Nanotechnology in the UK: Growth, Ethics, and Impact

Introduction

New technology has been considered by governments, business leaders, industry stakeholders, and the educational sector as the key to promoting and ensuring economic growth, especially in relation to the manufacturing sector. Some of the major technologies that have emerged in the recent past include nanotechnology and biotechnology. Nanotechnology is considered a major driver of growth because it provides an important opportunity to address global challenges. According to the British Standards Institution (BSI), nanotechnology is the development, characterization, production, and utilization of systems, structures, and devices through controlling size and shape at the nanoscale (Materials UK, 2010). Since its adoption in the United Kingdom (UK), nanotechnology has continued to evolve in ways that promote economic growth. Consequently, the expansion of the nanotechnology sector in the United Kingdom carries significant implications across multiple domains.

Background of the Nanotechnology Sector in the UK

The adoption of nanotechnology in the UK can be traced back to 2009, when the government declared its intention to create a UK Strategy for Nanotechnologies (HM Government, 2010). The government launched the UK Nanotechnologies Strategy as part of its commitment to the effective and safe development of these technologies. The Strategy was developed and adopted on the premise that nanotechnologies have the potential to deliver improvements for UK consumers. Additional reasons for its development include the potential to maintain the recovery and growth of the country's manufacturing industry and to help address global challenges. The Strategy was built on the principle that the safe, responsible, and sustained use of emerging and enabling technologies meets the needs of the public as well as the education and industry sectors.

Nanotechnologies have been applied in different areas of the UK economy, including business, innovation and industry, regulation, environmental health and safety research, and the wider world. The aim of applying nanotechnologies in business, industry, and innovation is to create nanotechnology industries that maintain good relations with and support from the government in an integrated, transparent, skilled, and responsible manner. In environmental, health, and safety research, the aim is to promote a better understanding of the risks associated with using and being exposed to nanomaterials and to ensure those risks are assessed by appropriately skilled personnel. From a regulatory perspective, nanotechnology adoption is geared toward establishing better-informed regulations and policies associated with nanomaterials and nanotechnologies. For the wider world, the aim is to help ensure that the United Kingdom plays a leading role in nanotechnologies on the world stage (HM Government, 2010). End-use applications of nanotechnologies span various sectors including aerospace, electronics and ICT, automotive, space, green technologies, and food and drink.

Ethical Issues Involved

Developments in science and technology, including nanotechnology in the United Kingdom, do not occur in a social and ethical vacuum. Nanotechnologies are associated with significant social and ethical concerns because of the underlying science and engineering involved in their application and use. The ethical issues associated with nanotechnologies are attributable to their wide range of basic science, engineering approaches, and general methods (The Royal Society, 2004).

One of the key ethical issues arising from the growth of the nanotechnology sector in the UK is the environmental and health risks associated with certain nanomaterials. This is a major concern given that the UK public is largely unaware of the nanomaterials and products currently on the market. While this sector can provide consumers with many new benefits through the development of more advanced products, there is a lack of scientific understanding regarding the risks associated with manufacturing nanoparticles. This contributes to environmental and health concerns that are compounded by the failure to address these risks as a matter of priority (Materials UK, 2010).

A second ethical issue concerns the safety of nanomaterials or nanoparticles given the growth of the nanotechnology sector. This issue emerges from existing gaps in knowledge regarding the safety of materials and particles associated with these technologies. It is also attributable to transparency concerns, since openness about uncertainties linked to certain nanomaterials is essential to ensure that industry, regulators, and consumers have adequate information regarding the usage, efficiency, and benefits of nanomaterials.

Public engagement is also a major issue given the importance of involving the public in development and meaningful discussions about the application of nanotechnologies. There are concerns regarding who manages and controls nanotechnologies and who will benefit from their applications (The Royal Society, 2004).

There are also ethical concerns about individual and group privacy in relation to the development and growth of nanotechnologies in the UK. These concerns are fueled by the fact that increased growth in this sector would contribute to convergence between nanotechnologies and information technology, which would in turn promote the development of devices that can enhance personal security. As these devices are developed, they could be used to gather and transmit personal information without consent as part of covert surveillance.

Interaction of Nanotechnology and Society

Despite the ethical issues involved in the growth of this sector, the increasing application of nanotechnologies in the UK has had considerable impacts on society. According to The Manufacturer (2013), the United Kingdom ranked third in the world in terms of the number of nanotechnology companies operating in the country as of 2010. This is linked to the fact that the wider community of manufacturers has adopted nanotechnology for production processes. In this context, nanotechnology is used by various manufacturers to create devices, systems, and materials through controlling matter at a microscopic level (The Manufacturer, 2013). This approach is increasingly utilized because nanostructured materials can improve a wide range of products owing to their diverse properties.

While nanotechnology is a concept in science and technology, it is also a social construction that was introduced into broader societal discourse to refer to ongoing research in materials science and solid-state physics (Tahan, 2006). In the UK, nanotechnology interacts with society by providing emerging and enabling capabilities to create more advanced products. Given its application across various fields, nanotechnology has considerable socioeconomic impacts. It affects commodity markets by increasing demand for mineral, agricultural, and other non-fuel commodities and products. Nanotechnologies also provide new ways to exploit natural resources, which can result in economic development and improved public welfare (Allhoff & Lin, 2008). Additionally, nanoparticles interact with plants, ecosystems, microorganisms, and animals through production processes. These interactions generate significant ethical concerns by exposing handlers, consumers, and the public to potentially harmful materials. Nevertheless, nanotechnologies have the capability to provide wide societal benefits through the production of healthier foods or through environmentally friendly packaging of food items (UK Parliament, n.d.).

Currently, nanotechnology adoption in the UK has been characterized by the development of mature products in both developmental and growth stages (Materials UK, 2010). The evolution of mature products is attributable to the use of nanotechnology in production and manufacturing processes over the past decades. Mature products that have emerged following the application of nanotechnologies include consumer products, electronic products, medical products, and plastics and coatings. Additionally, companies in the United Kingdom are moving rapidly toward the development of more advanced products by applying nanotechnologies in their manufacturing processes. In light of recent trends, the UK has also played a major role in the creation of international standards for nanotechnologies.

Conclusion

The nanotechnology sector in the UK has continued to grow, especially over the past decade. The growth of this sector has contributed to the development of more advanced products. However, significant ethical, environmental, and health concerns have accompanied this growth, including issues relating to environmental and health risks, safety, individual and group privacy, and public engagement and transparency.

The current funding models for research and development include top-down mechanisms for specific programmes across different thematic areas and bottom-up mechanisms for individual researchers. As the industry continues to grow, new funding models for R&D should incorporate both a Knowledge/Technology Push — targeting key technological areas — and a Challenge Pull focused on addressing the socioeconomic challenges that nanotechnology presents. Taken together, these approaches can help ensure that the UK remains a world leader in nanotechnology while managing the significant risks that accompany its development.

References

2-DTech n.d., About Us, 2-DTech, viewed 28 December 2016, <http://www.2-dtech.com/about-us/>

Aitken, R.J., Chaudhry, M.Q., Boxall, A.B.A. & Hull, M 2006, Manufacture and use of nanomaterials: current status in the UK and global trends, Occupational Medicine, vol. 56, no. 5, pp. 300–306.

Allhoff, F & Lin, P 2008, Nanotechnology & society: current and emerging ethical issues, Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin, Germany.

Department for Business Innovation & Skills 2011, Funding for EU research and innovation from 2014: a UK perspective, Department for Business Innovation & Skills, viewed 28 December 2016.

HM Government 2010, UK Nanotechnologies Strategy: small technologies, great opportunities, HM Government, viewed 28 December 2016.

Intrinsiq Materials n.d., About Us, Intrinsiq Materials, viewed 28 December 2016, <http://intrinsiqmaterials.com/about-us/>

Materials UK 2010, Nanotechnology: a UK industry view, Materials UK, viewed 28 December 2016.

Tahan, C 2006, The nanotechnology R(evolution), Cornell University Library, viewed 28 December 2016, <

The Manufacturer 2013, New technologies shape UK manufacturing: 3D printing and nanotech, The Manufacturer, viewed 28 December 2016.

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UK Parliament n.d., Chapter 3: nanotechnologies in the food sector, UK Parliament, viewed 28 December 2016.

Appendix A: 2-DTech

2-DTech is a graphene production company located in Cheltenham that manufactures several graphene products: Graphene Oxide, Reduced Graphene Oxide, Graphene Nano-Platelets, and Dry Large Graphene Nano-Platelets. The company is closely associated with Manchester's world-leading graphene consortia. Since its inception, 2-DTech has manufactured the highest quality graphene products and other 2-D materials that are supplied throughout the globe. To achieve its business goals, 2-DTech works in close collaboration with industry and stakeholders to transform scientific innovation into revolutionary products.

Source: 2-DTech n.d., About Us, 2-DTech, viewed 28 December 2016.

Appendix B: Intrinsiq Materials

Intrinsiq Materials is a nanotechnology company located in Farnborough, England, that has developed into a recognized world leader in the development and production of nanomaterials. The company was founded as a standalone firm in 2007 when it separated from the UK Ministry of Defence and established its core technology. Since 2010, Intrinsiq Materials has continued to expand its global operations following the establishment of extensive laboratory and testing facilities and an initial production capability. The company currently provides a wide range of products, including Copper Inkjet Ink, Copper Screen Paste, and a Laser Sintering System.

Source: Intrinsiq Materials n.d., About Us, Intrinsiq Materials, viewed 28 December 2016.