EU research projects

Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies hold potential for solving many of our current and future challenges from climate change and energy scarcity to developing medical and industrial applications that improve our standard of living while maintaining and stimulating the competitiveness of European industry.

A key instrument in increasing our understanding of the potential safety concerns related to nanomaterials and nanotechnologies while exploring their capacity to usher in a new era of innovations is the European Union's research programme. The current Horizon 2020 programme is by far the largest EU research and innovation programme with nearly €80 billion of funding allocated to different projects in a variety of different fields. Approximately €2 billion of this is allocated for projects on nanomaterials and nanotechnology.

Horizon Europe, an ambitious €100 billion research and innovation programme succeeds Horizon 2020.

Horizon 2020

ACEnano - Analytical and Characterisation Excellence

ACEnano introduces confidence, adaptability and clarity into nanomaterial risk assessment by developing a widely implementable and robust tiered approach to nanomaterials physicochemical characterisation that will simplify and facilitate contextual hazard or exposure description and its transcription into a reliable nanomaterials grouping framework.

caLIBRAte - Nano Risk Governance

caLIBRAte is an interdisciplinary group of researchers, risk assessors, test facilities and industry, developing tools that manufacturers, authorities and companies can use to manage workplace risks during innovation, production and use of manufactured nanomaterials.

CERASAFE - Safe Production and Use of Nanomaterials in the Ceramic Industry

CERASAFE proposes an integrated approach to enviromental health and safety (EHS) in the ceramic industry. The aims of the project are:

to characterize release scenarios during industrial processes of the ceramic sector
to assess exposure by addressing the release mechanisms and the toxicity
to characterize the intentionally and unintentionally produced nanoparticles
to propose mitigation measures in order to minimize exposure

EC4SafeNano - European Centre for Risk Management and Safe Innovation in Nanomaterials & Nanotechnologies

EC4SafeNano aims to build an open collaborative network gathering expertise in the risk management of nanotechnologies. Its overall objective is to develop a distributed centre of European organisations for risk management and safe innovation for nanomaterials and nanotechnologies.

The centre will be independent and science-based and will support industry, safety service providers, regulators and other public or private stakeholders.

GoNano - Governing Nanotechnologies through Societal Engagement

GoNano enables co-creation between citizens, civil society organisations, industry, researchers and policy makers across Europe to align future nanotechnologies with societal needs and concerns.

GoNano aims to demonstrate how researchers can work with publics and professional stakeholders to create novel suggestions for future nanotechnology products.

The goal is to co-create concrete product suggestions within the areas of food, health and energy, illustrate new opportunities for innovation and develop policy recommendations.

Gov4NANO - Meeting the Needs of Nanotechnology

Gov4Nano will develop the first implementation of a future-proof operational Nano Risk Governance Model (NRGM) that addresses the needs of the transdisciplinary field and the innovative and key enabling character of nanotechnology.

It will explore the potential added value of upcoming tools and approaches such as Findable, Accessible Interoperable and Re-usable (FAIR) databases, data-hackathons, blockchain technology and implementation of safe-by-design to achieve adaptive and resilient risk governance.

It will support consensus building, prioritisation and harmonisation of practices amongst stakeholders, with a focus on key aspects for risk governance of nanotechnologies, including risk assessment, risk management, risk perception and risk communication, risk-benefit evaluation, and risk-transfer and the societal desirability of nanotechnology applications.

It will include knowledge management and data management, efficiently executed through stakeholder involvement.

GRACIOUS - Grouping Nanomaterials for Risk Assessment

The GRACIOUS project will develop a highly innovative science-based framework that supports the assessment of risk posed by the ever increasing array of nanomaterials on the market and under development. The framework will streamline the process for assessing their risk by logically grouping nanomaterials, allowing extrapolation between (read-across) nanomaterials and reducing the need to assess exposure and toxicity on a case by case basis.

HISENTS - High Level Integrated Sensor for Nanotoxicity Screening

HISENTS aims to deliver an advanced nanosafety platform capable of providing high-throughput toxicity screening for the risk assessment of novel nanomaterials. The platform will be made up of an integrated set of miniaturised modules each representing critical human physiological functions from molecular interactions, through to cell, organ and organism effects.

The project takes a multidisciplinary approach drawing on experts from industry and research in the fields of nanotechnology, chemistry, cell biology, toxicology, engineering, electronics, computer modelling and material science.

LORCENIS - Long Lasting Reinforced Concrete for Energy Infrastructure under Severe Operating Conditions

The main goal of the LORCENIS project is to develop long lasting reinforced concrete for energy infrastructures with lifetime extended up to a 100% under extreme operating conditions. The concept is based on an optimal combination of novel technologies involving customized methodologies for cost-efficient operation.

ModCOMP - Modified Cost-Effective Fibre Based Structures with Improved Multi-functionality and Performance

ModCOMP aims to develop novel engineered fibre-based materials for technical, high value, high performance products for non-clothing applications at realistic cost, with improved functionality and safety.

Demonstrators will be designed to fulfil scalability towards industrial needs and focus on TRL5/TRL6. End users from a wide range of industrial sectors (transport, construction, leisure and electronics) will adapt the knowledge gained from the project and test the innovative high added value demonstrators.

NanoCommons - Nano-Knowledge Community

NanoCommons will deliver a sustainable and openly accessible nanoinformatics framework of knowledgebase and integrated computational tools, supported by expert advice, data interpretation and training, for assessment of the risks of nanomaterials, their products and their formulations.

NanoCommons combines joint research activities to implement the nanoinformatics knowledge commons, networking activities to facilitate engagement with the research community, industry and regulators, and provision of funded access to the nanoinformatics tools via funded calls for transnational access.

NanoCommons will establish a single integrated resource for nanoinformatics data in which different stakeholders such as scientists, regulators, NGOs and industries can have confidence that it is both up-to-date and self-consistent.

NanoFARM - aiding the safe development of effective and sustainable nano-agrochemicals

NanoFARM is a research consortium whose mission is to to provide information to aid in safe development of effective and sustainable nano-agrochemicals.

Manufactured nanomaterials hold promise for increasing the sustainability of agriculture. Nanofertilizers and nanopesticides can improve the efficiency of agrochemical use and decrease energy and water requirements for food production.

NanoFARM research will determine how the properties of agricultural manufactrured nanomaterials and applied concentration affect their:

Persistence in the environment.
Bioaccumulation by tomato and wheat plants and trophic transfer to terrestrial organisms.
Toxicity and multigenerational effects on soil organisms and potential for ecological impacts.

NanoFASE - Nanomaterial Fate and Speciation in the Environment

The overarching objective of NanoFASE is to deliver an integrated exposure assessment framework (protocols, models, parameter values, guidance ...) that:

Allows all stakeholders to assess the environmental fate of nano releases from industrial nano-enabled products.
Is acceptable in regulatory registrations and can be integrated into the EUSES model for REACH assessment.
Allows industry a cost-effective product-to-market process.
Delivers the understanding at all levels to support dialogue with public and consumers.

NanoGenTools - developing new methodologies for the identification and control of hazards associated with nanomaterials

NanoGenTools is aimed at developing new methodologies for the identification and control of hazards associated with nanomaterials, ensuring consumer safety. It's main objective is generating a common solid knowledge basis arising from cross-sectorial synergy between forefront research centers in nanosafety and industry, in a cross-fertilisation multidisciplinary approach. It will provide new tests and methodologies or improve existing ones to assess the long term risks of nanomaterials in a rapid and cost effective manner suitable for regulatory inclusion.

NanoInformaTIX - Development and Implementation of a Sustainable Modelling Platform for NanoInformatics

NanoInformaTIX develops a web-based Sustainable Nanoinformatics Framework (SNF) platform for risk management of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) in industrial manufacturing.

The tool will be based on the significant amounts of data on physico-chemical and toxicological and ecotoxicological properties of ENM generated over the last decades, as well as new data coming from research.

The final aim is to provide efficient user-friendly interfaces to enhance accessibility and usability of the nanoinformatics models to industry, regulators, and civil society, thus supporting sustainable manufacturing of ENM-based products

NanoREG II - safe by design as a fundamental pillar in the validation of novel manufactured nanomaterials

The NanoReg2 project will demonstrate and establish new principles and ideas based on data from value chain implementation studies to establish safe by design as a fundamental pillar in the validation of a novel manufactured nanomaterial.

It is widely recognized by industries as well as by regulatory agencies that grouping strategies for nanomaterials are urgently needed. Grouping concepts developed by NanoReg2 can be regarded as a major innovation as guidance documents on nanomaterial grouping will not only support industries or regulatory agencies but also strongly support the commercial launch of a new nanomaterial.

NANORIGO - Nano-Technology Risk Governance

NANORIGO is a project funded by the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme of the European Union. It is a collaboration between 27 partners and a coordinator from 14 different European countries and a global advisory board.

NANORIGO started on 1st January 2019. Coordinated by Aarhus University and involving 28 other partners from across Europe, this 50 month, €4.7 million project will develop and implement a transparent, transdisciplinary and active Risk Governance Framework (RGF) and establish the basis of a related Council (RGC) for manufactured nanomaterials and nano-enabled products.

The RGF will be developed through engagement with stakeholders across research, industry, regulation and civilsociety, and will be based on high-quality scientific data and tools for the physicochemical characterization of nanomaterials, and the assessment of exposure, hazard and risk for humans and the environment.

NanoSolveIT - Innovative NanoInformatics Models & Tools

NanoSolveIT aspires to introduce a ground-breaking in silico Integrated Approach to Testing and Assessment (IATA) for the environmental health and safety of nanomaterials, implemented through a decision support system packaged as both a stand-alone open software and via a cloud platform.

NanoSolveIT will deliver a validated, sustainable, multi-scale nanoinformatics IATA, tested and demonstrated at TLR6 via OECD-style case studies, to serve the needs of all stakeholders at each stage of the engineered nanomaterial value chain, for the assessment of potential adverse effects of engineered nanomaterials on human health and the environment.

NanoStreeM - defining a safety of nanomaterials roadmap in nanoelectronics

Nanoelectronics relies on multiple semiconductor processes resulting in pattering of macroscopic objects at nanoscale level. Advanced technologies developed by semiconductor manufacturers offer unprecedented control of the properties of the finished product in large volumes.

The NanoStreeM consortium has taken up the challenge in defining a road map for the safety of nanomaterials in nanoelectronics where we identify the existing gaps in our knowledge and a number of recommendations for their mitigation.

NECOMADA - Nano-Enabled Conducting Materials Accelerating Device Applicability

NECOMADA develops advanced functional materials to deliver customised conductive inks and flexible adhesives, compatible with volume manufacture of hybrid and large area electronics.

Through collaboration with partner organisations across Europe, the project addresses key material challenges inherent in realising of the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT). The development of these new and novel manufacturing processes will support IoT opportunities initially within the packaging, healthcare and home appliance sectors.

The project’s ultimate aim is to use this line as an open access facility for commercial use.

npSCOPE - Nano-Enabled Conducting Materials Accelerating Device Applicability

The npSCOPE project will develop a new instrument that couples the extraordinarily high resolution of recently commercialized helium-ion microscope with sensors for composition (a mass spectrometer) and 3D visualization (transmitted ion detector) in order to more fully characterise individual nanoparticles and their interaction with their environment (tissue, cells, etc.) and to better understand the risks they might pose to human health or the environment.

The results of the project will be primarily applied within the framework of nano-toxicology activities, including studies on the toxicity of nanoparticles absorbed by the human body orally (nanoparticles contained in food), through breathing and via the skin but also, for example, in the semiconductor and battery industry or in life sciences, other areas where nano-analysis is a key factor.

PATROLS - Advanced Tools for NanoSafety Testing

PATROLS is an international project combining a team of academics, industrial scientists, government officials and risk assessors to deliver advanced and realistic tools and methods for nanomaterial safety assessment.

PATROLS will provide an innovative and effective set of laboratory techniques and computational tools to more reliably predict potential human and environmental hazards resulting from engineered nanomaterial exposures. These tools will minimise the necessity of animal testing and will support future categorisation of engineered nanomaterials in order to support safety frameworks.

PANDORA - Paradigm for Novel Dynamic Oceanic Resource Assessments

PANDORA aims to:

Create more realistic assessments and projections of changes in fisheries resources by utilising new biological knowledge including, for the first time, proprietary data sampled by pelagic fishers.
Advise on how to secure long-term sustainability of EU fish stocks and elucidate tradeoffs between profitability and number of jobs in their fisheries fleets. Provide recommendations on how to stabilize the long-term profitability of European fisheries.
Develop a public, internet-based resource tool box (PANDORAs Box of Tools), including assessment modelling and stock projections code, economic models, and region- and species-specific decision support tools; increase ownership and contribution opportunities of the industry to the fish stock assessment process through involvement in data sampling and training in data collection, processing and ecosystem-based fisheries management.

RiskGONE - Science-based Risk Governance of Nano-Technology

RiskGONE is an EU H2020 project aiming at providing solid procedures for consistent risk governance of engineered nanomaterials.

The project began on 1st January 2019 and will end on 28 February 2023. In that time the project partners will develop new tools or modify existing ones to identify with better certainty the environmental and human health impacts of a number of nanomaterials.

These tools and the results of tests using them will then be integrated into the work of a European Risk Governance Council (ERGC), a group of individuals with different areas of expertise on nanomaterials tasked to provide governance decisions on the safety of the specific materials.

A risk governance framework, made up of the tools and the ERGC, will be developed to address nanomaterial safety governance in a coherent and scientifically robust way. The project has a budget of € 5 Million.

SKHINCAPS - Skin Healthcare by Innovative Nanocapsules

SKHINCAPS – “SKin Healthcare by Innovative NanoCAPsuleS” is a research project aiming to develop customised and safe nanocapsules to deliver novel products for skin healthcare applications, with increased efficiency and cost benefits, leading to ground-breaking innovations on the actual products.

The project will explore an innovative and sustainable in situ self-assembly nanoencapsulation technology to deliver these novel functional products.

Using this safe, sustainable and easily scalable technology, different actives will be addressed for nanoencapsulation:

Phase-change materials (PCMs);
A cocktail of vitamins and antioxidants;
Natural essential oils.

The novel nanocapsules will be engineered to achieve three possible release mechanisms, enhancing actives efficiency.

SmartNanoTox - Smart Tools for Gauging Nano Hazards

Nanomaterials, owing to their unique material properties and activities, are popular for applications involving the detection and diagnosis of genetic and life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer. However, there is an academic and public concern over nanomaterial toxicity and their long-term adverse effects on the immune system.

The SmartNanoTox team, comprising academic and industrial experts in in-vivo toxicity, was established to resolve the intricate mechanisms underlying nanotoxicity, and provide an efficient approach to predict the toxicity of nanomaterials.