29 July, 2010

A recently published ‘Country Report’ describes the social context for the governance of nanotechnologies in the Netherlands. The report is one of the products of the ‘Nanocode project’, of a multistakeholder dialogue providing inputs to implement the European Code of Conduct for Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies Research.

This Code of Conduct, drafted by the European Commission in 2008, is complementary to existing regulations. It provides Member States, employers, research funders, researchers and more generally all individuals and civil society organisations involved or interested in nanosciences and nanotechnologies (N&N) research (“all stakeholders”) with guidelines favouring a responsible and open approach to N&N research in the Community (Commission Recommendation of 07/02/2008). Several Country Reports drafted by the Nanocode project consortium describe the current social context, governance activities, civil society’s involvement, existing nanocodes and stakeholder’s opinions.

The nanocode project is supported by the European Commission through the 7^th framework programme.

The full report is available for downloading here.