At COMS2004 I presented a summary of a definitive report published on 29 July 2004 by the UK Royal Society and the Academy of Engineering, 'Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties'. (1) This independent report, commissioned by the UK Government, set out to cover all the issues related to the future impact of nanotechnology on industry and society, including public concerns about health and safety. The Government accepted the findings of the report and gave its official response in February 2005 (2). The Government response is essentially a blueprint for how research should be conducted and how companies should exploit that research within a framework that contains some regulation on the production of toxic chemicals. It aims to provide a realistic assessment of concerns raised in the report and clarifies Government policy on dealing with those concerns. The importance of creating effective mechanisms for informing and engaging with the business community and wider public is emphasised. It is the role of Government to create an environment where the governance, regulation and use of new science and technology is acceptable. The development of a commercialisation infrastructure for MNT is inextricably linked to companies having confidence that development and manufacturing can proceed free from controversy. Therefore the Government response to the RS/RAEng report is crucial. The current UK MNT capital infrastructure programme that supports the extension and building of new competence centres integrated into the research and industrial base must take account of the issues raised in the report. Limited space only permits some of the key elements of the response to be included in this paper. Those most related to exploitation and commercialisation issues have been selected and are outlined below. These are: research into the potential environmental human health risks of nanotechnologies related to industrial manufacturing and new applications; key research related to measurement, detection and assessment risks for nanoparticles and nanotubes; a review of existing regulation and the need for new rules and internationally agreed standards. The material outlined has been taken from the Government's Response Report.
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