The NANO2021 programme aims at enhancing the national knowledge base within nanotechnology and advanced materials to meet high international standards. The programme’s primary objectives are to develop sustainable technological solutions as a basis for innovation and to address central societal challenges.
Background for the programme
The Research Council of Norway’s 10-year Programme on Nanotechnology and New Materials (NANOMAT), part of the Large-scale Programme initiative, was concluded at the end of 2011 and is being replaced by the NANO2021 programme, a new 10-year large-scale programme that will run from 2012 through 2021. The NANO2021 programme has been established as in accordance with the priorities set out in the government white paper on research and the government strategy being drawn up within the technology area. The programme encompasses the areas of nanoscience, nanotechnology, microtechnology and advanced materials.
Focus and further development
The NANO2021 programme will cultivate concentrated, integrated research activities to further enhance the expertise, quality and capacity built up by Norway’s R&D community in the field of nanotechnology during the past decade.
The programme promotes fundamental knowledge and responsible technological development as a basis for innovation and for tackling wide-ranging societal challenges relating to energy, the environment, health, food, the marine sector and use of natural resources. This entails ensuring that new knowledge and technology are utilised to the benefit of society. Importance will therefore be attached to research on issues relating to health, safety and environment (HSE) and risk, as well as on ethical, legal and social aspects (ELSA) of the development and application of nanotechnology.
The programme also focuses on promoting researcher mobility, interaction between research groups and industry players, and national and international research cooperation. The Norwegian Government’s new national strategy for nanotechnology (to be launched in spring 2012) will provide the framework for further targeting of research topics, focus areas and priorities under the programme. The preliminary work programme may be accessed via the link to the right. The work programme will be finalised in the course of 2012.
