Glonatech S.A., the nanotechnology company of ONEX Group, participated in the International Workshop on Sustainable Nanotechnologies (SUN), which took place in Venice, Italy, on the 7th of October, 2015.
Ms Mimigianni Paraskevi, Researcher at the R&D Department of Glonatech S.A., participated as a stakeholder in the 2nd SUN Stakeholders’ Workshop.
The current understanding of the environmental and health risks of manufactured nanomaterials (MN) is still limited, which may result in stagnation of nanotechnology innovation. The EU FP7 Sustainable Nanotechnologies (SUN) project is based on the idea that this knowledge can nevertheless guide nanomanufacturing to avoid liabilities if risk analysis is complemented by a sound socioeconomic analysis in an integrated approach, addressing the complete product lifecycle.
The purpose of the workshop was to seek feedback from representatives of industry, regulatory and insurance sectors regarding safety issues related to nanomaterials. This feedback is collected and gathered in a big database for the development of a user-friendly, software-based Decision Support System (SUN-DSS) for managing the environmental, economic and social impacts of nanotechnologies.
Based on previous rounds of stakeholders’ interviews and a workshop, a conceptual decision framework and methodology have been already developed. After the implementation of the new ideas and information from the latest stakeholders, the database will be updated and on March 2017 it is expected that the final version of this software will be completed.
During the Workshop, the SUN industrial partners tested the DSS) against supply chains of real products.
This validation culminated according to guidelines for safe nanoscale product and process design. In addition, the SUN stakeholders identified needs for future research and assigned priorities for current regulation.
Mrs Mimigianni had interesting conversations with scientists and consultants from international organizations whose scope is to regulate the nanomaterials, with experience in understanding regulatory framework. She also proposed her own ideas for the improvement of the software, while she interacted with others to exchange information and develop professional contacts.understanding regulatory framework. She also proposed her own ideas for the improvement of the software, while she interacted with others to exchange information and develop professional contacts.
During this event, which was held at the new campus of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics & Statistics of University Ca’ Foscari Venice, Italy, delegates of the scientific society, representing more than 30 European projects, national and international research programmes and transatlantic co-operations, exchanged ideas and know-how about the current issues on safety during production, handling, consumption by the customers and recycling of the nanomaterials.
SUN was launched on 1 October 2013 and will continue for 42 months, bringing together 35 partners from 12 EU countries. With a total budget of about 14 million EUR, SUN is among the highest funded projects of the EU FP7 research programme.