Nov 27 2007
Today, the UK’s biggest nanotechnology trade fair, marks the launch of the Nanotechnology Industries Asociation formation as a limited company, enabling the lobbying body to abandon previous restrictions and fully support the unified representation of all nanotechnology industries on a global level.
Established in 2005, the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) has operated as a not-for-profit project, funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (now the Technology Strategy Board), representing UK industries’ interests in nanotechnology, primarily through consultation with the UK Government.
With its newly acquired limited status, the NIA Ltd will continue the mission of the NIA project, giving a single, unique voice to industrial companies who are involved in the development, production or commercialisation of nanotechnologies in the UK, Europe and on a global level.
Organisations set to benefit from the transition include Tata Chemicals Limited, Smith & Nephew, Naneum limited, Cenamps, Johnson Matthey and Oxonica. Dr. Steffi Friedrichs, director of the NIA said: “As a limited company we can now offer more independent and internationally relevant support, acting as a proactive lobbying body for the collective nanotechnology industries on a multi-national level.
“Through the establishment of strategic international partnerships, formation of international fora and by facilitating a Code of Conduct for responsible nanotechnology, we aim to proactively influence policies and establish a separation of nanotechnologies’ issues from those of other technologies.”
Further aims of the NIA Ltd include the establishment a framework of shared principles for the safe, sustainable and socially supportive development and use of nanotechnologies. It will also advocate special safety/responsibility checks and balances for nanotechnology companies, provide a forum for discussing topics of relevance to its members, and proactively support the commercialisation of nanotechnologies.
The UK NanoForum 2007, organized by the UK TI in association with the NIA, will bring together more than 130 international delegates with 50 UK exhibitors and 200 UK delegates to see exactly what the UK nanotechnology industry and academia has to offer. The 50 UK exhibitors will present some of their latest advances in UK nanotechnology.