Nanomaterials are being used in more and more areas, and have many properties that could contribute to sustainable development. At the same time, there are significant gaps in our understanding of their environmental characteristics. This programme offers an interdisciplinary research environment that will generate new knowledge, identify new applications and help ensure safe use of nanotechnology.
The new programme was built up, involving researchers in nanoscience, medicine and the social sciences.
Three case studies were launched, looking into undesirable environmental effects of using the nanomaterials tungsten carbide and silica (silicon dioxide, used in papermaking), and exploring possible preventive approaches to graphene, a key material of the future.