| Summary: |
The UK government commissioned the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering to conduct an independent joint study. The study examined ethical, social, health, safety, and environmental issues stemming from nanotechnology. This document contains the UK governments response to the general and specific recommendations in the Royal Society and Royal Academys report. The Nanotechnology Issues Dialog Group (NIDG), chaired by the Office of Science and Technology (OST) will coordinate the governments activities described in this response. The NIDG will conduct reviews of such activities after two and five years. One element of the governments response to the report is the chairing of a Research Co-ordination Group by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Containing representatives from various research councils and government agencies, this group will establish an international dialogue for the exchange of nanotechnology information. |