UK Nanotechnology Policy Review Announced

The Council for Science and Technology (CST) has been asked by Government to review progress of its commitments on nanotechnology policy, and has issued an invitation for written evidence.

The independent review will cover the Government's actions in the two years since their response to the Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering report "Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties".

The review will be led by Professor Sir John Beringer, who said: "How the Government is handling issues of nanotechnology and nanoscience will influence the UK's competitiveness in this rapidly growing field, and the public's confidence in Government science policy.

"We will be taking a close look at what the Government has done, whether it has responded quickly enough, and how well prepared it is for new developments in nanotechnology."

Comments are being invited on:

1. The extent to which the Government has taken forward the commitments described in its Response.

2. The timeliness and effectiveness of the actions taken by Government.

3. Whether there have been significant developments in nanoscience/nanotechnology since February 2005 which raise new issues the Government did not address in its Response, and should now.

The Call for Evidence is available from the Review's website. More information is available at http://www.cst.gov.uk/cst/business/nanoreview

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