van Est u. a.: Small technology - Big Consequences- 2004

Abstract

The debate on nanotechnology within the Dutch community is of recent time, the last two years seeing it take off slowly but steadily. In this complex arena the Rathenau Institute has played a central role, collecting data, collating thinking, building up arguments, and organising interactive activities such as workshops, focus groups, meetings and newsletters. These all led to the first major public meeting on nanotechnology entitled "Small technology -Big consequences" held on 13 October 2004, and organised in collaboration with the parliamentary Theme Commission on Technology Policy. Nanotechnology in the Netherlands is receiving political attention. This article reviews various activities of the Rathenau Institute in the field of nanotechnology and highlights their results. It also seeks to give the reader insight into the (inter)national context in which the question of nanotechnology is being debated and the factors influencing current views on the subject. 1 1995 to 1998: conception In 1995, a Dutch technology 'foresight' commission, the so-called Overleg Commissie Verkenningen, carried out a short study on nanotechnology. This was followed by a comprehensive foresight study between 1996 and 1998 coordinated by the Netherlands Study Centre for Technology Trends (STT), in which most relevant Dutch and Flemish nanoscientists participated (Ten Wolde 1998). This initiative eventually led to the establishment of a Dutch national nanotechnology research consortium, named NanoNed (see Box 1). Box 1: Research consortium NanoNed The Netherlands hosts three dedicated nanotechnology research centres: the University of Twente (with the Mesa+ research centre in microsystems technology and nanomaterials), Delft University of Technology (with the Dimes research centre on nanoelectronics) and the University of Groningen (with BioMaDe focused on bio-nanotechnology). These form the core of NanoNed. However, four other universities, and TNO, the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, are also represented. NanoNed's director is David Reinhoudt (University of Twente). NanoNed's first research program was entitled NanoImpuls (2002) budgeted at some 45 million Euros from both public (Ministry of Economic Affairs) and private sources. A second research program is now running, budgeted at 102 million Euros of public money, which, somewhat confusingly, is also called NanoNed. Technology Assessment (TA) is an integral part of both NanoImpuls and NanoNed with up to three percent of the budget invested in TA research, coordinated by Arie Rip of the University of Twente