International Conferences

 

73a/09: 30 November – 2 December 2009
Rules for Dwarfs
Risk Regulation of Nanotechnology and its International Context

Nanotechnology is increasingly prevalent in consumer products. Risks and benefits of nano-enabled products, however, are controversial, turning their use into a political concern. The key question is, how the potential risks of nanotechnology products can be dealt with effectively without hampering technological progress and economic prosperity in this sector. This challenge is amplified by the lack of research results on the risks of nanotechnology.
This new technology can only unfold its full economic potential, if rules for its use in Europe and elsewhere do not result in new barriers to trade. The political task, therefore, is the development of mutually compatible regulatory approaches in Europe and the United States despite their history of divergent approaches to government regulation of new technologies under conditions of uncertainty.

You are invited to participate in the discussion of regulatory approaches and principles to guide the development of compatible regulatory systems on both sides of the Atlantic.

Contact: Marcus Schaper
Conference languages: English and German; translation services are provided.
Program