Nanotechnology in the marketplace: how the nanotechnology industry views risk
- PDF / 213,228 Bytes
- 13 Pages / 547.087 x 737.008 pts Page_size
- 64 Downloads / 232 Views
PERSPECTIVES
Nanotechnology in the marketplace: how the nanotechnology industry views risk Sean Becker
Received: 15 October 2012 / Accepted: 10 January 2013 / Published online: 4 April 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Abstract Despite uncertainty about the potential human health and environmental risks of nanotechnology, major stakeholders such as regulatory agencies and the nanotechnology industry are already negotiating the emerging regulatory framework for nanotechnology. Because of a relative lack of nano-specific regulations, the future of nanotechnology development will depend greatly on the views held by the nanotechnology industry. This study fills the research gap in understanding how the nanotechnology industry perceives the risks of nanotechnology. This is the first interview-based study of the nanotechnology industry in the United States. Semistructured, open-ended phone interviews were conducted with 17 individuals involved in the commercialization of nanotechnology in the United States. Results indicate that while the industry acknowledges uncertainty about the potential risks of nanotechnology and takes significant precaution in ensuring the safety of their products, they do not see nanotechnology as novel or risky. They do not believe that uncertainty over risk ought to delay the further development of nanotechnology. The industry
Special Issue Editors: Paolo Milani, Mary F.E. Ebeling This article is part of the Topical Collection on Technology Transfer and Commercialization of Nanotechnology S. Becker (&) University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1600 Golden Gate Ave., Apt. #34, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA e-mail: [email protected]
sees itself as the primary agent in ensuring consumer safety and believes that consumers are adequately protected. They are also largely benefit-centric and view product labeling as inefficacious. Keywords Nanotechnology industry Commercialization EH&S risk Novelty Regulation Labeling
Background The present study has as its objective the better understanding of the risk perceptions of those working to commercialize products utilizing nanotechnology. Given increasing commercialization and the large role that industry will take in developing a regulatory framework, knowledge of these opinions is of great importance. This article presents the results of in-depth interviews with 17 individuals in the nanotechnology industry. Nanotechnology refers to an array of technologies for manipulating matter at the nano scale. The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) defines nanotechnology as ‘‘the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nm, where unique phenomena enable novel applications’’ (NNI 2007). More specifically, nanotechnology refers to the intentional manipulation of matter at the nano scale to generate novel and/or unique physicochemical properties. These new properties are the source of nanotechnology’s promise to generate great profits for industry.
123
Page 2 of 13
Nanotechnology can b
Data Loading...
