Norms for Nanotechnology
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How can we pave the way to the world market for nanotechnology-based products and processes? Some 130 experts from 27 countries met in Berlin June 4-8, 2007, to discuss international norms and standards for nano-products.
“Nanotechnologies are viewed as the potentially strongest economic engine of the 21st century. To use this potential, we have to ensure their acceptance by the general public. Globally recognized norms and standards will help enormously in this regard,” said former Research Minister Edelgard Bulmahn, chairperson of the Technology and Industry Committee of the German Parliament, in her speech at the reception held on June 6 in the Reichstag building. |
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| Nano-experts in front of the Reichstag dome: Edelgard Bulmahn (third from left); Dr. Markus Pridöhl (second from right), Nano-Coordinator at Degussa. | |
How can we pave the way to the world market for nanotechnology-based products and processes? Some 130 experts from 27 countries met in Berlin June 4-8, 2007, to discuss international norms and standards for nano-products.
“Nanotechnologies are viewed as the potentially strongest economic engine of the 21st century. To use this potential, we have to ensure their acceptance by the general public. Globally recognized norms and standards will help enormously in this regard,” said former Research Minister Edelgard Bulmahn, chairperson of the Technology and Industry Committee of the German Parliament, in her speech at the reception held on June 6 in the Reichstag building.
Joint standards would also mean a competitive advantage in international markets for nanomaterials. "This is why the national and, especially, the international standardization activities of DIN and ISO are finding such wide support by Germany's chemical industry,” said Dr. Markus Pridöhl, who coordinates nanotechnologies at Degussa and represented the RAG subsidiary at the conference.
The main items on the agenda of this ISO conference were defining key terminology for nanotechnology, the analysis of carbon nanotubes, and a status report on the health aspects of nanomaterials.