Risk Governance of Emerging Technologies Demonstrated in Terms of its Applicability to Nanomaterials
Open Access
- 1 September 2020
- Vol. 16 (36), e2003303
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202003303
Abstract
Nanotechnologies have reached maturity and market penetration that require nano-specific changes in legislation and harmonization among legislation domains, such as the amendments to REACH for nanomaterials (NMs) which came into force in 2020. Thus, an assessment of the components and regulatory boundaries of NMs risk governance is timely, alongside related methods and tools, as part of the global efforts to optimise nanosafety and integrate it into product design processes, via Safe(r)-by-Design (SbD) concepts. This paper provides an overview of the state-of-the-art regarding risk governance of NMs and lays out the theoretical basis for the development and implementation of an effective, trustworthy and transparent risk governance framework for NMs. The proposed framework enables continuous integration of the evolving state of the science, leverages best practice from contiguous disciplines and facilitates responsive re-thinking of nanosafety governance to meet future needs. To achieve and operationalise such framework, a science-based Risk Governance Council (RGC) for NMs is being developed. The framework will provide a toolkit for independent NMs' risk governance and integrates needs and views of stakeholders. An extension of this framework to relevant advanced materials and emerging technologies is also envisaged, in view of future foundations of risk research in Europe and globally.Funding Information
- European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program (814425, 814572)
This publication has 64 references indexed in Scilit:
- Nanotoxicity: challenging the myth of nano-specific toxicityCurrent Opinion in Biotechnology, 2013
- Mechanisms of Silver Nanoparticle Release, Transformation and Toxicity: A Critical Review of Current Knowledge and Recommendations for Future Studies and ApplicationsMaterials, 2013
- Responsible research and innovation: From science in society to science for society, with societyScience and Public Policy, 2012
- A risk forecasting process for nanostructured materials, and nanomanufacturingComptes Rendus Physique, 2011
- Governance without a state: Can it work?Regulation & Governance, 2010
- Nanotechnology: The Next Big Thing, or Much Ado about Nothing?The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2006
- The governance of agro- and pharmaceutical biotechnology innovation: Public policy and industrial strategyTechnology Analysis & Strategic Management, 2006
- Nanotechnology and the need for risk governanceJournal of Nanoparticle Research, 2006
- The “Good Governance” Concept RevisitedThe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2006
- ‘Governance’ as a bridge between disciplines: Cross‐disciplinary inspiration regarding shifts in governance and problems of governability, accountability and legitimacyEuropean Journal of Political Research, 2004