Final Report Summary - EURONANOBIO (EUROpean scale infrastructure in NANOBIOtechnology)
EURONANOBIO is a Support Action funded under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union, which has explored the definition, establishment and further development of a European scale infrastructure on nanobiotechnology and the associated realistic implementation plan. It aimed at defining not only the key features of a potential European infrastructure in nanobiotechnology but it has also established the way it should be designed.
EURONANOBIO proposed the creation of a network of some leading poles of excellence that will be able to support industrial activities, in particular benefiting high-tech SMEs, education, research and development, risk management and engagement with the public. To substantiate this proposal the project has been divided into two phases:
1. An analytical phase where the existing data have been scrutinised and analysed to extract some success factors to be used for defining the EU infrastructure in nanobiotechnology. This analysis has been conducted in four directions:
- existing top class infrastructures or clusters inside and outside Europe, assessing their positioning with respect to the international scene
- modes of technology transfer from research to industry
- multidisciplinary education and training
- ancillary aspects of nanobiotechnology.
2. A building and consensus phase where many diverse stakeholders have been invited to jointly define and adopt the key features of the infrastructure, and the way to build it.
As a result of this process EURONANOBIO proposes 15 recommendations for a distributed European infrastructure in nanobiotechnology along the four dimensions of the European infrastructure - research, education, technology transfer, ELSA - targeted at a wide range of stakeholders among which are policy makers, cluster managers, universities, tech transfer offices, and research organisations.
The major expected impact of EURONANOBIO is to initiate the emergence of a European capacity in nanobiotechnology, which should support the development of new nanobiotechnology-based products and industrial processes and foster their reliability, safety and future commercialisation on the global market.
The implementation plan provided by EURONANOBIO meets the requirements of the European Commission's Action Plan for Nanotechnology 2005-2009, which proposes: 'World-class R&D infrastructure and 'poles of excellence' are essential for the EU to remain competitive in N&N. Europe needs an appropriate, diverse but coherent system of infrastructure that comprises both 'single sited' (in one location) and 'distributed' (networked) facilities.' Furthermore, the consortium has been in frequent contact and alignment with two leading projects or initiatives in associated topics namely the project Nanomed Round Table - http://www.nanomedroundtable.org - and the European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine ¿ http://www.etp-nanomedicine.eu to adapt the implementation plan to the special requirements of nanomedicine, one of the most important sub-areas of nanobiotechnology.
EURONANOBIO proposed the creation of a network of some leading poles of excellence that will be able to support industrial activities, in particular benefiting high-tech SMEs, education, research and development, risk management and engagement with the public. To substantiate this proposal the project has been divided into two phases:
1. An analytical phase where the existing data have been scrutinised and analysed to extract some success factors to be used for defining the EU infrastructure in nanobiotechnology. This analysis has been conducted in four directions:
- existing top class infrastructures or clusters inside and outside Europe, assessing their positioning with respect to the international scene
- modes of technology transfer from research to industry
- multidisciplinary education and training
- ancillary aspects of nanobiotechnology.
2. A building and consensus phase where many diverse stakeholders have been invited to jointly define and adopt the key features of the infrastructure, and the way to build it.
As a result of this process EURONANOBIO proposes 15 recommendations for a distributed European infrastructure in nanobiotechnology along the four dimensions of the European infrastructure - research, education, technology transfer, ELSA - targeted at a wide range of stakeholders among which are policy makers, cluster managers, universities, tech transfer offices, and research organisations.
The major expected impact of EURONANOBIO is to initiate the emergence of a European capacity in nanobiotechnology, which should support the development of new nanobiotechnology-based products and industrial processes and foster their reliability, safety and future commercialisation on the global market.
The implementation plan provided by EURONANOBIO meets the requirements of the European Commission's Action Plan for Nanotechnology 2005-2009, which proposes: 'World-class R&D infrastructure and 'poles of excellence' are essential for the EU to remain competitive in N&N. Europe needs an appropriate, diverse but coherent system of infrastructure that comprises both 'single sited' (in one location) and 'distributed' (networked) facilities.' Furthermore, the consortium has been in frequent contact and alignment with two leading projects or initiatives in associated topics namely the project Nanomed Round Table - http://www.nanomedroundtable.org - and the European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine ¿ http://www.etp-nanomedicine.eu to adapt the implementation plan to the special requirements of nanomedicine, one of the most important sub-areas of nanobiotechnology.
