DECHEMA/VCI working group "Responsible Production and Use of Nanomaterials"

Objectives

The working group pursues the goal of identifying possible risks associated with chemical nanotechnology, and of promoting the successful realization of the economic and technological opportunities by initiating suitable measures, considering ethical, ecological, social and health care aspects. The group focuses on nanoparticles and nanotubes in their free and bonded state.

Procedure

Open and target oriented discussions by the working group of the advantages of nanotechnological products for the users and of risk assessment studies and open questions. The results of these discussion should be made public.

Tasks

• Identifying and prioritizing research topics, that need to be addressed in order to assess possible risks of nanomaterials. An additional goal of the working group is to actively prepare project proposals on the basis of the identified research topics and to support their realisation. The practical relevance of the projects will be stressed.

• International cooperation in these areas with the goal of using synergies, of widening the database and of increasing the influence of the working group. This includes the participation in further networks, if necessary.

• Concerted dialogue with organisations which have reservations about chemical nanotechnology.

• Development and continuous improvement of a related communication strategy

Members

The working group is an interdisciplinary organisation consisting of representatives of the chemical industry, science, government and government agencies. The internal circle taking part in the discussions consists of experts from industry and science, and is supplemented by the outer circle, consisting of safety organisations and government representatives.

Function

The DECHEMA/VCI working group is assigned to the DECHEMA working party Chemical Nanotechnology (Chairman: Dr. Rüdiger Iden, BASF corporation, Ludwigshafen) and to the Research, Science and Education Committee of VCI (Chairman: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schreckenbach, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt). It is chaired by Dr. Markus Pridöhl, Degussa AG, Hanau, and will have approx. 35 members. The working group’s name is "Responsible Production and Use of Nanomaterials"

The meetings of the working group are organised by DECHEMA (contact: Dr. Andreas Förster). All aspects related to communications are organised by VCI (contact: Dr. Annette Vielfort).