A Nov. 21, 2014 news item on Nanowerk features a special issue of the research*eu magazine,
When it first earned public recognition in the early 2000s, nanotechnology was mostly a niche market. It started out with a few applications such as cosmetics, food products, textiles and automotive bumpers, but quickly expanded to other sectors. Recently, the growing market reached the frantic pace of 3 or 4 new products being released each week.
Decision-makers worldwide were quick to acknowledge this tremendous potential — although not without apprehension. In 2004, right after the US Congress came up with its ‘21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act’, the European Commission adopted its communication ‘Towards a European Strategy for Nanotechnology’ which aimed to institutionalise R&D efforts with a coherent strategy. The document notably underlined nanotechnology’s capacity to address the challenges faced by society through novel applications for the likes of health and biology, ICT [information and communications technology], energy production and storage, manufacturing and environment protection.
The news item is from the editorial for the ‘Close-up on Nanotechnology‘ special issue November 2014 (you can download the PDF), of research*eu,
This was 10 years ago. Since then, the EU has invested some EUR 3.5 billion in nanotechnology-related projects, both to develop new products in strategic fields and to ensure all potential uses are subjected to thorough safety controls and measures. As we are now at the dawn of Horizon 2020, we decided to focus this magazine on some of the latest EU research achievements under the FP7-NMP programme. This makes for a truly horizontal ‘special’ section, with themes including art conservation, electronics, water purification, clothing, building and construction and nanosafety.
These specials include two interviews. The first is with Sabine Paulussen, who presents the outcomes of NANOPUR and its new membrane technology to improve the efficiency of water purification. Then, Prof. Piero Baglioni introduces NANOFORART, a project with ambitions to help restorers in their difficult mission to preserve ancient works of art.
The special section is followed by the usual thematic sections on biology and medicine, social sciences and humanities, energy and transport, environment, IT and telecommunications, industrial technologies and space.
Other highlights in the November 2014 issue (from the download page; you may need to scroll down to find the free issue),
- New hope for patients suffering from rare genetic disease
- How research can help pluralism across Europe
- Hi-tech cooperation: the answer to effective transport security
- Using underwater robots for a better understanding of the underwater world
- Flying robots will go where humans can’t
- Mass producing super-thin films that can ‘squeeze’ electricity
- Africa–Europe Earth Observation project
Happy Reading!