EuroNanoforum 2013 will be held in Dublin, Ireland from June 18 – 20, 2013 and will feature a workshop on nanocellulose and other wood nanotechnology products according to an Apr. 18, 2013 news release from CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries),

The EuroNanoForum conference focuses on the impact nanotechnology is having in solving societal challenges linked to environmental, energy and health issues. It showcases innovation as a driver of economic growth. It presents new technologies arising from nanoscience and their applications and discusses potential new end products. It addresses commercialisation and co-operative alliances and schemes that accelerate their deployment, whilst also considering other key enabling technologies: advanced materials, nanoelectronics and manufacturing.

Participation will be in excess of 1000 key stakeholders from Europe and elsewhere, including nanotechnology applied researchers, industry stakeholders, and the decision-makers responsible for European R&D funding. This is your opportunity to influence decisions on the future of European Nanotechnology R&D.  [emphasis mine] The event offers a bridge to Horizon 2020, the European Union’s future funding programme for research and innovation (2014-2020). The conference will look at how nanotechnologies will fit into the targeted key priority areas of Horizon 2020: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges.

The Forest Technology Platform, together with the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), is organising a  workshop on ‘Products based on wood nanotechnology’ on Thursday 20 June, 09:00 – 10:30h. Wood-based nanotechnologies and the production of nano-based products have many promising application areas. The world production of nanocellulose has just passed 100 ton per year and meanwhile new multi-functional nanoparticle coatings are being developed and the research on wood-based carbon-nanotubes is moving fast.

I had not realized that world production of nanocellulose was so high and this is the first I’ve heard about wood-based carbon nanotubes. Good to know.

There is more information about the workshop itself on the EuroNanoforum workshop page,

… how long will it take until we see the first market applications? In what way will wood-nanotechnologies satisfy the need of consumers? Will nanotechnology-derived applications evolve gradually or will we experience a revolutionary paradigm-shift for the forest-based industries and European consumers?

• Johan Elvnert, Managing Director, FTP – Introduction to the renewed European Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRA) for the forest-based sector
• Alexander Bismarck, Professor, Vienna University – Nanosized bacterial cellulose, truly green and fully renewable composites, and novel macroporous polymers
• Pia Qvintus, VTT – Plant-based nanocellulose – from research to applications
• Esa Laurinsilta, Director, UPM – The market for nanoncellulose in 5 years
• Anna Suurnäkki, Chief research scientist, VTT – overview of other nano-application research areas emerging
• Panel Discussion: Will nanotechnology-derived applications take the market gradually or will we see a paradigm-shift for the forest-based industry and consumers?

I first wrote about EuroNanoforum 2013 in my Mar. 14, 2013 posting where I highlighted some of their ‘Hot Topics’ at the upcoming conference.