Wider economic data 

External information sources such as Eurostat, OECD and WHO data sources were used to put the 
nanotechnology data obtained in the project into context. 

For example:  

•  A brief overview of the energy industry was based on Eurostat data.  
• 

The health industry overview was based on Eurostat data supplemented by reports from industry 
organisations  (both  technical  (e.g.  the  industry  association  for  European  pharmaceutical 
enterprises) and financial (e.g. the European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association)) 

While reports on industry as a whole were available, there were found to be very few reliable reports 
on  nanotechnology  and  industry.  Nanotechnology  databases  were  also  explored  (e.g.  those  of 
Nanowerk and Nanora).  

Environmental health and safety  

For the sectors in which materials were the main focus, the tool used for the environmental health 
and safety evaluation was the “Stoffenmanager Nano” application526. In summary, Stoffenmanager 
Nano  is  a  risk-banding  tool  developed  for  employers  and  employees  to  prioritise  health  risks 
occurring as a result of respiratory exposure to nanoparticles for a broad range of worker scenarios. 
In  the  absence  of  a  comparable  tool  for  consumer  exposure,  it  was  also  used  for  this  type  of 
exposure. Stoffenmanager Nano combines the available hazard information of a substance with a 
qualitative estimate of potential for inhalation exposure.  Stoffenmanager Nano  does not consider 
dermal and oral routes of exposure. 

In Stoffenmanager Nano, the available hazard information is used to assign specific nanoparticles to 
one of five hazard bands, labelled A to E (A= low hazard, E= highest hazard). Likewise, exposure 
bands are labelled 1-4 (1=low exposure, 4= highest exposure). 

The  hazard  and  exposure  bands  are  combined  to  yield  so  called  priority  bands  ranging  from  low 
priority (=4) to high priority (=1). A high priority implies that it is urgent to apply exposure control 
measures or to assess the risks more precisely, and a low priority implies that it is not very urgent 
to apply exposure control measures or to establish the risk involved with more precision.  

See also Annex: Human health and safety.  

Regulation and standards 

International, European, national and regional data sources for regulation and standards include: 

European documents: 
•  Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals 

(REACH) - 1907/2006(EC); 

•  Regulation on Medical Devices - 2012/0266(COD); and 

523 https://www.epo.org/searching.html  
524 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/prodcom  
525 https://www.lens.org/lens/search?n=10&q=nanotechnology&p=0  
526 Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., Van Niftrik, 
M.F.J.,  Tielemans,  E.,  Fransman,  W.,  2012.  Stoffenmanager  Nano  version  1.0:  a  web-based  tool  for  risk 
prioritisation of airborne manufactured nano objects. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 56, 525-541. 

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• 

European Commission Recommendation on the Definition of a Nanomaterial, as well as sectoral 
documents such as  

•  Nanomaterials in the Healthcare Sector: Occupational Risks & Prevention - E-fact 73; and 
•  Guidance  on  the  Determination  of  Potential  Health  Effects  of  Nanomaterials  Used  in  Medical 

Device. 

National documents: 
•  Decree on the annual declaration on substances at nano-scale - 2012-232 (France); 
•  Royal Decree regarding the Placement on the Market of Substances manufactured at the Nano-

scale (Belgium); and 

•  Order  on  a  Register  of  Mixtures  and  Articles  that  contain  Nanomaterials  as  well  as  the 
Requirement for Manufacturers and Importers to report to the Register – BEK nr 644 (Denmark). 

H Concluding remarks 

This Annex outlines the main methods for the selection of data for analysis, some data sources, the 
aggregation of data classes in order to enable analysis (mainly for the FP projects) and the ways in 
which data was analysed. References are made to some of the main quality control issues.  

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ANNEX 2: CONSTRUCTION KEYWORDS 

Below is the list of keywords used in the extraction of data and the subsequent analyses.  
Asterisks are used to indicate that part of a word is missing.  

reinforced concrete 
residential building* 
retro-fitted building* 
retro-fitted building* 
retrofitting building* 
road construction 
road material* 

roof tile* 
roofing 
self-compacting concrete 
slag cement 
sustainable building* 
urban fabric 
urban infrastructure* 
vacuum insulated panel* 
vacuum insulation panel* 
VIP insulation* 
VIP panel* 
wall panel* 
window glass* 
wood composite* 
zero energy building* 
zero-energy building* 

aggregate concrete 
architectural acoustic* 
asphalt* 
bitum* 
building acoustic* 
building construction 
building enclosure* 

building engineering 
building envelop* 
building envelope* 
building fabric 
building industry 
building insulation 
building material* 
building refurbishment 
building renovation 
building retrofit 
building sector 
building technology 
built infrastructure 
cement composite* 
cement concrete 
cement hydration 
cement mortar 
cement paste* 
cementitious composite* 
cementitious material* 
cementitious matrix 
ceramic tile* 
civil engineering 
civil infrastructure* 
clinker* 

commercial building* 
concrete composite 
construction engineering 
construction industry 
construction material* 
construction product* 
construction project* 
construction sector 
construction site 
construction technology 
curtain wall 
energy efficient building* 
energy-efficient building* 

existing building* 
facade* 
façade* 
geopolymer* 
glazing 
green building* 
gypsum 
heating, ventilation and air 
conditioning 
high performance concrete 
high strength concrete 
historical building* 
HVAC 
indoor climate 
indoor environment* 
indoor heating system* 
insulated glass 
insulating glass 
insulation panel* 
lightweight building* 
lightweight concrete 
limestone 
low carbon building* 
low energy building* 
low-carbon building*  
low-energy building* 
manufactured building* 
manufactured hous* 
masonry 
mineral admixture 
modular building* 
ordinary cement 
passive building* 

passive hous* 
pavement 
plywood 
existing building* 
Portland cement 
portlandite 
pozzol* 
pre-engineered building* 
prefabricated building* 
pre-fabricated building* 
prefabricated wall 
public construction 
refurbishment of building* 

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ANNEX 3: ABBREVIATIONS 

Abbreviation 

Definition 

BEUC 

CAGR  

CBRAM 
CBRNE 

CEN 

CMC 

CMOS 
CNT 

COD 

DFG 

d-MRI 

DRAM 
EC 

EEB 

EFSA 

EGE 

EoL 

EPA 

EPR  

ESD 
ETUC 

EU 

Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs 

Compound Annual Growth Rate 

Conductive Bridge Random Access Memory 
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive 

European Standardisation Committee 

Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls 

Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor 
Carbon Nanotubes 

Co-decision Procedure 

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging 

Dynamic Random-Access Memory 
European Commission 

European Environmental Bureau 

European Food Safety Authority 

European Group on Ethics Roundtables 

End of Life 

Environmental Protection Agency 

Enhanced Permeation and Retention 

Electrostatic Discharge 
European Trade Union Confederation 

European Union 

Eurofound 

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions 

FDSOI 
FET 
f-MRI 

FP7  

GMR 
GOI   
ICT 

IPC 

IPR 

ISO 

JRC 

MAPP 

MEMS 
MNBS 

MOSFET 
MR 

MRAM 
MRI 

Fully-depleted Silicon on Insulator 
Field Effect Transistor 
Functional Magnetic Resonance 

Seventh European Framework Programme 

Giant Magnetoresistance 
Germanium-on-insulator 
Information and Communication Technologies 

International Patent Classification 

Intellectual Property Rights 

International Organisation for Standardisation  

Joint Research Centre 

Manual of Policies and Procedures 

Micro-electromechanical System 
Micro- and Nano-Bio Systems 

Metal Oxide Semiconductor field-effect transistor 
Magnetic Resonance 

Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory 
Magnetic resonance imaging 

MRS (MRSI) 

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (imaging) 

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Abbreviation 

Definition 

MWCNT 

MX2 
NACE 

NEMS 
NGO 

NIR 

NIR-II 

NOC 
NOMS 
NP 

NST 

NT 

OFET* 
OLED 
OSHA 

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes 

Metal Dichalcogenides 
Nomenclature  Statistique  des  Activites  Economiques  dans  la  Communauté 
Européenne 
Nano-Electromechanical System 
Non-Governmental Organisation 

Near Infrared 

Near-Infrared-ii Imaging 

Network on Chip 
Nano-Optomechanical System 
Nanoparticles 

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 

Nanotechnology 

Organic Field Effect Transistor 
Organic Light-Emitting Diode 
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work 

OSH-professional 

Occupational Safety and Health Professional 

PATSTAT 

European Patent Office Worldwide Patent Statistical Database 

PMC 
ppm 

QD 

R&D 

REACH 

RRAM 
SME 

SNAP 

SOI   
SRAM 
STOA 

STT MRAM 
STT RAM 
SWCNT 

TMDC 
TT 

US 

US EPA 

US NIOSH 

USA 

Programmable Metallisation Cell 
Parts Per Million 

Quantum Dot 

Research and Development 

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals 

Resistive RAM 
Small or Medium Sized Enterprise 

Strategic Nanotechnology Action Plan 

Silicon-On-Insulator 
Static Random Access Memory 
Science and Technology Options Assessment 

Spin Transfer Torque Magneto-Resistive Random Access Memory 
Spin Transfer Torque Random Access Memory 
Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes 

Transition Metal Dichalcogenide  
Technology Transfer 

United States 

US Environmental Protection Agency 

US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

United States of America 

UV/Vis/IR  

Ultraviolet / Visible / Infra-red 

VC 

WEEE 

Venture Capital 

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment 

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ANNEX 4: TERMINOLOGY 

Word/phrase 

Definition/explanation 

Carbon Nanotubes 

Allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure. 

Dendrimers  

Nanostructured synthetic molecules having evenly spread branching 
structure originating out of a central core.  

Liposomes 

An artificially-prepared vesicle composed of a lipid bilayer 

Nanobiosensors 

Nano-biotechnology 

Nanocapsule 

Nanocarrier 

Biosensor at nano-scale: measurement system for detection of an analyte 
that combines a biological component with a physiochemical detector 

Intersection of nanotechnology and biology, the ways that nanotechnology 
is used to create devices to study biological systems, this is different from 
bionanotechnology 

Nano-scale shells made of non-toxic polymer 

Nano-object  or objects, which are at a larger scale but which carry 
nanoscale  payloads able to transport a diagnostic or therapeutic agent 
either on its surface, within its bulk structure or within an internal cavity 

Nano-coatings 

Applying a coating of nano-scale structures to a surface.  

Nanocrystal 

Nano-object with a crystalline structure 

Nanodiagnostics 

Application of nanotechnology in molecular diagnostics 

Nanoemulsion 

Nanodispersion with a liquid matrix and at least one or more liquid nano-
objects 

Nano-enabled 

Products, systems, devices integrating, using, enabled by nanotechnology 

Nano-fibres 

Nano-indentation 

Nanomaterials 

Nanomedicine 

Nanometres 

Nano-needles 

Nanoparticle 

Nanopolymers 

Nanoproducts 

Nanorod 

Nano-scale 

Nanoscience 

Nano-object with two external dimensions in the nanoscale and the third 
dimension significantly larger 

Variety of indentation hardness tests applied to small volumes. For testing 
the mechanical properties of materials (hardness). 

Materials the single units of which is sized (in at least one dimension) 
between 1 and 1000 nanometres (10^−9 meter) but is usually 1—100 nm 
(the usual definition of nano-scale). 

Medical application of nanotechnology 

One billionth of a metre 

Conical or tubular needles in the nanometre size range, made from silicon 
or boron-nitride with a central bore of sufficient size to allow the passage 
of large molecules 

Small object that behaves as a whole unit with respect to its transport and 
properties, between 1 and 100 nanometres in size.  

Nanostructured polymers 

Any product containing nanoparticles 

One morphology of nano-scale objects, produced by direct chemical 
synthesis. 

Refers to structures with a length scale applicable to nanotechnology, 
usually cited as 1–100 nanometres, also called nanoscopic scale 

The study of the fundamental and functional properties of matter on the 
nano-scale  

Nanosensor 

(proteomic, gold) 

Any biological, chemical, or surgical sensory points used to convey 
information about nanoparticles to the macroscopic world 

Nanoshells (plasmon) 

This is also called nanoshell plasmon, is a type of spherical nanoparticle 
consisting of a dielectric core, which is covered by a thin metallic shell 
(usually gold). 

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Word/phrase 

Definition/explanation 

Nano-specific 

Refers to a system or response that is sensitive to nanomaterials 

Nanostructures 

Nanosuspensions 

An object of intermediate size between microscopic and molecular 
structures 

Submicron colloidal dispersions of nanosized drug particles stabilised by 
surfactants. Nanosuspensions consist of the poorly water-soluble drug 
without any matrix material suspended in dispersion 

Nanotechnologies / 
Nanotechnology 

Manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 
nanometres 

Nanotechnology-Based 

Suit of technologies using nanomaterials, structures and objects 

Platforms 

Nanotube 

Quantum Dots 

Hollow nano-fibre 

A nanocrystal made of semiconductor materials that are small enough to 
exhibit quantum mechanical properties 

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ANNEX 5: ADDITONAL INFORMATION ON MEMBER STATE POLICIES 

AND PROGRAMMES 

In addition to actions at the level of the whole of the European Union, many countries have developed 
strategies and action plans and funded programmes and projects. Some of these are identified and 
outlined below, by country.  

The aim in this section is to give a flavour for the policies and programmes that are or have been in 
place  for  nanotechnology  at  Member  State  level,  in  the  wider  context  of  national  strategies  for 
science,  technology,  research  and  development.  As  it  focusses  on  targeted  initiatives  for 
nanotechnology, not all EU28 countries are included.  

This  section  has  been  prepared  from  existing  data  sources  (e.g.  Member  State  government  and 
agency  reports  and  web  sites,  European  Commission  sources  (such  as  ERAWATCH/RIO527), 
evaluation reports). While efforts have been made to use the most up-to-date sources, it cannot be 
guaranteed that all information is current.  

AUSTRIA 

In Austria, the two main ministries involved in the funding of research and development (R&D) are 
the  Federal  Ministry  of  Science  and  Research  (BMWF)528  and  the  Federal  Ministry  for  Transport, 
Innovation  and  Technology  (BMVIT)529.  The  largest  share  of  direct  support  for  R&D  is  channelled 
through  three  funding  agencies:  The  Austrian  Science  Fund  (FWF)530  that  focuses  on  funding 
academic research; the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)531 specialising in funding applied 
industrial research and the co-operation between the higher educational sector and industry; and 
the Austria Economic Service (AWS)532 that is mainly active in support programmes for SMEs. 

In 2004, the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology launched the “Austrian NANO 
Initiative”  and  in  2010,  the  “Austrian  Nanotechnology  Action  Plan”533  was  adopted  by  the 
Federal  Government.  The  NANO  initiative  was  a  response  to  regional  activities  in  the  Austrian 
Bundesländer (such as NanoNet Styria [for more information, see later in this Annex]) that sought 
to  identify  existing  competences  and  to  formulate  potential  themes  for  large-scale  co-operative 
projects.  

An  important  motivation  in  the  establishment  of  such  a  national  research  programme  was  the 
expectation  that  its  creation  would  strengthen  the  national  research  community  in  specific  fields 
thereby better linking them to international communities. At that time, most Austrian peer countries 
(Germany, Switzerland, UK, and Finland), as well as the European Framework Programmes, were 
using the label nanotechnology for framing focused research programmes. 

The NANO initiative aimed to address the following issues: What would be the best way for Austria 
to  harness  the  opportunities  in  nanotechnology  (for  instance,  in  environmental  and  energy 
technology and new resource-saving products or for small- or medium-sized enterprises)? How could 
Austria contribute to ensuring the safety for its citizens of nanotechnology applications? 

NANO had the following objectives: to increase networking among actors to achieve critical mass; 
to open up ways to exploit the benefits of nanotechnology for industry and society; and to ensure 
proper  support  for  qualified  personnel.  To  achieve  these  objectives  it  had  two  programme  action 
lines:  

1.  National co-operative RTD Projects (Research and Technology Development in Project 

Clusters (RPCs) and  

2.  Transnational co-operative RTD Projects (Research and Technology Development in 

Transnational Projects).  

527 https://rio.jrc.ec.europa.eu/  
528 http://www.en.bmwfw.gv.at/  
529 https://www.bmvit.gv.at/en/  
530 https://www.fwf.ac.at/en/  
531 https://www.ffg.at/en  
532 http://www.awsg.at/  
533 https://www.bmlfuw.gv.at/dam/jcr:00058164-0320-4544-b6a4-

320325dcfd86/Austrian%20Nanotechnology%20Action%20Plan.pdf 

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A  key  aspect  of  the  Nanotechnology  Action  Plan  to  implement  the  NANO  initiative  was  to 
strengthen  communication  and  the  dissemination  of  information  to  specific  target  groups, 
particularly  the  interested  public.  Information  on  the  fundamentals,  opportunities  and  risks  of 
nanotechnology  was  provided  to  the  public  through  an  information  portal  for  nanotechnology.  A 
primary  objective  was  to  engage  the  public  in  the  process  of  drawing  up  and  implementing  a 
Nanotechnology  Action  Plan534,  which  underwent  public  consultation  via  the  Internet  in  Autumn 
2009, as did the Implementation Report in November 2012. The feedback received was published 
online  and  taken  into  account  in  the  follow  up  to  the  Action  Plan  and  Implementation  Plan 
respectively. 

One of the central measures of the Austrian Nanotechnology Action Plan was the establishment of a 
programme for the environment, health and safety  (EHS). NANO  EHS was established to provide 
targeted funding for environment- and health-related research into assessing the risks of synthetic 
nanomaterials. 

NANO was implemented from 2004 to 2011 by the Austrian Research  Promotion Agency (FFG)535 
and, in total, nine large-scale co-operative projects were funded across a wide array of sectors such 
as photonics, nanomedicine, and nanomaterials. Since 2012, support for nanotechnology R&D has 
been provided through the thematic programmes of FFG. 

In addition to the above governmental actions, an Austrian network was created, BioNanoNet536, 
combining a wide range of expertise in numerous disciplines of medical and pharmaceutical research 
in nanomedicine and nanotoxicology. The BioNanoNet Association is also the owner of BioNanoNet 
Forschungs  GmbH.  Working  across  both  biotechnology  and  nanotechnology,  and  visible  at 
international levels, BioNanoNet addresses the scientific areas of: 

•  Nanotoxicology, 
•  Sensor technology 
•  Health and safety, including (nano-) medicine and nanosafety. 

The  BioNanoNet  coordinates  EURO-NanoTOX537,  which  is  an  open  virtual  centre  and  national 
platform. EURO-NanoTOX is co-funded by the Federal Ministry of Science and Research (BMWF). It 
elaborates  strategies  to  conduct  standardised  toxicological  in-vitro  as  well  as  in-vivo  methods  on 
nanostructured materials. Its main focus is on human nanotoxicology and human risk assessment. 

Regional Nanotechnology initiatives: 

Wirtschaftsstrategie  Steiermark  2020  (2011)538:  Styria's  Economic  Strategy  2020  is  a 
successor to the State Government's previous economic strategy 2006. The 2006 strategy identified 
so-called  economic  and  technological  strong-points  (“Stärkefelder”)  of  the  region,  on  which 
innovation policy activities were focused: material sciences; mechanical engineering/automotive and 
transport  technologies;  chemical  and  process  engineering;  human  technology;  information  and 
communication  technologies;  environmental  technologies;  energy;  building  services  engineering 
(including timber construction); nanotechnology; computer simulation and mathematical modelling. 
The 2011 strategy bundles activities in these fields under three major leading themes: i) mobility, 
ii) eco-technology, and iii) health technology. The central aim is to focus on future activities and to 
establish Styria as a “European benchmark for the structural change towards a knowledge based 
production-society”. 

BELGIUM 

Since its two regions play a central role in Belgian policy making, the main nanotechnology activity 
in  the  country  is  carried  by  the  regional  government  of  Flanders,  with  a  number  of  institutions 
working in the area of nanotechnology.  

Strategische onderzoekscentra539 (SOC's) is a strategy of the Region of Flanders which gives 
institutional  funding  to  four  Strategic  Research  Centres  that  collaborate  with  the  academic  and 

534http://www.sozialministerium.at/cms/site/attachments/6/1/7/CH2120/CMS1371046721712/umsetzungsb

ericht_2012_en.pdf  

535 https://www.ffg.at/en  
536 http://www.bionanonet.at/about-bionanonet  
537 http://www.bionanonet.at/about-nanotoxicology?lang=english  
538 http://www.wirtschaft.steiermark.at/cms/beitrag/10430090/12858597  
539 http://www.ewi-vlaanderen.be/wat-doet-ewi/excellerend-onderzoek/strategische-onderzoekscentra  

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business worlds. Each of the institutes have their own specific focus. 

• 

Imec540 is a leading European independent research centre in micro- and nanoelectronics, 
nanotechnology, design methods and technologies for ICT systems. It carries out research that 
runs three to ten years ahead of industrial needs. The world’s top integrated device 
manufacturers, equipment and material suppliers, system houses and electronic design 
automation (EDA) vendors participate in the research conducted there. Work at Imec has a 
strong connection to nanotechnology given its use in electronics and as the next generation 
technology for electronics and ICT. 

•  VIB541, the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, is an autonomous entrepreneurial research 

institute that conducts strategic basic research in life sciences, including molecular biology, cell 
biology, developmental biology, structural biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, 
genomics and proteomics. It is considered to be a leading European centre. Much of its work is 
at the nanoscale.    

•  VITO542, the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, is an independent contract research 
and consulting centre. It converts the latest scientific knowledge and innovative technologies 
into practical applications, both for public authorities and industry. The research centre 
operates in the fields of energy, environmental and material technology, in industrial product 
and process technologies and in remote sensing, with nanotechnology applications. 
iMinds543 is an independent research institute that stimulates innovation in information & 
communication technology (ICT) and broadband. This research is interdisciplinary and 
demand-driven, and takes place in close collaboration with businesses and governments, both 
local and international. Its aim is to provide solutions to complex problems and thus help meet 
society’s future challenges. 

• 

In 2003, the Regional Government of Wallonia launched a nanotechnology programmein order to 
support research projects in that field which led to the creation of NanoWal544, a structure to favour 
interactions between actors in nanotechnology field. Nanowal became a non-profit organisation in 
2009.  

THE CZECH REPUBLIC 

In  2005,  the  Academy  of  Sciences  of  the  Czech  Republic  approved  the  programme 
“Nanotechnology for the Society” with the objective of achieving progress in the development of 
research and utilisation of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials within Czech society545. It included 
four  different  sub-programmes  in  the  areas  of:  nano-particles,  nano-fibres  and  nano-composite 
materials;  nano-biology  and  nano-medicine;  nano-macro  interface;  and  new  phenomena  and 
materials for nano-electronics, with specific priorities in all of them. The programme was planned to 
end in 2012. 

Other  general  programmes  with  a  less  specific  mention  to  nanotechnology  came  from  the  Grant 
Agency  of  the  Czech  Republic,  the  Ministry  of  Education,  Youth  and  Sports  and  the  Ministry  of 
Industry and Trade. 

In the National  Research,  Development  and Innovation  Policy  document of the Czech  Republic in 
2009-2015546, nanotechnology is addressed under the Materials Research priority, where it is set 
as an area to be supported by national budget in order to increase the global competitiveness of the 
Czech economy through products with high added-value. 

DENMARK 

In Denmark, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science547 has the main responsibility for research 
and innovation policy.  

    540 http://www2.imec.be/be_en/home.html  
541 http://www.vib.be/en/Pages/default.aspx  
542 https://vito.be/en  
543 https://www.iminds.be/en  
544 www.nano.be/  
545 http://www.csnmt.cz/getfile.php?type=file&IDfile=24  
546 http://www.vyzkum.cz/FrontClanek.aspx?idsekce=1020 
547 http://ufm.dk/en  

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In the period from 2001 to 2004, steering groups set up by the Danish government carried out a 
Technology Foresight pilot programme. The aim of the programme was to carry out eight foresight 
studies  in  the  three-year  period,  and  to  identify  issues  of  strategic  importance  for  science, 
technology, education, regulation and innovation policy in these areas. The foresight studies included 
bio- and health care technologies, and ICT (pervasive computing, future green technologies, hygiene 
and nanotechnology, especially nanomedicine548). The last phase of the foresight programme was 
closely linked to the establishment of the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation549 for 
the  development  of  generic  technologies  of  future  importance  such  as  ICT,  biotechnology  and 
nanotechnology. 

The Action Plan “Strategy for Public-Private Partnership on Innovation”, launched in 2003, focused 
on how to improve co-operation between education, research and trade/ business. The goal was for 
more  enterprises,  especially  SMEs,  to  have  faster  and  easier  access  to  knowledge.  In  2004,  the 
Ministry  of  Science,  Technology  and  innovation  issued  the  Technology  Foresight  on  Danish 
Nanoscience  and  Nanotechnology  –  Action  Plan550  as  a  basis  for  Danish  policy  on  research, 
education  and  innovation  in  the  area.  The  vision  was  to  raise  awareness  of  and  promote  the 
utilisation of nanotechnology in Denmark. 

In  2003,  on  foot  of  the  above  developments,  the  Ministry  of  Science,  Technology  and  innovation 
published  a  call  for  the  establishment  of  high-tech  public-private  networks  in  bio,  nano  and 
information  technology.  The  goal  was  to  create  stable  collaboration  patterns  between  companies 
and  knowledge  institutions  to  increase  knowledge  transfer  to,  and  use  in,  private  industry.  The 
funding  was  to  be  used  to  finance  networking.  In  the  first  round  (in  2004)  the  Ministry  provided 
seven  networks  with  a  budget  of  EUR  3.7  million  (around  EUR  0.5  million  each).  Amongst  the 
networks was NaNet which, (together with Nano Øresund) became one of the two most important 
Danish  nanotechnology  networks.  NaNet's  mission  was  to  create  platforms  for  the  exchange  of 
information on nanotechnology, and to facilitate its utilisation on all levels of society, from research 
and education to industrial application and development.  

Between  2005  and  2010,  EUR  116  million  was  allocated  to  strategic  research  centres,  research 
alliances and research projects, EUR 62 million being for nanotechnology, biotechnology and ICT. 
Among the strategic research centres funded under the programme is a Centre for Nano-vaccines551. 

Since  2009,  the  Danish  National  Advanced  Technology  Foundation  has  channelled  funding  for 
projects in high-tech sectors, such as nanotechnology, biotechnology and ICT. 

Support for nanotechnology research has been managed through a number of sources. The Danish 
Council for Strategic Research, part of the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation is 
one of these, although the council itself did not authorise funds for research, dependent instead on 
the  Programme  Commission,  which  covers  Nanoscience,  Biotechnology  and  IT  (NABIIT).  The 
Strategic  Research  Programme  for  the  Interdisciplinary  Applications  of  NABIIT  technologies 
supported the establishment of networks and research initiatives. Research support also came from 
the  Danish  National  Research  Foundation,  the  Danish  Ministry  of  the  Interior  and  Health’s  inter-
ministerial working group on Nanotechnology and Human Health, and the Danish National Advanced 
Technology  Foundation.  Latterly,  also  under  the  Danish  Council  for  Strategic  Research,  the 
Programme Commission on Strategic Growth Technologies has had annual calls of total annual value 
approximately  EUR  10  million  for  research  projects  on  nanotechnology,  biotechnology  and 
information-  and  communication  technology.  In  2013,  The  Danish  government  and  five  political 
parties decided to revise the research and innovation system, agreeing to merge the Danish National 
Advanced Technology Foundation, the Danish Council for Strategic Research and the Danish Council 
for  Technology  and  Innovation  into  a  new  innovation  foundation.  Thus,  the  new  organisation 
Innovation Fund Denmark552 (IFD), has been the responsible body since 2014.  

548 Danish Nano-science and Nano-technology for 2025,  Foresight Brief No. 032 
549 http://www.tekno.dk/about-dbt-foundation/?lang=en  
550 http://ufm.dk/en/publications/2004/technology-foresight-on-danish-nanoscience-and-nanotechnology  
551 http://www.nano-vaccine.org/  
552 http://innovationsfonden.dk/en; In 2015, IFD had an annual budget of DKK 1.6 billion, but their budget is 
expected to decrease to DKK 1.47 billion in 2016. The total budget for innovation funds areas was over DKK 2 
billion in 2010, so a significant loss of funding took place during the last 5 years. 
http://innovationsfonden.dk/da/nyhed/innovationsfonden-investerer-ogsaa-i-forskernes-gode-ideer 

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FINLAND 

The main focus areas of public research and development (R&D) funding in Finland are energy and 
the environment, health and well-being, the information and communications industry, the  forest 
cluster, and metal products and mechanical engineering. Nanotechnology is treated as a technology 
to be applied across all these focus areas. Finland spends approximately 3.5 % of its gross national 
product  on  (R&D).  Exploitation  of  research  results  being  seen  as  even  more  important  than  the 
amount  of  investment,  the  Finnish  innovation  environment  seeks  to  promote  the  exploitation  of 
scientific and technological results in Finnish companies.  

The main research policy decisions are drawn  up in the Science and  Technology Policy Council of 
Finland chaired by the Prime Minister. The principle instruments in the implementation of the policy 
are the funding organisations working under the ministries. Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for 
Technology and Innovation operates under the remit of the Ministry of Trade and Industry while the 
Academy  of  Finland  is  governed  by  the  Ministry  of  Education.  Nearly  80%  of  all  public  research 
funding is channelled through these two organisations.  

The first Finnish nanotechnology programme was financed jointly by Tekes and the Academy 
of  Finland  in  1997–1999553.  Its  objective  was  to  build  know-how,  multi-disciplinary  infrastructure 
and  linkages  between  fundamental  and  applied  research.  The  programme  also  established  a  new 
form of co-operation using joint funding between Tekes and the Academy of Finland. The total value 
of the programme was EUR 7 million (Tekes EUR 4m, the Academy of Finland EUR 3 m). 

FinNano, the Finnish nanoscience and nanotechnology programme, was established in 2005. The 
programme was co-ordinated jointly by Tekes and the Academy of Finland and covered the whole 
innovation  chain  from  basic  research  to  commercial  products.  The  aim  of  the  programme  was  to 
strengthen  Finnish  nanotechnology  research  in  selected  focus  areas  and  to  accelerate  the 
commercial  development  of  nanotechnology  in  Finland.  The  key  objective  was  to  boost 
internationally recognised high-level research and competitive business based on nanotechnology.  

In addition to FinNano, the Ministry of Education provided funding to develop nanoscience education 
and infrastructure in Finnish universities and the Nanotechnology Cluster Programme was initiated 
in 2007 with the Centre of Expertise Programme. In total, Finnish public funding for nanotechnology 
during 2005–2010 was approximately EUR 235m.  

In practice, the FinNano programme was executed in two parts: Tekes’ FinNano – Nanotechnology 
Programme (2005–2009) and the Academy of Finland’s FinNano – Nanoscience Programme (2006–
2010). The Programme had a total value of approximately EUR 70m, including EUR 25m in research 
funding and EUR 20m in corporate financing from Tekes. The original programme plan defined three 
main focus areas: 

1)  Innovative nanostructure materials; 
2)  Nanosensors and nanoactuators; and 
3)  New nanoelectronics solutions. 

In 2007, the aims of the programme were redefined as being for: 

•  Society: Renewal of industry clusters and production, environment and safety; 
•  Applications: Electronics, forest cluster, chemical sector, health and well-being; and 
• 

Technologies: Nanostructured and functional materials, coatings and devices; Measurement 
methods, production and scalability. 

According  to  a  programme’s  interim  evaluation  in  2008,  the  main  successes  of  FinNano  were  to 
activate companies in research and product development, to map all the existing nanotechnology 
infrastructure and to create cross-cutting networks of nanotechnology professionals.  

In  2011,  the  final  report  on  FinNano  was  published,  showing  the  results  of  the  Programme554. 
According  to  that  report  and  an  independent  evaluation  by  Gaia  Consulting  Ltd.,  all  the  Finnish 
nanotechnology programmes succeeded and fulfilled their objectives, which ranged from capturing 
knowledge in nanoscience and technology to boosting Finnish nano research and business. The next 
steps  in  the  development  of  nanotechnology  for  industry  in  Finland  were  recommended  to  be 

553 http://www.tekes.fi/globalassets/julkaisut/research_and_technology.pdf  
554 http://www.tekes.fi/globalassets/julkaisut/finnano_loppuraportti.pdf  

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achieved by other means. These included measures to enhance technology transfer, encouragement 
of  entrepreneurship,  and  seed  funding  and  basic  research  funding  based  on  problems  and  not  in 
disciplines. 

In more recent years, Finland has therefore stopped identifying nanotechnology as a separate area 
for  funding,  opting  to  fund  it  under  general  R&D  funding  programmes  and  actions  to  enhance 
technology transfer and commercialisation by industry in Finland.  

FRANCE 

In 1999, the “French Research Network in Micro and Nano Technologies” (RMNT) was created 
for the purpose of strengthening and reorganising micro- and nano research and aligning it with the 
private sector. 

In 2003, a network of major technology centres was created, linking together the facilities at 
the following organisations: 

•  CEA-LETI555 in Grenoble (centred in Minatec); 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The Laboratoire d’Analyses et d’Architectures des Systemes556 (LAAS) in Toulouse ; 
The Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures557 (LPN) in Marcoussis ; 
The Institut d’Électronique Fondamentale558 (IEF) Orsay, in Minerve; and 
The L'Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie 559 (IEMN) in Lille. 

The creation of this network was supported by a total subsidy of EUR 100 million for the period 2003 
to 2006.  

Launched in 2003 to fund fundamental research, France’s national Nanosciences Programme was 
co-ordinated by the Ministry of Research in co-operation with the CNRS (National Scientific Research 
Centre),  the  CEA  (French  Atomic  Energy  Commission)  and  the  DGA  (General  Delegation  for 
Weaponry).  

In 2005, the French National Research Agency (ANR) was established to assume responsibility for 
the funding and organisation of all national R&D projects, in order to improve co-ordination. Today, 
national  nano  research  is  funded  within  the  national  programme  for  nanosciences  and 
nanotechnologies (PNANO560) under the ANR. The budget of the ANR for 2005 was EUR 539m, EUR 
35.3m of which  was dedicated to PNANO. The  ANR  has funded research projects in nanosciences 
and nanotechnologies mostly through the following research programmes: 

•  Non-thematic programmes (called “programmes blancs”) 
•  Nanotechnologies and Nanosystems programmes P2N. 
•  Additional programmes, which are more specific to a given topic, such as those on hydrogen 

storage and fuel cells or on home photovoltaics. 

A EUR 35 billion economic stimulus package Investissements d’Avenir561 (Investments for the 
Future) was launched at the end of 2009. Within that context and since 2011, nano-bio-technology 
has been one of the priority areas for funding under the ANR, with a particular focus on health and 
environmental research. The package aims to support scientific research, accelerate its transfer to 
a pilot stage and to consolidate knowledge about toxicology and nanomaterials, the programme is 
funding  therapies,  imaging,  diagnostics  and  medical  devices  base  on  nanotechnology  and 
biotechnology.  

GERMANY 

As far back as 1998, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) increased collaborative 
project funding for nanotechnology. In addition, an infrastructure plan was put in place in the form 

555 http://www-leti.cea.fr/en/  
556 https://www.laas.fr/public/  
557 http://www.lpn.cnrs.fr/fr/Commun/  
558 http://www.ief.u-psud.fr/  
559 http://exploit.iemn.univ-lille1.fr/  
560 http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/suivi-bilan/historique-des-appels-a-projets/appel-

detail1/programme-national-en-nanosciences-et-nanotechnologies-pnano-2005/  

561 http://www.gouvernement.fr/investissements-d-avenir-cgi  

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of the establishment of six competence centre networks. The measures were implemented two years 
before  the  USA  began  its  national  nanotechnology  initiative  and  four  years  before  the  European 
Union’s comparable measures under the Sixth Framework Programme. 

In  2004,  the  German  Innovation  Initiative  for  Nanotechnology  -  “Nanotechnology  Conquers 
Markets562” was launched and presented to the public. On the basis of the White Paper presented 
at the nanoDe congress in 2002 and intensive discussions with representatives from business and 
science,  the  BMBF’s  new  approach  to  nanotechnology  funding  was  based  on  Germany’s  highly-
developed and globally competitive basic research in sciences and technology and primarily aimed 
to  open  up  the  application  potential  of  nanotechnology  through  research  collaborations  (leading-
edge innovations) that strategically target the value-added chain. The main elements of the strategy 
were to open up potential markets and boost employment prospects in the field of nanotechnology. 
Five leading-edge innovation programmes were funded initially: 

•  NanoMobil, for the automotive sector;  
•  NanoLux, for the optics industry; 
•  NanoforLife, for pharmaceuticals and medical technology; 
•  NanoFab, for electronics; and 
•  NanoChance, a BMBF funding measure for targeted support of R&D -intensive small and 

medium-sized enterprises. 

Existing policy actions were re-organised under the umbrella of the High-Tech Strategy563 in 2006. 
This was done through the Nano Initiative—Action Plan 2010564, a cross-departmental initiative 
by seven departments of the Federal Government that started in 2007 and was headed by the BMBF. 
Tying  in  with  BMBF's  2004  Innovation  Initiative  for  Nanotechnology,  the  action  plan  aimed  to 
integrate nanotechnology funding in the various policy fields into a national nanotechnology strategy. 
The  Action  Plan's  main  goals  were  (1)  to  speed  up  the  use  of  the  results  of  nanotechnological 
research for innovations; (2) to introduce nanotechnology to more sectors and companies; (3) to 
eliminate obstacles to innovation by means of early consultation in all policy areas; and (4) to enable 
an intensive dialogue with the public. The focus was on the opportunities offered by nanotechnology, 
but possible risks were also taken into account. The total funding for the years 2007 to 2009 was 
EUR 640 million. 

In  2011,  the  German  Ministry  for  Education  and  Research  (BMBF)  published  the  Action  Plan 
Nanotechnology  2015565,  outlining  the  strategy  for  responsible  development,  innovation  and 
public dialogue for the period 2010-2015. The plan included proposals for developing nanotechnology 
in  five  main  areas  (climate/energy,  health/food  and  agriculture,  mobility,  communication  and 
security). In parallel, a new funding instrument was launched - Innovation Alliances - to provide 
funding for strategic co-operation between industry and public research in key technology areas that 
demand a large amount of resources and a long time horizon, but promise considerable innovation 
and economic impacts. Public funds and funding from the industry is combined in a typical proportion 
of 1:5 (public: private). Innovation was supported with special emphasis on SMEs and development 
of value chains. Risk assessment was incorporated as well as an improvement of boundary conditions 
such  as  educating  the  workforce,  and  addressing  issues  of  legislation,  norms  and  standards.  The 
public dialogue on nanotechnology was intensified, including information and dialogue with citizens 
as well as stakeholders and NGOs. 

Innovation alliances were launched as a successor to the leading edge innovation programmes. They 
were planned as an instrument of public support to ground-breaking industrial innovation, providing 
support  funding  for  strategic  co-operation  between  industry  and  public  research  in  high-potential 
technology areas that require high levels of funding and long lead times. Through a public-private 
partnership,  the  Federal  Government  provided  funding  for  R&D  and  other  innovation-related 
activities  for  specific,  long-term  co-operative  R&D  projects.  R&D  activities  could  range  from 
fundamental research to prototype development. Public funds were complemented by private money 
from industry, typically at a proportion of 1:5 (public: private). Each innovation alliance was set up 
through an industry initiative, organised as a long-term co-operative research project and involving 

562 http://d-nb.info/97392179x/34  
563 http://www.research-in-germany.org/en/research-landscape/r-and-d-policy-framework/high-tech-

strategy.html  

564 http://www.cleaner-production.de/fileadmin/assets/pdfs/Nano_initiative_action_plan_2010.pdf  
565 http://www.lai.fu-berlin.de/homepages/nitsch/publikationen/Germany_ActionPlanNanotechnology_2015.pdf    

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several industry partners as well as public research organisations. 

An  Innovation  Alliance  that  followed  this  policy  approach  was  on  “Molecular  Imaging  for  Medical 
Engineering”  (nanotechnology)  and  was  formed  by  Bayer  Schering  Pharma  AG,  Boehringer 
Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Carl Zeiss AG, Karl Storz & GmbH Co. KG and Siemens AG. The 
alliance’s  goal  was  creating  new  diagnostic  agents  and  imaging  procedures  for  clinics  and  the 
development of pharmaceuticals.  

In addition to policies and programmes to support R&D and commercialisation, Germany took action 
to  address  concerns  about  the  environmental  and  safety  costs  of  the  nanotechnology.  These  are 
particularly  important  to  look  at  when  trying  to  develop  and  label  commercial  nanotechnology 
products for the market. In response to these issues, governments have increasingly included the 
concept  of  responsible  development  in  their  nanotechnology  activities.  Responsible  development 
aims to stimulate the growth of nanotechnology applications in diverse sectors of the economy, while 
addressing  the potential  risks  and  the  ethical  and  societal  challenges  the  technology  might  raise. 
Germany  has  dedicated  policies  for  the  responsible  development  of  nanotechnology.  The  report 
“Responsible  Handling  of  Nanotechnologies”  (“Verantwortlicher  Umgang  mit  Nanotechnologien”) 
launched by the Nano-Commission of the German Federal Government in December 2010 showed 
that the nanotechnology sector is continuing to develop dynamically.  

Regional initiatives in Germany that make specific mention of nanotechnology include: 

• 

Innovation Strategy of Nordrhein-Westfalen (2006): This strategy was a government 
statement dated 26 June 2006. It presented a short analysis of the importance of innovations 
for North Rhine-Westphalia, and in the following elaborated the overall strategy and the 
measures employed and purposes targeted. The government strategy aimed to generate new 
potential for growth by reinforcing strengths, sharpening profiles, promoting excellence and 
pooling forces. Thus, the funding of research and technology was focused on four priority areas 
with high potential both related to innovation, employment and growth: (i) nanotechnology, 
microtechnology and new materials; (ii) biotechnology; (iii) energy- and environmental 
research; and (iv) medical research, medical engineering.      

•  Cluster Offensive Bayern (2007)566: The Bavarian cluster policy was initialised in 2007 and 
focused on 19 branches/technologies with high importance for the future of Bavaria. These 
were organised into five fields: 
-  materials engineering (including nanotechnologies, materials engineering, chemical 

industries); 

-  mobility (including automotive, rail, logistics, aerospace and satellite navigation); 
- 

life sciences and environment (including biotechnology, medical technologies, energy 
technologies, environmental technologies, forestry and food); 
IT and electronics (ICT, high-performance electronics, mechatronics and automation); and 
service and media (financial services, media). 

- 
- 

After a positive evaluation in 2010, the State Government announced some changes in the future 
organisation of the overall initiative: A major change is that the (nonetheless successful) clusters 
high-performance  electronics,  logistics,  biotechnology  and  medical  technologies  would  be 
restructured  into  networks,  while  future  funding  would  be  focused  on  the  other  clusters,  where 
funding so far was most successful in generating additionality. 

•  Research Strategy of Thuringia (2008): Main objectives of Thuringia's research policy were to 
strengthen regional universities and non-university research institutes and regional companies 
in their research and development efforts in order to achieve scientific excellence, to initiate 
knowledge and technology transfer as well as innovation. The document described outstanding 
research areas of the state and measures to strengthen and relate the regional research 
landscape to target fields in the regional economy: micro and nano technologies, 
microelectronics; information and communication technologies; media and communication; 
health research and medical technology; microbiology and biotechnology; optical technologies, 
photonics; materials and production technologies; environmental and energy technologies, 
infrastructure; and cultural and social change. Main fields of activity of regional research policy 
were (i) to support competitiveness, (ii) to strengthen networks, (iii) to support young 
researchers, and (iv) to invest in infrastructure. 

566 https://www.cluster-bayern.de/en/  

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IRELAND 

Following the establishment of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) in 2000, public funding was made 
available  to  support  many  public  research  initiatives  including  the  Centre  for  Research  on 
Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN)567. Since its foundation in 2003, CRANN 
has become a research institute of international standing with 17 Principal Investigators (PIs) across 
multiple  disciplines  including  physics,  chemistry,  medicine,  engineering  and  pharmacology,  and  a 
total of 250 researchers. CRANN was funded predominately by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), in 
partnership with two universities (Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork) and industry, 
and was formed to harness the cross-disciplinary nanoscience research of individual PIs to deliver 
world leading research outputs and to enable CRANN researchers to address key industry challenges. 

In  addition, in December 2009, the  Competence  Centre  in  Applied  Nanotechnology  (CCAN) 
was launched. It was an industry-led, collaborative, applied research  centre  enabling  its member 
companies and research providers to work together to develop nanotechnology enabled products 
and solutions for the ICT and biomedical industries (i.e. diagnostics, drug delivery, and regenerative 
medicine).  It  was  co-hosted  by  CRANN  and  Tyndall  National  Institute  at  University  College  Cork. 
With a growing membership, the founding industry members were Aerogen, Analog Devices, Audit 
Diagnostics, Creganna-Tactx, Intel, Medtronic, Proxy Biomedical and Seagate. CCAN ran until mid-
2015. 

Ireland  has  developed  its  reputation  in  nanoscience  with  its  researchers  recently  ranked  sixth 
globally for the quality of their research. Active collaborations between industry and academia exists 
and are beginning to deliver significant economic benefits to Ireland. Three of the largest industries 
in  Ireland  are  directly  impacted  by  nanoscience  research  in  perhaps  –  medical  devices, 
pharmaceuticals and ICT. 

The industry ministry, the Department for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (formerly the Department 
of  Enterprise,  Trade  and  Employment)  plays  a  pivotal  role  in  industrial  innovation  policy  with  its 
agencies, Enterprise Ireland (EI) (responsible for supporting Irish companies); Science Foundation 
Ireland (SFI) (funding basic and applied research); and IDA Ireland (in charge of overseas inward 
investments). 

Apart from the establishment of research infrastructures, policy priorities were also being addressed 
in  the  Irish  national  innovation  system.  In  2004,  the  Irish  Council  for  Science,  Technology  and 
Innovation,  with  its  Secretariat  provided  by  Forfás,  launched  its  ICSTI  Statement  on 
Nanotechnology.  The  Statement  assessed  Ireland's  capabilities  in  the  field  of  nanotechnology, 
mapped out specific areas of opportunity for the Irish economy and presented a sustainable vision 
and strategy for the promotion, development and commercialisation of nanotechnology in Ireland. 
Among  the  key  application  areas  that  were  identified  were  also  pharmaceutical  and  medical 
technologies.  

In  2010,  Forfás568  itself  launched  a  report  on  'Ireland's  Nanotechnology  Commercialisation 
Framework  2010  –  2014’.  The  report  presented  a  national  framework  to  position  Ireland  as  a 
knowledge  and  innovation  centre  for  certain  niche  areas  of  nanotechnology.  It  highlighted  that 
Ireland’s nanotechnology players should focus on three main technology areas (advanced materials, 
“More than Moore” and nanobiotechnology) and four application areas (next generation electronics, 
medical devices & diagnostics, environmental applications, and industrial process improvements). 

The BioNano Laboratory in CRANN (mentioned above) is dedicated to interdisciplinary research at 
the  interface  between  the  physical  and  life  sciences  including  nanotechnology  and  diagnostics, 
nanotoxicology  and  nanomedicine.  The  group  investigates  molecular,  cellular  and  physiological 
interactions using novel biophysical tools such as cell actuators, and magnetic and ultrasound fields. 
Members of the BioNano Laboratory are also members of the Integrated Nanoscience Platform 
for Ireland (INSPIRE)569, a consortium of all Irish third level institutions with international leading 
research  capability  in  nanoscience  and  nanotechnology.  Furthermore,  CRANN  is  also  part  of  the 
Molecular Medicine Institute which is a not for profit company established by an extended network 
of  Irish  Universities  and  their  associated  academic  hospitals.  The  BioNano  Laboratory  aims  to 

567 http://www.crann.tcd.ie/  
568  Forfás  ceased  to  exist  in  2015  and  was,  in  part,  subsumed  under  the Department of Jobs,  Enterprise  and 

Innovation. 

569 http://www.crann.tcd.ie/Research/Academic-Partners/testt.aspx  

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facilitate  and  accelerate  the  translation  of  biomedical  nanotechnology  research  into  improved 
nanoscale diagnostics and nanomedicine. 

In October 2013, a new Science Foundation Ireland funded research centre, Advanced Materials 
and  BioEngineering  Research  (AMBER)570  was  launched.  AMBER  is  jointly  hosted  in  TCD  by 
CRANN and the Trinity Centre for BioEngineering, and works in collaboration with the Royal College 
of Surgeons in Ireland and UCC. The centre provides a partnership between leading researchers in 
material  science  and  industry  to  develop  new  materials  and  devices  for  a  range  of  sectors, 
particularly the ICT, medical devices and industrial technology sectors. 

THE NETHERLANDS 

In the Netherlands, nanotechnology was established as a distinct field of scientific research in the 
early years of the 21st century. A foresight study (Ten Wolde 1998) conducted by the Dutch Study 
Centre  for  Technology  Trends  (STT)  between  1996  and  1998  laid  the  foundation  of  a  national 
research  agenda.  The  study  showed  the  importance  of  nanotechnology  for  electronics,  materials, 
molecular  engineering  and  instrumentation,  and  also  recommended  to  pay  due  attention  to 
nanosafety issues and set up research in that area. 

The Netherlands hosts three dedicated nanotechnology research centres: The University of Twente 
(with the Mesa+ research centre in microsystems technology and nanomaterials571), Delft University 
of  Technology  (with  the  Else  Kooi  Laboratory572,  previously  called  Dimes  research  centre  on 
nanoelectronics)  and  the  University  of  Groningen  (with  BioMaDe573 
focused  on  bio-
nanotechnology). The early 2000s, these formed the core of NanoNed - the Nanotechnology R&D 
initiative in the Netherlands574. NanoNed was initiated after three years of preparatory work in 2004 
by nine industrial and scientific partners including Philips and TNO. It clustered the Dutch expertise 
on  nanotechnology  and  enabling  technology  into  a  national  network.  The  total  budget  of  the 
NanoNed  programme  amounted  to  EUR  235  million,  funded  by  the  Dutch  Ministry  for  Economic 
Affairs. The NanoNed programme was organised into eleven independent programmes or flagships. 
Each  of  those  was  based  on  regional  R&D  strength  and  industrial  relevance.  The  flagships  were 
Advanced  NanoProbing,  BioNanoSystems,  Bottom-up  Nano-Electronics,  Chemistry  and  Physics  of 
Nanofluidics, 
NanoFabrication, 
Individual 
NanoInstrumentation, NanoPhotonics, Nano-Spintronics and Quantum Computing. 

Molecules, 

Materials, 

Electronic 

Nano 

In 2006, the Cabinet vision on Nanotechnology “From Small to Great” was published. The content 
of the document mirrored the outline of the European Commission’s 2005 Action Plan, with sections 
on business and research opportunities; societal, ethical, and legal issues; public engagement; and 
risk assessment. 

In 2008, the Dutch Government published its Nanotechnology Action Plan575. The plan, prepared 
by the Interdepartmental Working Grou #p on Nanotechnology (ION) and building on the 2006 vision 
document,  incorporated  the  most  up-to-date  scientific  findings,  and  reflected  information  and 
agreements  from  European  Union  and  other  international  initiatives.  Four  generic  themes  were 
defined  on  the  basis  of  the  central  theme  impact  on  society  and  risk  analysis,  i.e.:  bio-nano-
technology,  beyond  Moore,  nanomaterials,  and  nano  production  (including  instrumentation  and 
characterisation). In addition, four application areas were singled out: clean water, energy, food and 
“nanomedicine”. 

The Dutch systematic approach to nanotechnology strategy resulted in the development of stable 
research  groups,  centres,  department  and  laboratories.  On  the  national  level,  NanoLab  NL576 
formed a consortium that built, maintained and provided a coherent and accessible infrastructure 
for  nanotechnology  research.  NanoLab  drew  on  government  funding,  which  was  first  spent  on 
upgrading existing infrastructure. Only when the existing infrastructure was fully used and a well-
characterised additional need was identified and additional investment made. As a consequence, the 

570 http://ambercentre.ie/  
571 https://www.utwente.nl/mesaplus/  
572 http://ekl.tudelft.nl/EKL/Home.php  
573 http://www.biomade.nl/  
574 However, four other universities, and TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, are 

also represented. 

575 http://www.rritrends.res-agora.eu/uploads/27/8079721-bijlage%281%29.pdf  
576 http://www.nanolabnl.nl/  

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Dutch  nanotechnology  research  infrastructure  was  heavily  used  by  research  groups  and  the  local 
industry. The partners in this enterprise considered themselves often as competitors but co-operate 
and co-ordinate their actions because of the substantial government funding.  

In  2011,  the  NanoNextNL577  national  research  programme  on  nanotechnology  was  started  as a 
continuation of NanoNed and MicroNed (the Netherlands Microtechnology program). NanoNextNL is 
based on a Strategic Research Agenda that was asked for by the government in both the cabinet 
and  the  action  plan.  Risk  evaluation  and  Technology  Assessment  form  part  of  this  research 
programme.  15%  of  the  budget  is  dedicated  to  risk-related  research,  as  was  demanded  by 
government  in  the  action  plan.  It  is  planned  that  NanoNextNL  programme  will  finish  in  2016  but 
anticipated that many aspects of it will be continued under an industry umbrella. Since 2011, the 
research agenda for nanotechnology is also part of the Top sector policy of the Netherlands578, 
which aims to enhance the knowledge economy by stimulating nine top sectors (leading economic 
sectors).  

The Top sector policy is implemented via innovation contracts, in which agreements are laid down 
between business leaders, researchers and government, jointly focusing the available resources for 
knowledge and innovation towards the leading economic sectors. Support programmes that aim to 
support the development and deployment of nanotechnology, are mostly project based. The formats 
for such supports range from small business oriented measures to financing large research project 
which involve co-operation between private and public research performers.  

POLAND 

In 2000, the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN) started a targeted research project 
in  the  topic  of  nanotechnology  called  “Metallic,  Ceramic  and  Organic  Nanomaterials: 
Processing – Structure – Properties – Applications” with two aims:  

• 

stimulating research on nanomaterials in Poland and promoting collaboration between 
researchers in this field; and  

•  making a landscape of the status of nanotechnology in Poland.  

The project involved 15 scientific institutions working on 26 research tasks. 

In the Polish National Development Plan for the years 2007-2013, launched by the State Committee 
for  Scientific  Research  in  Warsaw  in  2004,  nanotechnology  was  foreseen  as  an  area  that  should 
contribute to achieving a significant competitive potential in the European Arena. 

During 2006, the Ministry of Science of Higher Education established the Interdisciplinary Committee 
for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. This Committee analysed the nanotechnology situation and 
capabilities  in  Poland  and  proposed  the  basic  fields  that  should  be  strategically  supported  and 
launched in 2007 the “Strategy for the Reinforcement of Polish Research and Development 
Area in the Field of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies”579. The areas to be supported were 
nanoscale phenomena and processes, nanostructures, nanomaterials and nanoscale devices on the 
one  side  and  nano-analytics/nano-metrology  and  manufacturing  processes  and  devices  for 
nanotechnology on the other. The priority of the strategy of nanosciences and nanotechnologies was 
the development, co-ordination and management of the national system of research, education and 
industry in this field in the short-, medium-, and long-term perspective. Other main objectives to be 
achieved by 2013 were the development of high added-value nanotechnology products, the creation 
and  commercialisation  of  manufacturing  devices  for  the  production  of  nanomaterials,  the 
development of the education system in the field of nanotechnology, educating about 20-30 doctors 
yearly  in  the  specialisation  of  nanotechnology,  building  specialist  laboratories,  establishing  co-
operation  networks  of  research  and  industrial  units,  financial  institutions,  etc.  and  integrating 
dispersed activity of research units in a joint programme of nanotechnology development. 

In 2014, the Government approved the National Smart Specialisation Strategy as an integral 
part of the Enterprise development Programme, setting “Multifunctional materials and composites 
with  advanced  properties,  including  nano-processes  and  nano-products”  as  a  horizontal  smart 
specialization area in Poland. 

577 http://www.nanonextnl.nl/  
578 http://topsectoren.nl/english  
579 www.bioin.or.kr/fileDown.do?seq=5186 

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PORTUGAL  

In  2005,  the  Portuguese  and  Spanish  Governments  decided  to  jointly  create  the  International 
Nanotechnology  Laboratory  (INL)580  in  Braga,  Portugal,  which  was  partly  funded  under  the 
European  Regional  Development  Fund  (ERDF).    The  decision  of  Portugal  and  Spain  to  create  an 
international research laboratory was announced by the head of Government of Spain and the Prime 
Minister of Portugal at the end of the XXI Portugal-Spain Summit that took place in Évora, Portugal. 

The International Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) was installed in Braga, Portugal, its Director is 
the Swedish Professor Lars Montelius, and it has over 90 employees. 

INL concentrates on nanotechnology, and considers applications to several other areas, following a 
truly interdisciplinary approach. The Laboratory has been conceived to: 

•  Assure world class research excellence in all areas of activity; 
•  Develop partnerships with the industry and foster the transfer of knowledge in economic 

• 

values and jobs; 
Train researchers and contribute to the development of a skilled workforce for the 
nanotechnology industry; and 

•  Survey, prevent and mitigate nanotechnology risks. 

Among its research areas  nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, nanomachines & nanomanipulation and 
environment monitoring, security and food quality control can be found.  

Further information on the policies and programmes of Spain is given below. 

SPAIN 

The Minister of Economy and Competitiveness is responsible for the design of the national innovation 
strategy in Spain. An Inter-ministerial Commission on Science and Technology (CICYT) has the role 
of  co-ordinating  the  actions  of  the  different  bodies  involved  in  innovation  policy  in  a  complex 
governance  structure.  The  regions  of  Catalonia,  the  Basque  Country  and  Valencia  are  especially 
active in S&T policy. 

The  2004-2007  R&D  plan  was  the  first  Spanish  national  R&D  plan  containing  a  specific  cross-
programme action regarding nanoscience and  nanotechnology. The Strategic Action (SANSNT) 
was  designed  for  the  overall  enhancement  of  Spanish  industry  competitiveness  through  the 
implementation  of  deep  changes  in  several  industrial  sectors  by  generating  new  knowledge  and 
applications based on the convergence of new technologies, where nanotechnology plays a central 
role. The SANSNT included seven thematic lines among which the first one is “Nanotechnologies 
applied in materials and new materials within the field of health”. Also included are systems biology, 
synthetic biology and nanobiotechnology. The Strategic Action encompassed the development of 
activities  within  the  six  Instrumental  Lines  of  Action  (human  resources;  projects;  institutional 
strengthening;  infrastructures;  knowledge  use;  and  articulation  and  internationalisation  of  the 
system).  

Nanoscience  and  nanotechnology  were  included  as  a  Strategic  Action  of  both  the  2004-2007 
National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation (R+D+I) and the funding set aside within 
this Plan for the Industrial Sector (PROFIT Programme), with the aim of promoting the development 
of industrial projects (carried out by companies) with nanotechnology-focused objectives. 

During the 2004-2007 periods, around 40 projects were funded as a result of this Strategic Action, 
receiving a total of EUR 2 million in subsidies and EUR 8.5 million in associated investments. All the 
projects were coordinated by industrial companies, although universities and technological centres 
were  involved  in  the  development  of  many  of  them  either  on  a  collaborative  basis,  or  were 
subcontracted by the company carrying out the project. 

In 2005, the Government of Spain launched the strategic programme INGENIO 2010581 to align 
Spain with the strategy of the European Union to reach a 3% of the GDP invested in R&D by year 
2010,  thereby  reducing  the  gap  between  Spain  and  other  countries.  Its  general  objective  was  to 
achieve a gradual focus of Spanish resources on strategic actions to meet the challenges faced by 
the  Spanish  Science  and  Technology  System.  This  was  to  be  achieved  by  continuing  the  existing 

580 http://inl.int/ 
581 http://www.ingenio2010.es/  

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policies, agendas and successful programmes, as well as by implementing new actions needed to 
finish meeting the challenges identified for the national science, technology and engineering system. 

In  order  to  enhance  critical  mass  and  research  excellence,  the  goals  of  the  INGENIO  2010 
Programme,  within  the  CONSOLIDER  programme  (launched  by  the  Ministry  of  Education  and 
Science, through the General Secretariat of Scientific Policy, to promote high quality research and 
to  reach  critical  mass  and  research  excellence),  included  creating  Centros  de  Investigación 
Biomédica en Red (Biomedical Research Networking Centres, CIBER) by setting up consortia, with 
their own legal personality, without physical proximity, which were designed to conduct single-topic 
research on a specific broadly-defined disease or health problem. CIBER were formed through the 
association of research groups linked to the national health system to help form the scientific basis 
of the programmes and policies of the national health system in the priorities areas of the National 
R+D+I Plan. Among the centres that have been created within this programme is the Biomedical 
Research  Networking  centre  in  Bioengineering,  Biomaterials  and  Nanomedicine  (CIBER-BBN), 
founded in 2006. The Nanobiomed consortium, which researches the use of nanoparticles for drug 
delivery, was also founded with CONSOLIDER funds. 

Between  2008  and  2011  the  National  Strategy  of  Nanoscience  and  nanotechnology,  new 
materials  and  new  industrial  products582  was  implemented  by  the  Ministry  of  Economy  and 
Competitiveness. This policy measure was part of the National Plan for R+D+I 2008-2011583 and its 
objective was to enhance the competitiveness of Spanish industry by promoting knowledge about 
and  stimulating  the  development  of  new  applications  based  on  nanoscience,  nanotechnology, 
material  science  and  technology,  and  process  technologies.  Six  themes  were  targeted: 
Nanotechnologies  applied  to  materials  and  new  materials  in  health  sector,  nanotechnologies  for 
information  and  telecommunications,  nanotechnologies  in  relation  to  industry  and  climate,  smart 
materials with tailored properties based on knowledge as materials and performance coatings for 
new products and processes, advances in technology and materials processing, development and 
validation of new industrial models and strategies/new technologies for manufacturing design and 
process/network  production,  and  exploitation  of  convergent  technologies.  The  measure  covered 
different lines such as supporting investments, projects, institutional strengthening, infrastructure 
and utilisation of knowledge, supporting first market operations for innovative products and access 
to early stage/development funding, system articulation and internationalisation and targeted public 
research organisations, SMEs and other companies. 

Both in the last Spanish Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2013-2020584 and in the 
State  Plan  of  Scientific  and  Technical  Research  and  Innovation  2013-2016585  (both  dependent on 
the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness), nanotechnology is considered a sector to be boosted 
when  referring  to  Key  Enabling  Technologies  (KETs),  but  there  is  not  a  strategic  plan  such  as  in 
previous periods.  

Regional initiatives in Spain include:  

• 

Estrategia  Nanobasque  (2008)586:  In  order  to  promote  the  implementation  of  micro  and 
nanotechnologies in the Basque companies, the Basque Government designed a strategy called 
NanoBasque in 2007. On December 3 2008, the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism of 
the  Basque  Government  launched  the  nanoBasque  Strategy  in  the  framework  of  the  Basque 
Science,  Technology  and  Innovation  Plan  2010.  The  nanoBasque  Strategy  was  an  initiative 
designed to develop a new economy sector enabled by nanotechnology. It was created with the 
purpose of covering three main areas of action, namely: company, knowledge and society. One 
of the objectives was to create a new model of relations to involve both national and international 
companies,  scientific,  technological,  political  and  social  agent.  The  expected  result  were 
targeting the efficiency and the integration of the ecosystem of innovation that was clearly aimed 
at the market, based on  the co-operation between all  parties.  The  launch of  the nanoBasque 
Strategy  was  accompanied  by  the  creation  of  a  dynamic  support  agency,  the  nanoBasque 
Agency, with the mission of coordinating and managing the development of the Strategy. The 

582 http://www.idi.mineco.gob.es  
583 Ibid 
584http://www.idi.mineco.gob.es/stfls/MICINN/Investigacion/FICHEROS/Spanish_Strategy_Science_Technology

.pdf  

585 http://www.idi.mineco.gob.es/stfls/MICINN/Investigacion/FICHEROS/Spanish_RDTI_Plan_2013-2016.pdf  
586 http://www.nanobasque.eu/aNBW/web/en/strategy/index.jsp  

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nanoBasque Strategy strived to boost Basque the presence of companies and research agents 
on international nanotechnology initiatives and markets. EUR 550 million were expected to be 
mobilised in the 2009-2015 period, with a proportion of public funding of 52% on the total.  

•  Within the nanoBasque strategy and using CONSOLIDER funds, the Cooperative Research Center 
NanoGUNE was created with the mission of performing world-class nanoscience research for the 
competitive growth of the Basque Country, thereby combining basic research with the objective 
of boosting nanotechnology-based market opportunities and contributing to the creation of an 
enabling framework to remove existing barriers between the academic and business worlds. 

• 

• 

The Andalusian Centre for Nanomedicine and Biotechnology, BIONAND, is a mixed centre part 
owned by the Regional Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Regional Ministry of Finance, 
Innovation,  Science  and  Employment  and  the  University  of  Malaga.    BIONAND  has  been  co-
financed, with a contribution of 70% of the total cost, by the European Regional Development 
Fund (ERDF) together with the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness in the frame of The 
Spanish National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation 2008-
2011 (record number, IMBS10-1C-247, quantity. EUR 4.9m). The three main research areas are 
nanodiagnostics, therapeutic nanosystems, and nanobiotechnology.  

IMDEA-Nanociencia is a private  non-profit  Foundation  created by the regional  Government of 
the Community of Madrid in November 2006 to shorten the distance between the research and 
society in the Madrid region and provide new capacity for research, technological development 
and innovation in the field of nanoscience, nanotechnology and molecular design. Researchers 
at IMDEA Nanoscience are developing distinct diagnostic tools, including nucleic acid-based and 
nanoparticle-based sensors for detection of biological targets of medical interest, and magnetic 
nanoparticles to be used in medical imaging as high-sensitive contrast agents. 

THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK) 

The  main  player  in  UK  policy  measures  related  to  nanotechnology  as  a  key  enabling  technology 
(KET) is the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and its agency, the Technology 
Strategy Board, now called Innovate UK587. It supports SMEs with high growth potential, manages 
the  Small  Business  Research  Initiative588  and  identified  future  potential  growth  sectors.  Both 
institutions  have  also  developed  a  number  of  measures  facilitating  the  knowledge  exchange  and 
technology  adoption,  such  as:  commercialisation  opportunities  and  Knowledge  Transfer 
Partnerships,  Knowledge  Transfer  Networks,  Technology  and  Innovation  Centres,  and  Small 
Businesses Research Initiative.   

The main interest of the UK government for nanotechnology started in 2002, when they published 
the Taylor Report589 which recognised that investment in nanotechnology was increasing rapidly 
worldwide. Following the Taylor Report, an announcement was made by Lord Sainsbury of GBP 90m 
of funding for the Micro and Nano Technology Manufacturing Initiative. This funding was committed 
between  2003  and  2007.  Micro-  and  Nano-technology  Manufacturing  Initiative  (MNT 
Initiative) were joint investments by the Government, the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) 
and the devolved administrations of Wales and Scotland. The Initiative was launched to help the 
industry build on the expertise of the UK science base and win a share of this developing market, 
harnessing the commercial opportunities offered by nanotechnology. 

Approximately one third of this investment went to Collaborative R&D MNT Projects, and two thirds 
to capital infrastructure. Generally built on existing university or business expertise, the twenty-four 
facilities were targeted at addressing a broad range of key application areas where micro/nano scale 
activity was considered key to future UK industry capability and where the UK had some strength. 
Micro/nano  technologies  were  included  within  relevant  broader  collaborative  R&D  competitions, 
principally  in  the  materials,  medicine  and  electronics  areas.  In  2007  the  Nanotechnology 
Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN)590 was created with the objective of supporting the 
exploitation and commercialisation of MNT through informing, linking and facilitating innovation and 
collaborations  between  users  and  suppliers  of  nanotechnology  in  order  to  build  a  strong  MNT 

587 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk  
588 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sbri-the-small-business-research-initiative  
589http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130221185318/http://www.innovateuk.org/_assets/pdf/taylor

%20report.pdf  

590 https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/nanoktn  

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community  in  the  UK.  The  centres  were  grouped  into  four  main  themes:  nano-metrology; 
nanomaterials  (including  health  and  safety);  nanomedicine;  and  nanofabrication.  Between  its 
creation and 2014 the NanoKTN secured about STG 82 million for UK industry, mainly focussed on 
SMEs, providing a good return investment on the initial input of STG 3 million. In 2014, NanoKTN 
was merged with another 15 KTN in the new organisation KTN Ltd.  

In  2006,  the  Engineering  and  Physical  Sciences  Research  Council  issued  its  Report  of  the 
Nanotechnology  Strategy  Group591  as an  active response  to  the  EPSRC  2005  Nanotechnology 
Theme Day Report that found that there were flaws in the structure for nanotechnology R&D in the 
UK. The report proposed, in conjunction with researchers and users, to identify a series of “grand 
challenges”  in  nano-science  and  nano-engineering,  focused  initially  on  areas  such  as  energy, 
environmental remediation, the digital economy and healthcare, where an interdisciplinary, stage-
gate approach spanning basic research through to application will be an integral part of the challenge 
of enabling nanotechnology to make an impact. The “grand challenges” were to be addressed via 
interdisciplinary consortia spanning the EPSRC research spectrum, and including collaboration with 
sister Research Councils (e.g. BBSRC). 

In December 2007, the Research Councils announced a Cross-Council programme “Nanoscience 
through  Engineering  to  Application592”,  with  the  objective  of  providing  an  additional  GBP  50 
million  in  areas  where  the  UK  nanotechnology  research  base  could  make  a  significant  impact  on 
issues  of  societal  importance  such  as  healthcare.  These  societal  or  economic  Grand  Challenges 
wanted to be addressed in a series of calls for large-scale integrated projects. They were led by the 
Engineering  and  Physical  Sciences  Research  Council,  in  collaboration  with  stakeholders  including 
other Research Councils, industry, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Nanotechnology 
Research Coordination Group. 

Government  announced  its  intention  to  develop  a  UK  Strategy  for  nanotechnologies  in  its  2009 
response  to  the  Royal  Commission  on  Environmental  Pollution’s  report,  Novel  materials  in  the 
Environment: The case of Nanotechnology.  

The Nanoscale Technologies Strategy 2009-2012593 was launched in October 2009 by the TSB 
and  targeted  the  ways  by  which  nanotechnologies  could  address  major  challenges  facing  society 
such as environmental change, ageing and growing populations, and global means of communication 
and  information  sharing.  Its  objective  was  to  provide  the  framework  for  future  applied  research 
predominantly through activity inspired by the needs of wider technologies and challenge-led calls. 

In  2010,  the  Ministerial  Group  on Nanotechnologies,  the  Nanotechnology  Research  Co-ordination 
Group  (NRCG),  and  the  Nanotechnology  Issues  Dialogue  Group  (NIDG)  issued  the  UK 
Nanotechnologies  Strategy  -  Small  Technologies,  Great  Opportunities594.  This  Strategy 
defined how Government will take action to ensure that everyone in the UK could safely benefit from 
the  societal  and  economic  opportunities  that  these  technologies  offer,  whilst  addressing  the 
challenges that they might present. 

In  2012  the  Department  for  Environment,  Food  and  Rural  Affairs  (DEFRA)  launched  the 
Nanotechnology  Strategy  Forum  (NSF)595  in  order  to  facilitate  discussion  and  engagement 
between Government and stakeholders in matters referred to the responsible advancement of the 
UK’s  nanotechnologies  industries.  The  NSF  is  an  advisory  body  formed  by  ad  hoc  expert  with  a 
membership drawn from industry, regulators, academia and NGOs (non-governmental organisations 
and  it  is  jointly  chaired  by  the  Minister  of  State  for  Universities  and  Science  (BIS)  and  the 
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for DEFRA and is supported by a small secretariat based in DEFRA. 

The UK Enabling Technologies Strategy 2012-2015596 also addresses four enabling technologies 
-  advanced  materials;  biosciences;  electronics,  sensors  and  photonics;  and  information  and 
communication technology (ICT) to support business in developing high-value products and services 
in areas such as energy, food, healthcare, transport and the built environment. Nanotechnology is 

591 https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/pubs/report-of-the-nanotechnology-strategy-group/  
592 https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/pubs/nanotechnology-programme/  
593 http://www.nibec.ulster.ac.uk/uploads/documents/nanoscaletechnologiesstrategy.pdf  
594http://www.steptoe.com/assets/htmldocuments/UK_Nanotechnologies%20Strategy_Small%20Technologies

%20Great%20Opportunities_March%202010.pdf  

595 https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nanotechnology-strategy-forum 
596 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enabling-technologies-strategy-2012-to-2015  

175 

 
 
 
                                                 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

identified  as  having  a  significant  underpinning  role  across  most  of  these  technology  areas, 
particularly in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. 

176 

 
 
 
 
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ANNEX 6: PRODUCTS FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION 

This Annex is divided largely into the same categories as used in the main body of the report: 

1.  Coatings and adhesives (paints) 
2.  Nanostructured steel 
3.  Anti-stick, anti-scratch coatings 
4.  Photocatalytic coatings 
5.  Lighting (LEDs) 
6.  Lighting (OLEDs) 
7.  Building insulation 
8.  Nanocomposites – hydrophobic/ oleophobic 
9.  Concrete/ cement 
10. Other 

1 

COATINGS AND ADHESIVES (PAINTS) 

Product Name 

ADMANANO 

UNIVERSAL 
COATING 
LACQUER 9200 

COL.9®  

Bioni Comfort  

Bioni Hygienic  

Bioni Nature  

Bioni Perform  

Bioni Roof  

Description 

Producer 

ADMANANO  is  a  patented  silicaceous  product 
which is developed in liquid phase to be mixed with 
organic  and  inorganic  powder  to  impart  fluidity, 
filling rate, sinterability, compressibility. It can be 
used  with  inorganic  pigment,  functional  ceramics 
like BaTiO3, etc.  

It  is  a  colourless  coating  that  can  be  used  as 
lacquer and offer good filling capacity and sanding 
properties.  It  is  highly  resistant  to  cleaners  and 
alcohols and does not decolourise.  

COL.9®  is  a  nanobinder  from  BASF  which  is 
applied onto paints. It protects paints against dirt 
and weather. Herbol® Symbiotec® is an exterior 
wall paint developed by Akzo Nobel using COL.9®. 
This  paint  has  dirt-repellent  feature  due  to  this 
nanobinder which creates a hydrophilic surface in 
its composition. It does not  allow build-up of any 
dirt, bacteria, mould and algae on the surface. This 
product  is  also  effective  in  maintaining  insulating 
properties of wall and insulation systems through 
a good moisture management system.  

Bioni  Comfort  is  a  long-lasting,  universal  acrylic 
interior coating that contains siliceous light fillers and 
has  multi-functional  properties.  Due  to  its  special 
filler technology, Bioni Comfort is suitable for use in 
residential, office, educational, as well as in catering 
and hotel industry buildings. 

Bioni  Hygienic,  with  its  anti-microbial  properties,  is 
an  interior  paint  especially  for  spaces  where  high 
hygiene is required.  

Bioni Nature is a nano-enhanced paint that has anti-
bacterial and air purifying functionalities.  

Bioni  Perform  is  an  external  paint  with  moisture 
regulating and anti-mould properties.  

Bioni Roof is a special multi-purpose paint / coating 
for  roofs  of  clay,  concrete,  artificial  slate  tiles  and 
corrugated  iron. It  is resistant  to UV  light,  to  harsh 
(cold/hot) weather conditions. It prevents growth of 
moss  and  also  reduces  the  build-up  of  heat  in  the 
building. 

Admatechs Company 
Ltd 

Alfred Clouth Lackfabrik 
GmbH & Co.KG 

BASF 

BIONI CS GmbH 

177 

 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

DuraBind™ 

AEROSIL® 

V-COLOR ® 

VACOMP 

Nano Ipek Matt 

Nanomatt  

Nanosön  

Nanotex  

DuraBind™ bioresin is a biobased solution of petro 
based  binders.  Use  of  formaldehydes  can  be 
reduced with the use of these biopolymers. It can 
also be used as a thermal resistance material. 

Evonik  non-drip  paint,  a  fumed  silica-based 
product  sold  under  the  name  of  AEROSIL®.  It  is 
used  to  control  rheological  features  and  also  to 
improve the corrosion resistance of paints. 

V-COLOR concerns “coating materials”, can sustain 
temperatures between 920°C and 1,250°C. It also 
offers the roof with a unique colour intensity and 
brilliance. 

EcoSynthetix Inc. 

Evonik 

Viking Advanced 
Materials GmbH 

This is a phosphate-based binding agent that can 
be  used  to  manufacture  composite  components 
with high performance and good strength. 

Viking Advanced 
Materials GmbH 

Nano Ipek Matt, Nanomatt and Nanotex are nano-
enhanced  paints  from  Yasar  Paint  Group  (DYO) 
with  self-cleaning,  anti-scratch  and  anti-bacterial 
features.  Nano 
interior 
Ipek  Matt 
applications.  

for 

is 

Yaşar Holding A.Ş.  

Nano Ipek Matt, Nanomatt and Nanotex are nano-
enhanced  paints  from  Yasar  Paint  Group  (DYO) 
with  self-cleaning,  anti-scratch  and  anti-bacterial 
features. Nanomatt is for interior applications.  

Yaşar Holding A.Ş.  

Nanosön is flame-retardant water based paint from 
Yasar Paint Group.  

Yaşar Holding A.Ş. 

Nano Ipek Matt, Nanomatt and Nanotex are nano-
enhanced  paints  from  Yasar  Paint  Group  (DYO) 
with  self-cleaning,  anti-scratch  and  anti-bacterial 
features. Nanotex is for exterior spaces.  

Yaşar Holding A.Ş.  

2 

NANOSTRUCTURED STEEL 

Product Name 

MMFX2 Steel 

Super  Hard  Steel 
(SHS) 

Sandvic NanoFlex 

Description 

MMFX2  is  an  uncoated  corrosion-resistant  and 
high-strength reinforcing steel that cuts the costs 
of infrastructure by decreasing steel requirements 
and  providing  lower  maintenance  costs  over  the 
life of the bridge.  

NanoSteel’s Super Hard Steel® (SHS® ) alloys for 
applications  as  weld  overlays  and  thermal  spray 
coatings  are  the  company’s  first  generation  of 
nano-structured, high-strength steel materials. 

Sandvik  Nanoflex 
is  an  ultra-high-strength 
stainless  steel  material  with  a  combined  good 
corrosion  resistance.  By  a  simple  heat  treatment 
after  cold  deformation,  extremely  high  tensile 
strength  levels  in  combination  with  a  good 
the  heat 
toughness  are  obtained.  Because 
treatment 
temperature, 
dimensions  are  perfectly  maintained.  In  the  as-
delivered  condition,  Sandvik  Nanoflex  displays 
excellent forming properties.  

is  made  at  a 

low 

Producer 

MMFX Steel Corp 

NanoSteel Company 

Sandvik 

178 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

3 

ANTI-STICK, ANTI-SCRATCH COATINGS 

Product Name 

Wirewear Protective 
Coating 

nCOLOR® 

nHALO® 

2000 Series Maintenance 
Coatings 

tutoPROM® 

Nanoguard® 

Nanoguard®StoneProtect  

Percenta Nano Window 
Sealant SR  

Description 

Wirewear  is  a  coating  with  high  abrasion 
resistant  properties  for  ferrous  and  non-
ferrous  wires 
complex 
used 
architectural  and  building  applications. 
Besides  this  attribute  others  such  as  low 
friction,  non-sticking,  features  can  be 
achieved. 

for 

Producer 

A&A COATINGS 

Beneq  provides  different  coatings  and 
coating  systems  for  glass  industry  under 
the 
registered  names  of  nCOLOR®, 
nCLEAN®  and  nHALO®.  They  have  anti-
reflective 
control 
coatings, easy to clean coatings and anti-
bacterial coatings.[38]  

coatings, 

energy 

Beneq  provides  different  coatings  and 
coating  systems  for  glass  industry  under 
the 
registered  names  of  nCOLOR®, 
nCLEAN®  and  nHALO®.  They  have  anti-
reflective 
control 
coatings, easy to clean coatings and anti-
bacterial coatings.  

coatings, 

energy 

This  coating  makes  the  surface  hard, 
abrasion resistant, non-stick, slick surface 
that  cleans  easily  with  soap  and  water, 
reducing equipment down time and labour 
cost. The coating can be used on any types 
of  construction  equipment  giving  it  high 
corrosion resistance. 

tutoPROM®  is  an  (organo)-polysilazane 
based  anti-graffiti  coating  developed  for 
concrete by Clariant.  

Nanoguard® is a technology developed by 
Behr  Paints  and  gives  paints  enhanced 
functionalities e.g. improved adhesion, dirt 
repellence,  moisture  resistance  and  UV 
resistance.  BEHR  Basement  &  Masonry 
Waterproofing  Paint  and  BEHR  Premium 
Plus Ultra are some of the products that are 
using Nanoguard Technology.  

Nanoguard®StoneProtect is a coating from 
Nanogate AG which is applied to concrete 
parts of Europe’s longest city tunnel Södra 
Lanken in Stockholm. 

Percenta  Nano  Window  Sealant  SR  is  an 
alcohol-based  system,  which  protects 
outer  glass  and  synthetic  surfaces  from 
tarnishing. The applied sealant develops a 
thin,  invisible,  hydrophilic  film  on  the 
surface,  which  due  to  a  photocatalytic 
process reacts with daylight / UV radiation. 
This  reaction  breaks  down  muck  on  the 
glass, with no need for detergent. It can be 
used  for  greenhouses,  solar  panels  and 
conservatories.  When  water  hits  it,  a 
hydrophilic effect is created, so water and 
dirt  slide  off,  the  so-called  'self-cleaning 
effect'.  

Beneq OY 

Beneq OY 

Ecological Coatings, LLC 

Merck KGaA 

NewPro 

NewPro 

Percenta Europe Ltd 

179 

 
 
 
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RELIUS Roof Acryl Nano 
Tech®  

RELIUS 
GmbH 

Farbenwerke 

Water-based,  semi-gloss,  self-cleaning, 
extremely weather resistant, cold and heat 
resistant roof coating the latest technology 
on  the  basis  of  unique  nanostructured 
fluorine  polyurethane  acrylic  polymer 
binder to recoating , restoration and long-
term  protection  of  purified  roofing  from 
concrete roof tiles, clay tiles, artificial slate, 
asbestos-free fibre cement and metal.  

4 

PHOTOCATALYTIC COATINGS 

Product Name 

Description 

Photocatalytic Nano 
TiO2 

Self-healing  titanium  oxide-based  glass  coating, 
which has no byproducts affecting the environment. 
The material is sterile and is UV resistant. 

Hydrotect 

Fog Protect 

Hydrotect, developed by AgroBuchtal is mainly used 
on  ceramic  floor  tiles  with  its  longterm  guarantee. 
Surface  of  Hydrotect  tiles  contains  a  coating  of 
titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is baked onto the tiles 
at  high  temperatures  ensuring  the  bonding  of  the 
materials with the tile surface. When light is captured 
by  each  tile,  the  titanium  dioxide  activates  oxygen 
from  the  atmosphere,  and  the  organic  dirt  on  the 
surfaces  is  broken  down  due  to  the  photocatalytic 
process. 

transfer 

from  different 

DryWired®  Fog  Protect  nanocoating  technology 
enables 
temperature 
environments  without  condensation  issues.  Fog 
Protect is ideal for application on work goggles, dive 
masks, car windows, mirrors, visors, ski goggles and 
many  other  transparent  hard  surfaces.  Application 
can be done manually with a wipe or by liquid spray. 

Producer 

42TEK 

AgroBuchtal 

DryWired 

ERLUS Lotus  

ERLUS Lotus is the first self-cleaning clay roof in the 
world. The burned-in surface finish of Erlus clay roof 
tile  destroys  dirt  particles,  grease  deposits,  soot, 
moss and algae with the aid of UV light. 

ERLUS 

TA2219 coating 

TA2219  is  a  photocatalytic  coating  of  surfaces.  The 
coating is able to decompose organic compounds on 
a molecular level just by means of light. 

Nadico Technologie 

Pilkington Active 

Self-cleaning glass 

SunClean® 

SunClean®  is  a  long-lasting  multi-functional  self-
cleaning  glass  from  PPG  Industries  with  a  coating 
which  includes  nanoparticles of  TiO2. In  addition  to 
its  easy  cleaning  feature,  it  also  reduces  the 
transmittance of UV and increases the solar heat gain 
coefficient.   

BIOCLEAN 

Self-cleaning glass 

MAXIT Airfresh 
plaster 

Top Glass NANO 

MAXIT Airfresh Plaster can be applied on ceilings and 
walls.  Making  use  of  nano-sized  TiO2  particles  it 
includes 
so-called 
photocatalytic  effect  it  eliminates  unwanted  odours, 
air pollutants and organic volatile compounds. 

formula  and 

the 

its 

in 

Pilkington 

PPG Industries 

Saint-Gobain Glass 

Saint-Gobain Weber 
GmbH 

Ready to use agent maintains glass surfaces, makes 
thin  protective  anti-static  layer  (titanium  nano 
elements).  Removes  finger  prints,  grease  stains, 
natural dirt and dust, recommended for: home, office 

Tenzi Sp. z o.o. 

180 

 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

and car equipment. Does not leave streaks and has 
citrus aroma. 

5 

LIGHTING LEDS 

Product Name 

Crystalplex 

Nanowire light-
emitting diodes 
(nLEDs) 

RCLED & LED 

Superluminescent 
Diodes (SLD, 
SLED) 

Description 

produces 

Crystalplex 
industrial-scale 
sapphire  quantum  dots  and  proprietary  down-
converting  diffuser  technologies.  It  is  a  nano-
illuminating technology for full-scale lighting. 

patented 

Producer 

Crystalplex 

Nanowire light-emitting diodes (nLEDs) are based on 
proprietary  hetero-structured  semiconductor  nano-
wire  epitaxial  growth  and  process  technologies  for 
which  standard  manufacturing  equipment  and 
materials can be utilised. 

glō AB 

Resonant  cavity  light  emitting  diode  InGaAs/AlGaAs 
chips operating at 930nm, 960nm, 1170nm, 1240nm 
and 1270nm. 

Innolume 

A superluminescent light emitting diode is, similar to 
a  laser  diode,  based  on  an  electrically  driven  pn-
junction  that,  when  biased  in  forward  direction, 
becomes  optically  active  and  generates  amplified 
spontaneous  emission  over  a  wide 
range  of 
wavelengths. The peak wavelength and the intensity 
of the SLD depend on the active material composition 
and on the injection current level. SLDs are designed 
to  have  high  single  pass  amplification  for  the 
spontaneous emission generated along the waveguide 
but,  unlike  laser  diodes,  insufficient  feedback  to 
achieve  lasing  action.  This  is  obtained  through  the 
joint  action  of  a  tilted  waveguide  and  anti-reflection 
coated facets. 

LED phosphors 

LED phosphors for white LEDs 

Phosphor Technology 
Ltd. 

Quantum Light™ 

Quantum dot based white LEDs 

QD Vision 

6 

LIGHTING - OLEDS 

Product Name 

Description 

Producer 

CANVIS HRZ / HZM 

OLED Pendant Mount Drape / Twist 

CANVIS VRT / VTM 

OLED Pendant/Wall Mount Screen / Pose 

KINDRED PM 

OLED Pendant Mount 

KINDRED WM 

OLED Wall Mount 

NOMI 

OLED Straight and Curve Wall Sconces 

REVEL GCM 

OLED Grid Ceiling Mount 

REVEL HCM 

OLED Hard Ceiling Mount 

TRILIA 

OLED Ceiling Mount TRI / STR Units 

Acuity Brands Lighting, 
Inc 

181 

 
 
 
 
 
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ASON'S OLED 

ASON'S  OLED  emits  light  with  little  colour  change, 
independent of an angle. 

ASON Technology 
Co.,Ltd. 

OLEDs 

Low power consumption OLED 

Lumiotec 

AMBER OLED 

Large surface emission OLED 

BRITE FL300 

Very thin structure OLED panel 

OLEDWorks GmbH 

BRITE FL300L 

Smooth  light  OLED  (can  view  the  light  source 
directly)  

Lumiblade 

OLED lighting system 

Philips Lighting 

VELVE OLED 

VELVE  OLED  lighting:  color-tunabe  and  dimmable 
OLED lighting panels  

Verbatim Americas, LLC. 

7 

BUILDING INSULATION 

Product Name 

Description 

Producer 

Vitrification 
process 

Airglass 

Cryogel 

Pyrogel 

Spaceloft 

Nanogel  Thermal 
Wrap 

BAYMER® 

Desmodur 

Fixit  222  Aerogel 
High-Performance 
Insulating Plaster 

NANOGEL 

The AFP vitrification process is robust and is able 
to handle materials of high ionic character or with 
significant moisture content. Materials used in the 
process are fully oxidised and can be landfilled It 
finds  applications  in  construction  as  abrasives, 
glass/mineral wool insulation, and ceramic tiles. 

Advanced fibres and 
powders LLC 

Silica based aerogel 

Airglass 

Foam-like hydrophobic aerogels 

Aspen Aerogels Inc. 

Silica based aerogel 

Cabot Corporation 

Baymer®  is  an  insulating  material  for  bonding 
foam that combines perfect insulation with state-
of-the-art  fire  protection.  Baymer®  products  are 
partially  and 
formulated  polyol  blends 
combining all raw materials, auxiliaries and flame 
retardants  which  are  necessary  for  a  perfect 
polyurethane foam in the construction industry. 

fully 

The  product 
is  basically  Diphenylmethane- 
Diisocyanate  and  Toluylene  Diisocyanate.  It  has 
excellent insulation properties. 

Covestro 

Silica based aerogel 

Fixit AG 

A  new  material,  solid  state;  90  to  99.8%  of  its 
composition  is  air.  NANOGEL  PROPERTIES:  Low 
refractive  index.  Low  density,  1000  times  less 
dense  than  glass  and  3  times  denser  than  air. 
Excellent  thermal 
insulator.  High  mechanical 
strength, supports more than 1000 times its own 
weight. 

Graphendis 

182 

 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

Aerogel 

Silica based aerogel 

MarkeTech 
International Inc. 

HP-150 

HT-170 

Aerogel 

VIP-based aerogels 

NanoPore 

Silica based aerogel 

SEPAREX S.A. 

Quartzene® 

Silica based aerogel 

Svenska Aerogel AB 

CFOAM 
Foam 

Carbon 

CFOAM  can  absorb  20-60%  of  a  sound  wave 
directed  at  it,  depending on  the  frequency of  the 
wave.  The  higher  the  thickness  of  insulation,  the 
better is the sound absorption. The foam has also 
good insulation properties. 

Touchstone Research 
Laboratory 

Thermoskin 

Silica based aerogel 

Vinzenz Harrer GmbH 

8 

HYDROPHOBIC / OLEOPHOBIC NANOCOMPOSITES 

Product Name 

Wondergliss 

Producer 

Duravit AG 

Description 

Wondergliss,  is  a  coating  developed  by  Duravit 
together with Nanogate AG. This coating, which is 
commercially  known  as  WonderGliss,  has  been 
used  on  sanitary  ware  ceramics  e.g.  at 
washbasins, 
urinals. 
WonderGliss deprives dirt of a suitable surface to 
attack - dirt and lime are unable to establish and 
hold on the smooth surface. Residues run off with 
the water droplets.  

toilets, 

bidets 

and 

ceramicplus 

Villeroy Boch has a series of easy cleaning products 
under  the  name  of  ceramicplus.  Ceramicplus 
provides  an  easy  to  clean  and  dirt  repellent 
surface. This feature is obtained through a special 
finishing treatment. 

Villeroy Boch 

9 

CONCRETE/ CEMENT 

Product Name 

Description 

Producer 

Agilia™ 

Chronolia™ 

Ductal™ 

MasterEmaco 

Agilia™  by  Lafarge, 
compacting, self-levelling concrete.  

the  world’s 

first  self-

Agilia™ 

Chronolia™  by  Lafarge,  quick-setting  ready-mix 
concrete made possible by nanotechnology and the 
understanding of crystalline growth.  

Ductal™ by Lafarge is one of the first commercial 
concrete where steel bars are not used. It exhibits 
high  mechanical  strength,  durability  and  self-
healing properties.  

MasterEmaco Nanocrete from BASF is a concrete-
repair  concrete  with  exceptional  properties, 
improved  bond  strength,  improved  densities  and 
impermeability,  reduced  shrinkage, 
improved 
tensile  strengths  and  reduced  cracking  tendency. 
It  also  provides  improved  compatibility  with 
concrete.  This  product  has  found  applications  in 
the  renovation  of  office  building  in  Brussels,  in  a 

Chronolia™ 

Ductal™ 

MasterEmaco 

183 

 
 
 
 
 
NanoData – Landscape Compilation - Construction 

PCI Nanosilent®  

TiOCem® 

TX Active™ 

10   OTHER 

Product Name 

Transparent  Ray 
Blocker Film 

Carbon 
Nanotube-
reinforced  Epoxy 
(CNT Epoxy) 

Cereplast 
Sustainables® 

ConsERV 

Nansulate® 
HomeProtect  

wastewater  plant  in  France,  in  the  renovation  of 
bridge structure in Spain, in a cooling tower, etc.  

PCI  Nanosilent®  is  a  polymeric  isolation  mortar 
material  developed  by  BASF.  This  material  is  a 
mixture of special polymers and rubber granules, 
which  replaces  mortar  in  concrete.  In  addition  to 
giving  flexibility  to  concrete,  it  also  provides 
improved  sound  insulation.  15kg  of  Nanolight 
replace 25kg of flexible mortar.  

TiOCem®  is  the  commercial name  of  the  cement 
with  TX  Active 
from  Heidelberg 
technology 
Cement.  

TX  Active™is  a  self-cleaning  cement  efficient  in 
destroying atmospheric pollutants (collaboration of 
Heidelberg  Cement  and  Italcementi).  In  Milan  a 
commercial building’s surface, 3000 m2, is coated 
with TX Active™ cement from Italcementi. Iglesia 
Dives (Church) in Misericordia, IT, is a well-known 
building  where  TX  Active  cement  was  used.  In 
addition  to  its  self-cleaning  property,  TX  Active® 
plays role  in reducing  pollution.  Another  example 
where  TX  Active was  used for  construction  is  the 
two white concrete gateway elements of the I-35W 
Bridge  over  the  Mississippi  River  in  Minneapolis, 
US. 

Description 

ANP  produces  IR  blocking  film  and  coating 
solutions.  TRB  Paste  is  UV-curable  IR-shielding 
liquid  containing  ITO,  ATO,  and  other  ultra-fine 
compounds (solar control paste) with high vis ray 
transparency  as  well  as  high  IR/UV  blocking 
properties  and  is  applied  to  window  film  in 
automobiles and buildings. 

 ANI's CNT-reinforced nanocomposite offers strong 
mechanical  properties,  which  makes  it  a  superior 
value added to the construction industry. 

Cereplast Sustainables® are biobased resins which 
are good replacement for petro plastics. The resins 
are  suitable  for  durable  applications  primarily  in 
automotive  and  construction.  The  company  has 
developed a Bio-polyolefins® grades which can be 
used as construction materials. 

ConsERV is the best fixed-plate ERV on the market 
worldwide,  as  validated  by  third-party  rating 
agencies. The product raises the amount of indoor 
fresh  air  to  meet  ventilation  building  codes  while 
saving  up  to  30%  of  energy  costs,  offering  the 
potential to reduce the size of heating and cooling 
equipment  by  1/3rd,  while  also  reducing  harmful 
CO2 emissions by 1.95lbs per hour per ton of use 
avoided for the heating and cooling equipment. 

Nansulate®  HomeProtect™  is  a  clear  thermal 
insulation coating  that lowers heating and cooling 
costs for families in all climates and seasons while 
also  providing  powerful  protective  benefits: 
Resistance to UV damage, moisture, and to mould 

PCI Nanosilent®  

TiOCem® 

TX Active™ 

Producer 

Advanced Nano 
Products 

Applied Nanotech Inc. 

Cereplast Inc. 

DAIS analystics 

Industrial Nanotech 
Inc. 

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SPD-SmartGlass 

Pilkington 
Optilam  

Solarban  

SunGate® 

COOL-LITE  

and  mildew  growth.  Simple  do-it-yourself 
application that is low maintenance and as easy to 
apply as painting a wall. 

Electronically  tintable  glass,  which  has  the  ability 
to change the tint of any window by aligning tiny 
particles electronically in a glass or plastic film. It 
has  the  ability  to  make  buildings  and  homes 
comfortable,  energy  efficient.  It  can  be  used  in 
windows, skylights, doors and partitions.  

Pilkington  Optilam  is  a  high  security  glass,  which 
remains  in  place  even  when  broken.  Different 
varieties  of  Optilam  are  produced  for  different 
applications  i.e.  noise  control,  solar  control,  UV 
screening,  bullet  and  blast  resistance  or  privacy. 
K-glass is a low-emissivity glass from Pilkington.  

Solarban is a low-E glass especially developed for 
hot  climate  regions  by  PPG  Industries.  The  thin 
low-E coating blocks solar energy. It is said to let 
64% less heat from the sun enter through window 
compared to an ordinary glass window.  

SunGate®  is  a  low-E  glass  from  PPG  Industries 
aimed  for  the  consumers  in  cold  climate  zones. 
SunGate  transmits  the  sun’s  visible  light  and 
directs  solar  shortwave  infrared  energy  into  the 
home.  It  also  reflects  the  heat  energy  (infrared 
wave) that comes from a building’s heating system 
back  to  the  building.  Low-E  coating  present  on 
SunGate  glass  is  transparent  and  reduces  the 
transmittance of UV light.  

COOL-LITE  is  a  solar  control  glass  produced  by 
is  manufactured  by 
Saint  Gobain  Glass.  It 
depositing  a  coating  of  metallic  oxides  by 
magnetically  enhanced  cathodic  sputtering  under 
vacuum conditions onto clear or body tinted glass.  

Innovative Glass 
Corporation 

Pilkington 

PPG Industries  

PPG Industries  

Saint-Gobain Glass 

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ANNEX 7: HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY 

INTRODUCTION 

Exposure  to  nanomaterials  in  the  construction  sector  may  be  quite  diverse.  Seven  categories  of 
categories of construction materials were identified within the NanoData project. All combinations of 
nanoparticles and sectors were evaluated. A risk-banding tool called Stoffenmanager Nano (Le Feber 
et al., 2014; Marquart et al., 2008; Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012) was used to prioritise health 
risks  occurring  as  a  result  of  respiratory  exposure  to  nanoparticles  for  a  broad  range  of  worker 
scenarios.  

The respiratory route is the main route of exposure for many occupational scenarios, while the oral 
route of exposure is considered minor and sufficiently covered, from a safety point of view, by good 
hygiene practices established in facilities as prescribed through general welfare provisions in national 
health and safety legislation in EU countries (ECHA, 2012). In view of the nature of the products in 
this sector, oral exposure of consumers is also considered to be minor.  

The dermal route may be the main route of exposure for some substances or exposure situations, 
and cause local effects on the skin or systemic effects after absorption into the body (ECHA, 2012). 
However, nanoparticles as such are very unlikely to penetrate the skin (Watkinson et al., 2013), and 
consequently  nanospecific  systemic  toxicity  via  the  dermal  route  is  improbable.  Therefore,  when 
evaluating  nanorisks  for  the  respiratory  route,  the  most  important  aspects  of  occupational  and 
consumer safety are covered. 

HAZARD ASSESSMENT OF NANOPARTICLES NOT ASSESSED IN 
STOFFENMANAGER NANO 

INTRODUCTION 

In “Stoffenmanager Nano” the available hazard information is used to assign specific nanoparticles 
to  one  of  five  hazard  bands,  labelled  A  to  E  (A=  low  hazard,  E=  highest  hazard).  Not  for  all 
nanomaterials of importance for the construction sector which are listed in the table, hazard banding 
has  been  performed  within  the  context  of  Stoffenmanager  Nano.  For  those  nanoparticles  toxicity 
data have been collected and hazard bands are derived according to the methodology described for 
“Stoffenmanager Nano” in van Duuren-Stuurman et al. (2012). In essence, it applies the toxicity 
classification rules of  EU  Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging 
(CLP) of substances and mixtures. The method is summarised in the figure. 

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Figure  1:  The  stepwise  approach  of  hazard  banding  of  Stoffenmanager  Nano  (Van 
Duuren-Stuurman, et al. 2012) 

C = carcinogenic, +C = and carcinogenic, M = mutagenic, -M = and  not mutagenic, MNO = manufactured 
nanoparticle, R = reprotoxic, resp. = respiratory, T = toxic, T+ = very toxic 
Stoffenmanager refers to the non-nano version of Stoffenmanager as described by Marquart et al. (2008). 

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), single- and multi-walled 

Carbon nanotubes have often been demonstrated to have severe toxicity; however, this seems to 
be  largely  dependent  on  the  dose,  the  degree  of  agglomeration  and  the  route  of  administration.  
Differences in toxicity are also expected between single and multi-walled CNTs and are presumably 
dependent on their aspect ratio (El-Ansary et al., 2013). 

Upon  inhalation,  single  walled  carbon  nanotubes  (SWCNTs)  have  shown  various  chronic 
inflammatory  responses  in  rat  and  mice  (El-Ansary  et  al.,  2013;  Zhao  and  Castranova,  2011).  
SWCNTs have been shown to be genotoxic in mice after inhalation exposure as well as in mouse 
lung  epithelial  cells  and  lung  fibroblasts  (El-Ansary  et  al.,  2013;  Zhao  and  Castranova,  2011). 
SWCNTs have shown to be genotoxic in rats after oral administration (Zhao and Castranova, 2011). 
Multiwalled  carbon  nanotubes  (MWCNTs)  have  shown  systemic  immunological  and  inflammatory 
responses after short-term inhalation exposure (El-Ansary et al., 2013; Yildirimer et al., 2011). In 
the  case  of  short  to  medium  term  pulmonary  exposures  to  SWCNTs  or  MWCNTs  in  rodents,  no 
tumours were reported.  Cellular responses and gene expressions in these studies showed significant 
effects associated with lung cancer (Zhao and Castranova, 2011). 

Several studies have shown the potential for MWCNTs to act like the persistent fibres of asbestos, 
causing thoracic inflammation and fibrosis. In addition, MWCNT have been shown to penetrate into 
the  alveolar  region  of  the  lung  and  to  cause  inflammation  due  to  accumulation  of  alveolar 
macrophages. These biological events have been shown to lead to mesothelioma, although MWCNT 
have  not  been  demonstrated  to  de  facto  cause  mesotheliomas.  Still  the  weight-of-evidence  for 
certain types of MWCNT (e.g., those with high aspect ratios) is increasing: mice injected with long 
(> 15 μm) MWCNT or asbestos showed significantly increased granulocytes in the pleural lavage, 
com-pared  with  the  vehicle  control  at  24  hours  post  ex¬posure.  Long  MWCNT  caused  rapid 

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inflammation and persistent inflammation, fibrotic lesions, and mesothelial cell proliferation at the 
parietal pleural surface at 24 weeks post exposure. Chronic in vitro exposure (4 months) of human 
mesothelial cells to MWCNT induced proliferation, migration and invasion of the cells similar to those 
observed with crocidolite asbestos as well as a similar up-regulation of a key gene involved in the 
process of cell invasion (matrix metalloproteinase-2) (Lohcharoenkal et al., 2013). As a matter of 
fact,  at  the  same  mass  exposure  (0.02  µg/cm2)  MWCNT  caused  a  higher  fold  increase    in  cell 
migration and invasion than crocidolite asbestos (c. 3- and 2-fold, respectively). Also asbestos and 
rigid, high-aspect-ratio CNT activated the NLRP3 inflammasome to the same extent (Palomaki et al., 
2011). The NLRP3 believed to play a central role in inflammatory diseases (Abderrazak et al., 2015). 
Frustrated  phagocytosis  is  believed  to  be  the  trigger  for  the  chain  of  events  leading  to 
mesotheliomas; in order to be able to cause this phenomenon fibres need to be biopersistent and 
longer than 5 µm (Donaldson et al., 2013). Concluding, flexible, rigid, high-aspect-ratio MWCNT may 
cause cancer in a similar fashion as asbestos and may be as potent in this respect. 

Based on the data summarised above, there are indications that carbonanotubes are mutagenic and 
carcinogenic while some can be classified as persistent fibres. Therefore, they are consigned to the 
highest hazard band, E. 

Carbon nano-fibres (CNFs) 

CNFs are related to CNTs (Fubini et al., 2011; NIOSH, 2013). The former consist of stacked graphite 
platelets, while the latter consist of graphite platelets rolled up in cylinders. Due to their graphitic 
structure, CNFs are highly insoluble, and thus highly biopersistent, and are not expected to be broken 
down when inhaled (Fubini et al., 2011).  Fubini et  al.  (2011) have summarised the in vitro toxic 
properties of CNFs in comparison with carbon black, an extremely fluffy fine powder with a large 
surface  area  composed  of  elemental  carbon  (IARC,  2010),  and  CNTs.  The  most  important 
observations are mentioned below. 

Monocytic cells treated with CNFs entangled into aggregates of approximately 10 μm in diameter do 
not  exhibit  signs  of  incom¬plete  uptake,  unlike  monocytic  cells  treated  with  straight  and  well-
dispersed  CNTs.  Several  studies  show  that  the  cytotoxicity  of  CNFs  is  very  low.  Different  carbon 
nanoparticles in human lung-tumour cell lines all decrease the number of viable cells as a function 
of dose. The sequence  of increasing potency  in this test is carbon black < CNFs < CNTs. Carbon 
nanofibres  have  a  low  inflammatory  potential.  CNFs  did  not  significantly  stimulate  inflammatory 
cyto¬kines,  such  as  TNF-a  in  monocyte  cells.  Genotoxicity  was  assessed  by  the  comet  and  the 
micronucleus assay in  human bronchial epithe¬lial cells. While CNTs induced  a dose-depen¬dent 
increase  in  DNA  damage  at  all  dose  and  treatment  times,  CNFs  induced  DNA  strand  breaks  and 
chromosomal damage in human bronchial epithelial only after a long time of treatment with no dose 
dependence.  However,  CNFs  containing  iron  impurities  (<1.4%  wt)  showed  a  genotoxicity 
compa¬rable with asbestos and stronger than SWCNTs. (Fubini et al., 2011) 

NIOSH (2013) has also reviewed in vivo  test with CNFs and noted that exposure to CNFs can cause 
respiratory effects similar to those observed in animals exposed to CNTs. The longest duration study 
in which  CNFs  were tested  in rats, in general the  most sensitive species for respiratory  insoluble 
particle  overload,  was  a  subchronic  study  with  rats.  Comparison  of  the  results  of  this  study  with 
similar  studies  with  other  carbon  nanoparticles,  shows  that  CNFs  are  a  less  potent  inflammatory 
agent than MWCNTs and of comparable potency as carbon black (CB). 

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Table 1 Comparison of the toxicity of CBNs in sub-chronic inhalation studies in rats 

Parameter 

CB 

CNF 

MWCNT 

Adverse effects 

Inflammatory 
effects like 
hyperplasia 
and 
interstitial 
fibrosis and 
impaired 
lung 
clearance 
(Elder et al., 
2005) 

Subacute to chronic 
inflammation of the 
terminal bronchiole and 
alveolar duct regions of 
the lungs, thickening of 
the interstitial walls and 
hypertrophy/hyperplasia 
of type II pneumocytes 
(Delorme et al, 2012)  

Baytubes 

Inflammatory 
changes in the 
bronchioloalveolar 
region and 
increased 
interstitial 
collagen staining, 
granulomatous 
changes, increase 
of 
a 
bronchioloalveolar 
hyperplasia 
(Pauluhn, 2010) 

NOAEL / BMD10 
(μg 
deposited/lung) 

226a 

190b 

28c 

Nanocyl NC 
7000 
Pronounced 
multifocal 
granulomatous 
inflammation, 
diffuse 
histiocytic and 
neutrophilic 
inflammation, 
and intra-
alveolar 
lipoproteinosis 
in lung and 
lung-
associated 
lymph nodes 
(Ma-Hock et 
al, 2009)  
21c 

a NOAEL, calculated by Buist et al. (2016); b NOAEL, calculated by NIOSH (2013); BMDL10, calculated by NIOSH 
(2013) 

Concluding,  CNFs  appear  to  be  of  comparable  toxicity  with  CB  and  are  less  toxic  than  MWCNTs. 
Since MWCNTs are attributed to hazard band E and carbon black to hazard band D in Stoffenmanager 
Nano  (Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012), CNFs are placed in hazard band D. 

Copper  

No in vivo inhalation toxicity studies with metallic copper nanoparticles adequate for toxicological 
risk  assessment  were  encountered  in  public  literature.  As  metallic  copper  is  insoluble  in  water, 
classification  of  the  bulk  material  could  be  used  to  derive  a  hazard  band  for  metallic  copper 
nanoparticles. Bulk copper is not classified for human toxicological endpoints , which would mean it 
should  be  attributed  hazard  band  C  (Van  Duuren-Stuurman  et  al.,  2012).  However,  the  ECHA 
registration dossier explicitly mentions the classification is only applicable to copper powders, with 
particle size > 10µm and <1 mm. Furthermore, like e.g. silver nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles 
are antimicrobials whose effectiveness increases with decreasing size (see e.g. Nuñez-Anita et al., 
2014; Schrand et al., 2010) suggesting that nanocopper like nanosilver is more toxic than its bulk 
counterpart. Comparative in vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity showed nanocopper to even be slightly 
more cytotoxic than nanosilver (24h-IC50 in MTT assays with THP-1 cells 19 µg/mL for nanosilver 
and 1.7-6.5 µg/mL for nanocopper) (Lanone et al., 2009). Nanosilver has been attributed hazard 
band  D  (Le  Feber  et  al.,  2014),  and  based  on  the  comparison  mentioned  above,  nanocopper  is 
attributed the same hazard band. 

Graphene 

Graphene is composed of sp2-hybridised carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional structure. The 
various  forms  of  graphene  include  few-layer  graphene,  reduced  graphene  oxide,  graphene 
nanosheets  and  graphene  oxide  (GO)  (Seabra  et  al.,  2014);  these  different  forms  may  also  be 
functionalised, that is chemically modified to enhance certain properties (see e.g. Nezakati et al., 
2014; Yang et al., 2011). 

The UK government body, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and 
the  US  Food  and  Drug  Administration  (FDA)  are  now  reviewing  all  forms  of  graphene  and 
functionalised graphene oxide (GO) because of their poor solubility, high agglomeration, long-term 
retention, and relatively long circulation time in the blood (Begum et al., 2011 cited in Nezakati et 
al., 2014).  

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Currently, limited information about the in vitro and in vivo toxicity of graphene is available (Seabra 
et  al.,  2014).  The  toxicity  profiles  of  graphene  and  graphene  oxide  (GO)  nanoparticles  remain 
difficult to separate, since their characterisation, bulk and chemical composition are very similar at 
the nanometre length scale (Nezakati et al., 2014).  

In vitro graphene has been demonstrated to be cytotoxic, be it overall to a lesser degree than carbon 
nanotubes (Seabra  et al., 2014). However,  the  reliability of this conclusion can be doubted since 
Seabra et al. stated that graphene showed an inverse dose-relationship, being more cytotoxic than 
carbon nanotubes at low concentrations. The only elaborate comparative study reported by Seabra 
et  al.,  refers  to  genotoxicity  towards  human  fibroblast  cells.  GO  proved  to  be  the  most  potent 
genotoxic agent compared to iron oxide (Fe304), titanium dioxide (Ti02), silicon dioxide (Si02), zinc 
oxide (ZnO), indium (In), tin (Sn), core—shell zinc sulfate-coated cadmium selenide (CdSe(3)ZnS), 
and carbon nanotubes. 

Intratracheal  instillation  of    50  µg  GO  in  mice  caused  severe  pulmonary  distress  after  inhalation 
causing excessive inflammation, while the amount of non-functionalised graphene instilled did not 
(Duch et al., 2011). Single intravenous (i.v.) injection of graphene oxide into mice at a dose of 10 
mg/kg bw  accumulated in the lung resulting in pulmonary oedema and granuloma formation, with 
NOAEL  of  1  mg/kg  bw  (Zhang  et  al.,  2011).  Furthermore,  surface  functionalised  graphene 
(PEGylated) appears to be far less toxic: no toxic effects after single i.v. injection of 20 mg/kg bw 
(Yang  et  al.,  2011).  In  mice,  PEGylated  GO  materials  showed  no  uptake  via  oral  administration, 
indicating limited intestinal absorption of the material, with almost complete excretion. In contrast, 
upon i.p. injection in mice, PEGylated GO was found to accumulate in the liver and spleen (Yang et 
al., 2013, cited in Seabra et al., 2014). 

The toxicity of graphene is dependent on the graphene surface (the chemical structure or the nature 
of the functionalised coatings), size, number of layers, and synthesis methods (Seabra et al., 2014). 
Generalisations are therefore hard to make, but graphene nanostructures are not fibre-shaped and 
theoretically may be assumed to be more safe than carbon nanotubes (Seabra et al., 2014). 

Based on the scarce available evidence, and in spite of its theoretical advantage in relation to carbon 
nanotubes, it cannot be excluded that some forms of graphene will be as potent a toxicant as carbon 
nanotubes. Therefore, graphene is assigned to hazard band E. 

Graphite nanoparticles 

Graphite is one of only three naturally occurring allotropes of carbon (the others being amorphous 
carbon  and  diamond  and  has  a  honeycomb  lattice  structure  .  According  to  Figarol  et  al.  (2015), 
nanographite is synonymous with graphene, while Ma-Hock et al. (2013) make a distinction between 
graphene and graphite nanoplatelets, without being specific on how the one is distinguished from 
the  other,  both  possessing  the  hexagonal  graphite  structure  at  the  molecular  level.  As  long  the 
distinction between nanographite and graphene is not clear, it is considered to be one of the many 
forms of graphene and evaluated in that category (see section above). 

Iron oxide 

Classified by Stoffenmanager Nano in hazard band D for sizes ≤50 nm (C for sizes >50 nm) (Van 
Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012). Since the size distribution of the iron oxide nanoparticles used may 
include sizes below 50 nm, the highest risk band is used in the risk assessment applied here.  

Molybdenum 

No toxicity studies on nanomolybdenum were encountered in public literature. It is insoluble in water 
(WHO, 2011). Due to this lack of data it therefore needs to be hazard banded based on the hazardous 
properties of its bulk parent compound (Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012). Molydenum is classified 
by  a  considerable  number  of  CLP-notifiers    as  a  suspected  reprotoxicant    (category  2)  .  This  is 
confirmed by the background data provided by the WHO, in which molybdenum is reported to impair 
male fertility at relatively high oral doses in rats and calves (ca. 4 mg/kg bw or more) (WHO, 2011). 
It should be noted it was not explicitly indicated that metallic molybdenum was dosed.  Based on 
the self-classification of (bulk) molybdenum as a reprotoxicant, nanomolybdenum should be placed 
in hazard band E according to the criteria of Stoffenmanager Nano (Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 
2012). 

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Silicon carbide (SiC) 

SiC  occurs  in  several  forms:  (spherical)  particles,  fibres,  and  whiskers.  SiC  particles  are 
manufactured (mostly for use as industrial abrasive) mainly by the Acheson process, with SiC fibres 
being  unwanted  by-products.  SiC  fibres  are  generally  poly-crystalline  and  of  variable  length  and 
diameter.  They  may  include  fibres  that  are  indistinguishable  from  whiskers.  SiC  whiskers  are 
intentionally produced by different processes as durable industrial substitutes for asbestos; they are 
physically  homogeneous  and  mono¬crystalline,  and  their  dimensions  are  similar  to  asbestos 
amphiboles (Grosse et al., 2014). 

SiC nanoparticles were not genotoxic in an in vitro Comet assay nor were they cytotoxic (Barillet et 
al., 2009). However, SiC nanoparticles did cause oxidative stress reactions in vitro (Barillet et al., 
2009; Pourchez et al., 2012) as well as inflammatory responses (Pourchez et al., 2012). Barillet et 
al.  also  investigated  long  and  short  CNTs  as  well  as  different  nanoTiO2  compounds.  SiC 
nanaoparticles were less potent  than  all the  other particles on  a per  weight basis. The degree to 
which  SiC  nanoparticles  caused  these  toxic  reactions  depended  on  surface  area,  crystallite  size, 
nature of crystallite phase, and iron content (Pourchez et al., 2012). 

The carcinogenicity of SiC fibres was investigated in two studies on workers who were exposed to 
fibrous  and  non-fibrous  SiC,  quartz,  and  cristobalite  while  involved  in  the  production  of  SiC 
nanoparticles via the Acheson process. Based on these studies, occupational exposures associated 
with the Acheson process were classified IARC as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) on the basis of 
sufficient evidence in humans that they cause lung cancer (Grosse et al., 2014). Since the correlation 
between exposures to SiC fibres and cristobalite made it difficult to disentangle their independent 
effects, IARC concluded that fibrous SiC is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) (Grosse et 
al., 2014). No data on in humans exposed to SiC whiskers were available. In experimental animals, 
there was sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of SiC whiskers, with mesotheliomas observed 
in four studies in rats exposed by implantation or injection, or via inhalation study. Based on these 
studies, IARC classified SiC whiskers as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), on the basis 
that the physical properties of the whiskers resemble those of asbestos and erionite fibres, which 
are known carcinogens. In addition, the results of available mechanistic studies were consistent with 
proposed mechanisms of fibre  carcinogenicity  (Grosse  et al., 2014). Grosse  et al. (2014) did not 
explicitly discuss carcinogenicity of SiC nanoparticles. 

Since  SiC  fibres  and  whiskers  are  persistent  fibres  and  are  suspected  carcinogens,  they  should 
attributed hazard band E, according to Stoffenmanager Nano (Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012). 
SiC nanoparticles are not genotoxic, be it based on scant evidence, but exhibit characteristics (ROS 
formation, inflammatory responses) similar to e.g. titanium dioxide nanoparticles. In an update on 
some metal oxide nanoparticles  hazard band C was attributed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Le 
Feber et al., 2014), consequently the same hazard band is attributed to SiC nanoparticles. 

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles, crystalline 

Classified by Stoffenmanager Nano in hazard band E (Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012).  

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles, synthetic amorphous 

In an update on some oxide nanoparticles  hazard band B was attributed to synthetic amorphous 
zinc oxide nanoparticles (Le Feber et al., 2014) 

Titanium dioxide  

In an update on some metal oxide nanoparticles  hazard band C was attributed to titanium dioxide 
nanoparticles (Le Feber et al., 2014). 

Tungsten Oxide  

No toxicity studies on nano tungsten oxide were encountered in public literature. It is insoluble in 
water (ATSDR, 2005). Due to this lack of data it therefore needs to be hazard banded based on the 
hazardous properties of its bulk parent compound (Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012). There is no 
official EU classification for tungsten oxide and most registrants have not (self)classified tungsten 
oxide, while some have classified it as possibly carcinogenic . In the registration dossier published 
by ECHA, no data supporting one or the other conclusion have been submitted . ATSDR has published 
a  toxicity  profile  for  tungsten  (ATSDR,  2005)  as  well  as  an  update  of  the  earlier  profile  (ATSDR, 
2015).  Its  sodium  salt  (sodium  tungstate)  is  not  mutagenic  in  the  Ames  test  nor  did  it  cause 
chromosome aberration in vitro, but it did prove to be mutagenic in the Chinese hamster lung V79 

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cell HGPRT forward mutation assay (ATSDR, 2005). Sodium tungsten dehydrate was negative in in 
vivo  micronucleus  tests  in  rats  and  mice,  but  positive  in  in  vivo  Comet  assays  in  mice  (ATSDR, 
2015). Alloys with cobalt and tungsten carbide are carcinogenic when implanted in mice. It is unclear 
whether  cobalt  or  tungsten  is  the  causative  agent.    A  drinking  water  carcinogenicity  study  with 
sodium tungstate dehydrate has been performed by the NTP (ATSDR, 2015), but so far the results 
have not been published (NTP site last checked on March 7, 2016). Epidemiological studies did not 
show  an  association  between  tungsten  exposure  (as  measured  by  urinary  tungsten  levels)  and 
carcinogenicity, however the power of the studies was too low to draw definitive conclusions (ATSDR, 
2015).  Concluding,  there  are  indications  tungsten  oxide  may  be  a  mutagenic  carcinogen  and 
therefore tungsten oxide nanoparticles should be attributed hazard band E according to the criteria 
of Stoffenmanager Nano (Van Duuren-Stuurman et al., 2012). 

Vanadium pentoxide (divanadium pentaoxide) 

No toxicity studies on nanovanadium pentaoxide were encountered in public literature. It is soluble 
in water and can therefore be hazard banded based on the hazardous properties of its bulk parent 
compound  (Van  Duuren-Stuurman  et  al.,  2012).  Vanadium  pentoxide  is  classified  in  the  EU  as 
reprotoxic and mutagenic and should therefore be assigned to the highest hazard band, E. 

Zinc oxide nanoparticles 

In  an  update  on  some  metal  oxide  nanoparticles    hazard  band  B  was  attributed  to  zinc  oxide 
nanoparticles (Le Feber et al., 2014). 

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 

Cement/lime concrete and mortars and other derivatives 

Concrete is widely used in the world. An ordinary concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, gravel and 
water. Additives are added to achieve some special properties, e.g. to increase strength, hardness 
or corrosion resistance. Among these additives, silica fumes are very important materials. By adding 
microsilica high performance concrete is produced, but by using nanosilica ultra-high performance 
concrete  is  formed,  which  is  used  increasingly  .  In  addition,  nanotitania  particles  have  also  been 
added in concrete due to its self-cleaning properties at the surface.  

Furthermore,  CNTs  and  CNFs  are  being  incorporated  in  concrete,  as  both  fill  the  pore  spaces  in 
concrete more effectively compared to more conventional fillers like sand. CNF are considered to be 
superior over CNTs because their stacked structure has exposed edges increasing surface area and 
thus improving bonding characteristics. 

In “Stoffenmanager Nano” sets of exposure scenarios are assigned to exposure bands labelled 1 to 
4  (1=low  exposure,  4=  highest  exposure).  As  explained  in  the  introduction,  only  respiratory  
exposure is considered here.   

The  likelihood  of  exposure  to  nanoparticles  during  handling  cement,  concretes  etc.  is  highly 
dependent upon the type of process and the type of equipment involved in the process. Nevertheless, 
the  usage  (building  phase  e.g.  mixing,  dumping,  transferring)  of  powder  materials  results  in  the 
highest  exposure  potential  (4).  If  the  nanomaterial  is  included  in  a  liquid  mixture  (the 
cement/concrete, building phase) the exposure potential is highly reduced (2). If the nanomaterial 
is  in  a  matrix  (use  phase,  hardened  cement/mortal)    the  exposure  potential  is  low  (1).  During 
abrasive  activities  (demolition  phase)  on  the  cement/concrete  the  worker  can  be  exposed  to 
nanomaterials but the exposure potential is still relatively low (2). 

Steel: Nano-modified steel and nano-additions to steel 

In addition to carbon and iron, some compounds like copper, vanadium oxide and molybdenum may 
been added to steel as nanoparticles. The likelihood of exposure to nanoparticles during the handling 
of nano-additions in powder form results in the highest exposure potential (building phase, 4). If the 
nanomaterial is in the steel the exposure potential is low (use phase, 1). Abrasion of an object which 
includes  nanomaterial  may  result  in  exposure  to  steel  aerosols  which  include  nanomaterials, 
resulting in an relative low exposure potential (demolition phase, 2). 

Glass: self-cleaning, energy-saving windows 

Nanomaterials (titanium dioxide) are used in glass for itself cleaning properties and to reduce the 
sunlight and heat entering the building. If the nanomaterial is in the glass the exposure potential is 

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low  (use  phase,  1).  Handling  powder  titanium  dioxide  to  produce  the  glass  results  in  an  highest 
exposure potential (building phase, 4).  

Heat insulation materials 

The use of nanomaterials (e.g. nanoscale silica, graphite or silicon carbide) in this category include 
aerogels  and  vacuum  insulation  panels  for  heat  insulation.  In  the  occupational  setting  powder 
nanomaterials can be handled resulting in the highest exposure potential (building phase, 4). If the 
nanomaterial is in the matrix of the insulation material the exposure potential is low (use phase, 1).  

Wood material 

Nanomaterial  based  coatings  applied  to  wood  material  or  wood  composites  are  improving  the 
functionalities  (durability,  water  resistance,  fungi  resistance)  of  wood  as  a  construction  material. 
However, this is described under coatings and paints below.  

Coatings and paints 

Paints or coatings are frequently used in construction to protect the surface from harmful weathering 
effects. In addition, they also provide beauty to the surface. Paints are composed of base, vehicle 
or binder, solvent or thinner, drier and colouring pigments. In addition, several nanomaterials (e.g. 
TiO2, ZnO, SiO2 )  are applied in coating for self-cleaning properties, better water resistance etc. 
Naturally,  silica  dioxide  can  be  present  as  amorphous  or  crystalline  nanoparticles,  but  in  most 
applications the amorphous form is used (Kaiser et al., 2013). In the building phase, the exposure 
potential is relatively low (2) since the nanomaterial is dispersed in the coating, except when the 
coating  is  sprayed on  a  surface,  then  the  exposure  potential  is  high  (4).  If  the  coating  is  on  the 
surface the exposure potential is again low (use phase, 1). 

Sensors and self-healing materials 

We did not received any information about nanomaterials in this category. We assume that in this 
category no nanomaterials are used and just nanotechnology is applied (that is, involving processes 
on nanoscale).  

RISK ASSESSMENT 

The  hazard  and  exposure  bands  are  combined  to  yield  so  called  priority  bands,  according  to  the 
scheme depicted in the table Priority bands in the Stoffenmanager. A high priority implies that it is 
urgent to apply exposure control measures or to assess the risks more precisely, and a low priority 
implies that it is not very urgent to apply exposure control measures or to establish the risk involved 
with more precision. It should be emphasized that because of the scarcity of available information, 
the scheme is set in a conservative way (according to the precautionary principle). 

Table 2: Priority bands in the Stoffenmanager 

Hazard band 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

Exposure band 

1 

2 

3 

4 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

3 

2 

1 

3 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Key: 
Hazard: A = lowest hazard and E = highest hazard;  
Exposure: 1 = lowest exposure and 4 = highest exposure;  
Overall result: 1 = highest priority and 3 = lowest priority (Van Duuren-Stuurman, et al. 2012) 

Roughly four phases can be discerned in the life cycle of construction materials: production, building, 
use  and  demolition.  In  principle,  production  is  covered  in  the  sector  report  on  manufacturing, 

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consequently this report is limited to the building, use and demolition phases. If in a phase different 
degrees  of  exposure  may  occur,  the  highest  exposure  scenario  is  taken  into  account  in  the  risk 
assessment (worst case scenario). 

The evaluation below is not applicable to wooden building materials, and sensors and self-healing 
materials; for the first category of building materials no nanomaterials were discovered in the market 
inventory,  for  the  second  category  it  is  assumed  they  may  contain  nanostructures  without  the 
presence of nanomaterials.  For all remaining categories, the building phase generates the highest 
exposure (worst case exposure always in band 4), the use phase the lowest (exposure band 1) and 
the demolition phase intermediate (exposure band 2). The resulting risk priority bands are listed in 
Table 2. 

Table 3: Priority bands in the Stoffenmanager Priority bands for the construction sector 

Nanomaterial 

Hazard 
band 

Exposure band 

Building 
phase 

Use 
phase 

Demolition 
phase 

Carbon  nanotubes/nanofibres 

Copper 

Graphene / nanographite 

Iron oxide 

Molybdenum 

dioxide 

carbide, 

carbide, 

spherical 

fibres  and 

Silicon 
whiskers 
Silicon 
particles 
Silicon 
crystalline 
Silicon dioxide (silica), synthetic 
amorphous 
Titanium dioxide (titania, rutile, 
anatase) 
Tungsten oxide 

(silica), 

Vanadium pentoxide  

Zinc oxide 

E 

D 

E 

D 

E 

E 

C 

E 

B 

C 

E 

E 

B 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

3 

1 

3 

3 

1 

1 

3 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

3 

2 

1 

1 

3 

Due  to  the  high  expected  exposure  all  nanomaterials  reach  the  highest  risk  priority  during  the 
building phase.  

In  the  use  phase,  amorphous  silicon  dioxide,  titanium  dioxide,  spherical  SiC  and  zinc  oxide 
nanoparticles have a low risk priority while carbon nanotubes, molybdenum, nanographite, silicon 
carbide fibres and whiskers, crystalline silicon dioxide, tungsten oxide and vanadium pentoxide have 
the highest risk priority and the remainder of the nanomaterials has an intermediate risk priority. It 
should be noted that in the use phase all nanomaterials are contained in a solid matrix, meaning 
exposure will be negligible and thus health risks will be low.  

In  the  demolition  phase,  risk  management/evaluation  of  building  materials  containing  carbon 
nanotubes,  molybdenum,  nanographite,  silicon  carbide  fibres  and  whiskers,  crystalline  silicon 
dioxide,  tungsten  oxide  and  vanadium  pentoxide  should  receive  the  highest  priority,  while 
amorphous silicon dioxide and zinc oxide have a low risk priority. The building materials containing 
the remainder of the listed nanomaterials should receive intermediate priority during the demolition 
phase. 

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REFERENCES 

Bomhard,  E.M.,  Gelbke,  H.,  Schenk,  H.,  Williams,  G.M.,  Cohen,  S.M.,  2013.  Evaluation  of  the 
carcinogenicity of gallium arsenide. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 43, 436-466. 

Duch, M.C., Budinger, G.R.S., Liang, Y.T., Soberanes, S., Urich,  D., Chiarella, S.E., Campochiaro, 
L.A., Gonzalez, A., Chandel, N.S., Hersam, M.C., Mutlu, G.M., 2011. Minimizing oxidation and stable 
nanoscale dispersion improves the biocompatibility of graphene in the lung. Nano Letters 11, 5201-
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ECHA,  2012.  Chapter  R.14:    Occupational  exposure  estimation,  in:  Anonymous  Guidance  on 
Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment., Version: 2.1 ed. European Chemicals 
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Foster, C.M., Collazo, R., Sitar, Z., Ivanisevic, A., 2013. Aqueous stability of Ga- and N-polar gallium 
nitride. Langmuir 29, 216-220. 

Jewett,  S.A.,  Makowski,  M.S.,  Andrews,  B.,  Manfra,  M.J.,  Ivanisevic,  A.,  2012.  Gallium  nitride  is 
biocompatible and non-toxic before and after functionalization with peptides. Acta Biomater. 8, 728-
733. 

Le Feber, M., Kroese, E.D., Kuper, C.F., Stockmann-Juvala, H., Hyytinen, E.R., 2014. Pre-assigned 
hazard bands for commonly used nanoparticles. TNO2014 R11884. 

Marquart,  H.,  Heussen,  H.,  Le  Feber,  M.,  Noy,  D.,  Tielemans,  E.,  Schinkel,  J.,  West,  J.,  Van  Der 
Schaaf, D., 2008. 'Stoffenmanager', a web-based control banding tool using an exposure process 
model. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 52, 429-441. 

Nezakati, T., Cousins, B.G., Seifalian, A.M., 2014. Toxicology of chemically modified graphene-based 
materials for medical application. Arch. Toxicol. 88, 1987-2012. 

Seabra, A.B., Paula, A.J., De Lima, R., Alves, O.L., Durán, N., 2014. Nanotoxicity of graphene and 
graphene oxide. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 27, 159-168. 

Van Duuren-Stuurman, B., Vink, S., Verbist, K.J.M., Heussen, H.G.A., Brouwer, D., Kroese, D.E.D., 
Van Niftrik, M.F.J., Tielemans, E., Fransman, W., 2012. Stoffenmanager Nano version 1.0: a web-
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Watkinson, A.C., Bunge, A.L., Hadgraft, J., Lane, M.E., 2013. Nanoparticles do not penetrate human 
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Yang, K., Wan, J., Zhang, S., Zhang, Y., Lee, S., Liu, Z., 2011. In vivo pharmacokinetics, long-term 
biodistribution, and toxicology of pegylated graphene in mice. ACS Nano 5, 516-522. 

Zhang,  X.,  Yin,  J.,  Peng,  C.,  Hu,  W.,  Zhu,  Z.,  Li,  W.,  Fan,  C.,  Huang,  Q.,  2011.  Distribution  and 
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How to obtain EU publications 

Free publications: 

•  one copy: 

        via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu); 

•  more than one copy or posters/maps: 

        from the European Union’s representations (http://ec.europa.eu/represent_en.htm);  
        from the delegations in non-EU countries (http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/index_en.htm);  
        by contacting the Europe Direct service (http://europa.eu/europedirect/index_en.htm) or 
        calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (freephone number from anywhere in the EU) (*). 

        (*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you). 

Priced publications: 

•  via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu).  

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This report offers a snapshot of the environment for nanotechnology in the context 
of  construction.  It  gives  an  overview  of  policies  and  programmes  for 
nanotechnology and construction in the EU (and wider), publications, patenting, 
research  &  innovation,  industry,  products  and  markets,  and  the  wider 
environment.  The  report  is  part  of  a  series  of  eight  NanoData  Landscape 
Compilation  studies  covering  the  application  of  nanotechnology  in  the  fields  of 
construction,  energy,  environment,  health,  ICT,  manufacturing,  photonics  and 
transport. 

Studies and reports