Media Briefing: Sustainable Production: The Role of Nanotechnologies

Invitation to a special media briefing,Danish Technical University, Copenhagen (Lyngby),Monday 7 October 2002, 9:30 17:30,

Ten years after the Rio Summit and a few weeks after the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development, the key question remains how to favour economic growth while preserving the environment, health and security? Nanotechnologies a key priority of EU Research - provide innovative answers. As they revolution production processes and product design, nanotechnologies are making a key contribution to sustainability. In short, nanotechnologies deliver on a triple goal: they can make industries more competitive, enhance the safety of products and processes and the security of citizens, and improve our environment.
Building on the highly successful briefing on Nanotechnologies held at the MINATEC Centre in Grenoble in June, the European Commission will organise a follow-up briefing which will focus on the promises and deliverables - of micro and nanotechnologies in the specific area of sustainable production.
Organised at one of Europes leading centres of excellence for micro and nanotechnologies, the Technical University of Denmark, in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, this event will bring together leading EU experts from research and industry. It will take place in the presence of European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Helge Sander, Danish Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
,OBJECTIVE
This special technical briefing aims at providing participants with the latest state of play in two closely interrelated areas where Europe is building world leadership nanotechnologies and sustainable production. It will offer a comprehensive picture of specific challenges and opportunities for scientists, entrepreneurs and investors, as well as for citizens.
The briefing will comprise a series of presentations by EU scientists, industry leaders, and policy makers, to be followed by question and answers sessions. It will also include onsite visits to two cutting-edge laboratories, and a new business incubator all of these situated on the campus of the Danish Technical University
Presentations and visits will showcase recent advances in nanomanufacturing and sustainable production and their commercial applications. They will illustrate the new organisation strategies and innovative public/private partnerships crucial to the success of sustainable production. They will also exemplify the growing need for a holistic, interdisciplinary and cross-industry approach i.e. between biotechnology and nanotechnology. Ample interview opportunities will also be provided.
BACKGROUND: NANOTECHNOLOGIES: A REVOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABILITY?
Described as a new industrial revolution, nanotechnology is already fuelling innovative applications in industries as diverse as information technologies, automotive, cosmetics, chemical and transport. Impacting traditional industries and production processes. Nanotechnology also holds considerable promise to generate radical new applications and new sectors of activity in areas such as energy storage and distribution, detection, measurement and testing, processors and display technologies, bioanalysis and drug delivery, robotics and prosthetics. ,Most importantly, nanotechnologies are making a key contribution to sustainability. By delivering cleaner, more energy-efficient and more competitive production processes, nanomanufacturing directly fosters sustainability in such critical areas as water, transport and energy three key areas covered in this briefing. At the same time, nanomanufacturing can enhance safety, security and the quality of life of citizens. The result is not only cleaner, safer and more durable products, but also better designed, smarter products which can be traced, maintained and upgraded throughout their life cycle, thus reducing waste and energy consumption.
Nanotechnologies and sustainable production are undoubtedly two of the hottest issues in research and innovation today. Central to many companies strategies, nanotechnologies and sustainable production also occupy a pivotal role in European research. They are at the crossroads of two key priorities of the recently adopted 6th Framework Programme for Research New production processes and devices, new materials, nanotechnologies (priority 3) and Sustainable technologies, global change and ecosystems (priority 6). A total of EUR 3.42 billion over the next four years will be devoted to these two priorities, with a strong emphasis on sustainable technologies.
,OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PRESS
1. Presentation of projects and cutting edge applications
Projects presented will illustrate, for example, how nanotechnologies are helping
? foster cleaner, more intelligent production processes across different industries ,? improve product design and strengthen product quality, safety and durability,? ensure better, cleaner water supply, trough better control of water quality and more efficient treatment of waste,,? produce more sensitive sensors for industrial and medical uses, and for improving food safety,? improve industrial and civil security, and improve the daily safety of citizens, ,? fight corrosion and wear in metal parts, and produce lighter, safer, more durable and energy-efficient vehicles and other products,,? generate innovative forms of cross-disciplinary and cross-industry cooperation, through networks of excellence and virtual centres
,2. Interview opportunities.
Participants will be able to interact with the best specialists of the subject scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers. They will be able to interview Commissioner Busquin and the Danish Minister for Science Technology and Innovation and all speakers on the programme. These include in particular representatives of the Nanoforum Network and of the European NanoBusiness Association. A press lunch will allow for further dialogue with researchers and heads of high tech startups.
3. Visits to laboratories and production facilities.
Participants will visit laboratories of the Technical University of Denmark. One of Europes premier centres of excellence in nanotechnologies, the DTU brings together a world-class research platform and an industrial development complex, complete with training and research facilities (DTU was the first EU institution to fund a Chair in nanotechnologies), incubator and spinoffs.
They will also visit the Danish Institute of Fundamental Metrology, one of Europes leading centres for nanometrology, the Danish Centre for Microelectronics (MIC) which is at the cutting edge of biotechnology and nanotechnology developments in Europe, and the business incubator of the CAT Science Park.,For further logistical information and facilitation of interviews, please contact:
Patrick Vittet-Philippe ,Press and Information Officer, ,DG Research, European Commission,Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail]
For this event, the European Commission will be assisted by a contractor, Hill and Knowlton. To participate in this special media briefing, please register with:
Ana Aguilar Morell ,Hill and Knowlton ,Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mobile: [phone] ,E-mail: [e-mail]
Website and Internet Press Room:
Background information on EU policies and projects in the field of nanotechnologies and sustainable development is available on-line at
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/growth/gcc/pressroom.html

Countries

Denmark