The R&I project is lead by a consortium of 23 EU entities

SbD4Nano (to be amended from NanoUptake) stands for computing infrastructure for the definition, performance testing and implementation of safe-by-design approaches in nanotechnology supply chains. The project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n°862195.

The first General Assembly of the project will take place today on May 12th in a virtual platform to gather together consortium partners across Europe in a collaborative discussion around the development of innovative e-infrastructure for SbD Nanomanufacturing.

Safety first

A major challenge for the global nanotechnology sector is the development of safe and functional engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and nano-enabled products (NEPs). In this context, the application of the Safe-by-Design (SbD) concept has been adopted recently by the nanosafety community as a means to dampen human health and environmental risks, applying preventive safety measures during the design stage of a facility, process, material or product. However and despite its importance, SbD prescriptions are still in their infancy, and are hampered among other things by the lack of comprehensive data about the performance, hazard and release potential of the great variety of NEPs in use.

SbD4Nano addresses that problem creating a comprehensive new e-infrastructure to foster dialogue and collaboration between all actors in the supply chain for a knowledge-driven definition of SbD setups that optimize hazard, technical performance and economic costs. It will develop a validated rapid hazard profiling module, coupled to a new exposure-driven modelling framework to reduce toxicity. This safe-born material also undergoes a cost-benefit analysis algorithm to find the best compromise between safety and an industrially convenient technical performance. Finally, a new software interface where product information can be exchanged between the supply chain participants is the tool that wraps up, finishing the collaborative spirit of SbD4Nano between regulators, researchers and industry.

SbD4Nano in numbers

Project duration: 01 04 2020 - 31 03 2024 (48 months)
Total cost: EUR 5.979.609,99
EU contribution: EUR 5.979.609,99
Number of partners: 23 beneficiaries
Coordinator: Instituto Tecnologico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logistica (Valencia, Spain)