Nanotechnology: Political Spaces for Nanomaterials

International audienceNanomaterials have been the object of numerous public and private initiatives aiming to manage their risks and maximise their benefits. Proponents of nanotechnology programmes argue that their potential negative impacts need to be dealt with appropriately, and wish to integrate these concerns early in the industrial development of these substances. Science policy programmes do not provide a clear definition of the term "nanomaterials". Defining nanomaterials, however, has become a central concern. It is called for by manufacturers who wish to sell the "nano" quality of their products as well as by associations who wish to classify products in order to facilitate consumer choice or introduce constraints on production