Networking Event to Advance Nanosafety in Norway

The main aim of this project is to arrange a networking event targeted towards different stakeholder groups working with nanotechnology in Norway so as to advance nanosafety. In doing so, the event will a) share the knowledge developed within the EC FP7 project NANoREG and RCN project NorNanoREG, b) discuss the specific needs among Norwegian scientists, industry, funding bodies, workers, consumer organisations and regulatory authorities, c) establish connections across these stakeholder groups. The key focus will be on providing an opportunity for different stakeholders in Norwegian nanotechnology to meet and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the safe development and use of engineered nanomaterials and their products, and to develop the required connections across stakeholder groups for this work to continue to advance in the future. To facilitate networking beyond the event itself we will produce summary document and circulate information about all participants. The event will involve 5 key components. The first will be talks from invited keynote speaker(s) (e.g. with central role in the NANoREG and NorNANoReG projects) to introduce the challenges of nanosafety, present research results, and discuss the importance of stakeholder collaboration. This will be followed by 4 short talks from invited national stakeholders, presenting the Norwegian context from the perspective of, for example, public funding, industry development, workers and consumers, and governmental regulation. The afternoon session will then involve break out sessions where participants will work in small groups to identify stakeholder specific needs, opportunities and challenges for advancing nanosafety. Finally there will be a panel discussion and plenary debate to discuss some of the ideas arising during the event and visions for how to move communication and collaboration forward in the future. At the end of the day we will offer an opportunity for informal networking over tapas.