Nanotechnology strategy

Lord Drayson, the UK science and innovation minister and chair of the Ministerial Group on Nanotechnologies, has called on industry to get involved in shaping a UK strategy for nanotechnologies.

Industry, academia and consumer groups have been invited to use a new website at www.interactive.bis.gov.uk/nano to help develop the strategy, building on existing research that has already taken place.

'The government has made clear the need for responsible development of nanotechnologies. This new website will let everyone be involved in developing a new UK strategy by February next year. This will address the exploitation of technologies and management of potential risks,' said Drayson.

Over in Canada, there is also concern about the potential impact of nanotechnologies on the environment.

This month, a team of scientists and engineers, led by the University of Alberta and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), was awarded $3.39m (£1.86m) to take part in a three-year study to assess the potential effects of nanoparticles in water-based environments.