NanoCode project moves into a new phase

IoN’s Richard Moore and Douglas Robinson attended a consortium meeting of the EC FP7 project NanoCode, held in Rome on 3 – 4 March 2011.

The overall objectives of the NanoCode project are to measure stakeholder perceptions and experience with the European Commission’s Code of Conduct (CoC) for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research and, on the basis of this analysis, to develop tools and guidance to support awareness-building and implementation of the CoC.

During the first phase of the project, the ten project consortium members carried out analyses of the current situation concerning national initiatives on responsible research in nanotechnologies and a synthesis report detailing the findings is available on the NanoCode website. In the second phase of the project the team went on to carry out national surveys of stakeholder attitudes towards the CoC.

On the basis of this research, the project has now moved into the phase of drafting tools to support the CoC and in drawing up a series of recommendations to the European Commission aimed at improving understanding and awareness of the CoC and suggesting ways of improving its implementation and value in Member States and beyond.

One of these tools is the development of a “CodeMeter” aimed presenting the broad principles underpinning the CoC as a set of concrete criteria to facilitate stakeholders to assess how well they comply with the CoC as regards responsible nanotechnologies research, to promote continuous improvement, and to provide a means for organisations to demonstrate their active commitment to responsible research. It is hoped to ultimately implement the CodeMeter as an easy-to-use online tool.

During the coming months there will be opportunities for interested stakeholders to participate in national expert workshops aimed at developing the CodeMeter and recommendations to the Commission, details of which will be announced on the NanoCode and IoN websites.

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