Development of a Platform for Deliberative Processes on Nanotechnology in the European Consumer Market (NANOPLAT)

NANOPLAT will develop a platform for deliberative processes on Nano-science and Nano-technology (NS&T) in the European consumer market. The support action will concentrate on deliberative processes concerning human and environmental safety, ethical and moral dilemmas, and perceptions of risks and responsibilities as revealed through a focus on the market interfaces across the value chain of consumer goods. The main goal is to evaluate and stimulate the deliberate dialogue, and give scientific support to the stakeholders responsible for this dialogue. We will

• Evaluate selected deliberative processes in Europe, both at the EU and national level. These evaluations will have a general NS&T perspective, with special focus on consumption
• Identify the needs and interest of relevant stakeholders along this value chain, especially focusing on producers, consumers, NGOs and the civil society.
• Develop a deliberative and science based platform for a stakeholder dialogue in Europe and beyond in this area. The main elements of the platform are: the content, the participants, the physical and technical solutions and arenas and the responsibility for a permanent platform.
• Formulate recommendation for research and political actions.

We will combine desk research, qualitative interviews and workshops to meet the challenges of these objectives.

Project website: www.nanoplat.org