Swiss Federal Council Adopts Action Plan on "Synthetic Nanomaterials"
Berne, Switzerland - The Federal Council has adopted the Action Plan on synthetic nanomaterials. This will promote a sustainable development of nanotechnolgies and a differentiated public dialogue on their risks and opportunities.
Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing field of research and development with increasing significance for business, research and society. In Switzerland, interdisciplinary research is being promoted since 2001 under the national research focus "Nanoscale Science". It is important to investigate thoroughly the potential risks as well as opportunities associated with it, and if necessary to take measures to protect humans and the environment.
The Swiss Federal Council in its session on April 9th has adopted the action plan on Synthetic Nanomaterials and charged the Federal Offices for the Environment (FOEN) and Public Health (FOPH) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco) with the coordination of its realisation. Preceding this step, a basis report has been published in 2007.
The action plan points out how a responsible development in the area of synthetic nanomaterials can be assured over the next years while accounting for the different economic interests as well as considerations of consumer, employee and environment protection. In order to be able to control the risks of nanotechnology within the existing legislation, an extension of the available knowledge base will be necessary. The proposed actions focus on the areas of risk research, cooperation between industry and research, open dialogue and promotion of voluntariness.
The adoption of the action plan underscores the leading position of Switzerland in the international dialogue about the opportunities and risks of nanotechnology. As one of the most promising technological developments in recent years, nanotechnology is of major importance for Switzerland as a business and research location. The proposed measures further strengthen and complement existing public innovation promotion activities in the area of nanotechnology.
The elaboration of the action plan’s basic report was coordinated by a broad expert group under thelead of FOEN, FOPG and seco, taking into account similar activities on the European and internationallevel. The Innovation Society was involved in the project as a consultant.