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Nanotechnology: Large scale gains for small scale work
What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is an emergent area that is developing quickly. It is the branch of science and engineering that studies and exploits the unique behaviour of materials at a scale of approximately 1-100 nanometres.
Nanotechnology is widely seen to offer huge potential for development in fields as diverse as healthcare, IT and energy generation and storage. Interest in nanotechnology is growing rapidly, and governments and businesses across the world have begun to invest heavily in it.
Increased energy efficiency, a cleaner environment, more effective medical treatment and improved manufacturing production are just some of the potential benefits of nanotechnology. Working at a scale 10,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair, its potential is enormous and far reaching.
As with many newly emerging technologies, there are still significant challenges to overcome in taking nanotechnology-enabled applications to market. BSI British Standards' publications can help solve these problems at every stage in developing a product or service, from idea to implementation, covering crucial aspects of safety, reliability and quality and defining terminology.
The UK is playing a key role in leading the development of nanotechnology standards through its national committee NTI/1 "Nanotechnologies" and holds both the chair and secretariat of ISO TC/229 "Nanotechnologies" and CEN/TC 352 "Nanotechnologies". Through these committees, and through participation in IEC/TC 113 "Nanotechnology standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems", the UK will be able to support this emerging discipline and use standardization to help ensure its safe and successful global development and growth.
A range of documents for nanotechnology terminology is available from BSI to provide guidance for UK industry. These publications address nanotechnology terminology, health and safety issues, product labelling and materials specification.
Why standards for nanotechnologies are important
BSI’s publications will help to ensure that nanotechnology is developed and commercialised in an open, safe and responsible manner and will support:
- Safety testing, legislation and regulation
- Worker, public and environmental safety
- Commercialisation and procurement
- Patenting and IPR
- Communication about the benefits, opportunities and potential problems associated with nanotechnologies.
Committees
- BSI Committee for Nanotechnologies (NTI/1)
UK standardization in the emerging field of nanotechnologies is the responsibility of the BSI technical committee NTI/1. This technical committee (TC) was established in June 2004 and has the following Terms of Reference.
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- "Nanotechnologies" - Committee Activities
The UK National Committee for Nanotechnologies, NTI/1, was established in June 2004 with a remit to develop standards for nanotechnologies and promote their use by industry and other stakeholders.
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- BSI Nanotechnologies (NTI/1) Committee Members
The committee, chaired by Dr Peter Hatto, Director of Research for IonBond Ltd, currently consists of representatives of the following organisations.
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Nanotechnology acronyms
Useful acronyms for nanotechnology
Useful links
Useful links for further reading on Nanotechnology
