INCOBRA - Increasing International Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation between Brazil and the European Union

Introduction:

The "Risk Governance of nanotechnology" topic is part of the Horizon 2020 call FOUNDATIONS FOR TOMORROW’S INDUSTRY.

Managing the risks of every emerging technology is of key importance for its societal acceptance and consequent possible success. The overall challenge is to establish a suitable form of nanotechnology risk governance and to ensure that beyond the state of the art technologies are accepted by stakeholders (civil society, industry, regulators).

Specific Challenge:

Significant progress has been achieved in relation to research regarding the safety of engineered nanomaterials and the transfer of this knowledge into regulation. Still, more needs to be done as nanotechnology reaches the market. To fill this gap, transdisciplinary risk governance is required based on a clear understanding of risk, its management practices and the societal risk perception by all stakeholders. It should propose and apply clear criteria for risk evaluation and acceptance and for transfer of acceptable risk. It should develop reinforced decision making tools incorporating those aspects and facilitate risk communication to relevant stakeholders, including industry, regulators, insurance companies and the general public.

Scope:

• Data and information management and framework tools with regard to the safety of nanomaterials for risk assessment, hazard and exposure, human health and environment, and risk mitigation including regulatory aspects of safe-by-design;
• Responsible communication with stakeholders and the civil society based on good quality information and valuable feedback;
• Plans for future scientific and regulatory research paying attention to social, ethical and environmental aspects, to achieve completeness, consistency, maximum synergy of actions and international cooperation;
• Mechanisms to monitor progress in several industrial sectors and to revise plans.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include actions designed to facilitate cooperation with other projects; to enhance user involvement; and to ensure the accessibility and reusability of data produced in the course of the project.

Activities should start at TRL 4 and achieve TRL 6 at the end of the project.

Budget:

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU around EUR 5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected Impact:

• A transparent, self-sustained and science-based risk governance council;
• Governance framework tools for managing possible nanotechnologies risks in regard to social, environmental and economic benefits;
• Availability of high quality data for industry and regulators decision making;
• Sustainable solutions demonstrated at a level that will allow both consistent integration of scientific results and regulatory application of scientifically sound concepts;
• Consistency of science based risk management approaches in all EU Member States and synergy with similar actions internationally.

Cross-cutting Priorities:

• Gender
• International cooperation
• Open Innovation
• Socio-economic science and humanities
• Open Science