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Canada
In worldwide government funding of nanotechnology research and development, Canada currently ranks eighth, and contributes significantly to scientific knowledge and innovation across a variety of areas of interests, including fundamental phenomena and processes, nanomaterials, nanoscale devices and systems, and nanobiosystems. The National Research Council (NRC), Canada's central institution for science and technology research, characterizes nanotechnology in terms of the research, development and commercialization of materials and devices at the scale of one billionth of a meter.
Canada's Nanotechnology Position
This definition reveals Canada's position on nanoscale research, whereby commercial viability is essential to prioritization and execution of research. It is also indicative of Canada's overall approach to investing in nanotechnology, which differs significantly from other Western countries in that it has no centralized policy statement or strategy for nanotechnology research and development. In fact, the provinces of Quebec and Alberta have released position papers detailing the strategic role of the provincial government in nanotechnology for which there is no federal counterpart.
The decentralized nature of funding and research, coupled with a strong focus on commercial and industrial applications, poses significant challenges for nanotechnology development in the Canadian context. In 2005, the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Science and Technology (now closed) commissioned a series of four reports on nanotechnology, asking if Canada was in need of a national nanotechnology strategy.
The results of these studies revealed a degree of ambivalence, concluding that other nations and regions have implemented national strategies that have been productive in the development and commercialization of nanotechnology; while acknowledging that Canada has the tools, assets, and potential to contribute to this kind of development, the studies fell short of recommending that Canada draft and implement its own national policy. Despite a lack of central direction, there is a rich body of work emerging from Canada, and Canadian research has received significant international interest. For example, in 2008 the International Journal of Nanotechnology published a quadruple volume on Canadian-based research and development.
Funding
In 2004, the “Speech From the Throne,” which officially opens the new session of Parliament and sets out the goals, priorities, and strategies of the government, identified nanotechnology as an integral component of the 21st-century Canadian economy. Government funding of both operating and infrastructure budgets for nanotechnology research has increased steadily, from $8.3 million (CAD) in 1998 to $220 million (CAD) in 2008. Because there is no national strategy to support nanotechnology funding in Canada, financial support comes from multiple sources.
Granting agencies include the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), National Research Council (NRC), Natural Resources Canada, Defence R&D Canada, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Ontario R&D Challenge Fund, Alberta Science and Research Investment Fund, and the Western Economic Diversification. The vast majority of these funds are administered through university research grants. For example, in 2008 there were 75 Canada Research Chairs in nanotechnology, demonstrating Canada's commitment to university-based research. The Canada Research Chairs Program was established in 2000, and administers a $300 million (CAD) fund for research professorships in Canadian universities. These positions are important because they attract and retain scholars who have achieved research excellence, while strengthening Canada's research and development mandate.
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- Art, Design, and Materials
- Bionanotechnology Centers
- Context
- Clinton, William J.
- Converging Technologies
- Feynman, Richard
- Fullerene
- Human Enhancement
- IPOs of Nanofirms
- Journal of Nanoparticle Research
- Microscopy, Atomic Force
- Microscopy, Electron (Including TEM and SEM)
- Microscopy, Exotic
- Microscopy, Optical
- Microscopy, Scanning Probe
- Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling
- Nanobiotechnology
- Nanohype
- Nanomaterials
- Nanotech Chronicles, The
- National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Initiative (U.S.)
- Nature Nanotechnology
- Prey
- Roco, Mihail
- Self-Replication
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- Workers' Rights
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- Zinc Oxide
- Engagement and the Public
- Center for Nanotechnology in Society (ASU)
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- Center on Nanotechnology and Society (Kent School of Law)
- Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (Australia)
- Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy
- Consensus Conference on Nanotechnology
- Democs
- Foresight Institute
- Friends of the Earth Nanotechnology Project
- Hyle
- International Council on Nanotechnology
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- Nanotechnology Engagement Group (Involve)
- National Center for Learning and Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering
- National Citizens' Technology Forum
- Popular Culture
- Public Attitudes Toward Nanotechnology
- Public Engagement
- Public Understanding of Nanotechnology
- Public Value Mapping
- Public Values
- Public Well-Being
- Science Cafés
- Environment and Risk
- “Grey Goo” Scenario
- Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology
- Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK)
- Desalinization
- Environment Canada
- Environmental Benefits
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Environmental Ethics/Philosophy and Nanotechnology
- Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.)
- Ethics and Risk Analysis
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Germany)
- Green Nanotechnology
- Health and Environmental Risks (Netherlands)
- Human Enhancement, Biological Risks
- International Risk Governance Council
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- Magic Nano
- Ministry of Environment (South Korea)
- Nano Risk Framework
- Nanomedicine, Toxicity Issues of
- Nanophotovoltaics
- Nanotech Environmental, Health, and Safety Roadmap
- Nanotoxicology
- Nanoweapons, Ethical Issues of
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (U.S.)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (U.S.)
- Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement (U.S.)
- Risk Amplification
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Attenuation
- Risk Communication
- Risk Governance
- Risk Management
- Risk-Benefit Perceptions of Nanotechnology
- Water Purification
- Ethics and Values
- Access
- Bioethics
- Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (Australia)
- Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy
- Codes of Conduct, Corporate
- Codes of Conduct, Professional
- Environmental Ethics/Philosophy and Nanotechnology
- Equity
- Ethics and Risk Analysis
- Human Enhancement, Biological Risks
- Journal of Lutheran Ethics
- Nano-Ethics
- NanoEthics
- Nanoethics Group
- NanoEthics Network
- NanoEthicsBank
- Nanomedicine, Ethical Issues of
- Nanoscientists as Moral Agents
- Nanoweapons, Ethical Issues of
- Neuroethics
- Privacy
- Public Attitudes Toward Nanotechnology
- Public Engagement
- Public Value Mapping
- Public Values
- Security
- Speculative Ethics
- United Nations Millennium Development Goals
- Geographies and Distribution
- Argentina
- Australia
- Berkeley, California, Local Regulatory Efforts
- Brazil
- California
- Cambridge, Massachusetts, Local Regulatory Efforts
- Canada
- China
- European Union
- France
- Geopolitical Implications
- Germany
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- Grenoble
- India
- Indigenous Nanotechnology
- International Development
- iPod Nano
- Iran
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Nanodistricts
- Nanoenabled Products in Commerce
- Nanogate (Tribological Coating for Automobiles)
- Nanotechnology Foundation of Texas
- Nanotechnology Victoria
- Netherlands
- New York
- Regulation (Europe)
- Regulation (U.S.)
- Russia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Trade Secrets and Nanotechnology
- United Kingdom
- United Nations Millennium Development Goals
- United States
- Governance
- 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003
- Anticipatory Governance
- Arms Control
- Berkeley, California, Local Regulatory Efforts
- Cambridge, Massachusetts, Local Regulatory Efforts
- Center for Nanotechnology in Society (ASU)
- Center for Nanotechnology in Society (UCSB)
- Center on Nanotechnology and Society (Kent School of Law)
- Congressional Nanotechnology Caucus
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK)
- Department of Agriculture (U.S.)
- Department of Defense (U.S.)
- Department of Energy (U.S.)
- Department of Health (UK)
- Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.)
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Germany)
- Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany)
- Food and Consumer Goods Authority (Netherlands)
- Food and Drug Administration (U.S.)
- German Research Foundation
- Governance
- Intellectual Property Rights
- International Council on Nanotechnology
- Iran Nanotechnology Policy Studies Committee
- Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congressional
- Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency
- Law
- Ministry of Defence (UK)
- Ministry of Environment (South Korea)
- Ministry of Science and Technology (Brazil)
- Ministry of Science and Technology (South Korea)
- Monash Centre for Regulatory Studies
- Moratorium
- Nanotechnology Law and Business
- Nanotechnology Promotion Act of 2002 (South Korea)
- Nanotechnology Safety for Success Dialogue (Food Industry)
- National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
- National Cancer Institute (U.S.)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.)
- National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Development Plan (South Korea)
- National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Initiative (U.S.)
- National Program of Nanotechnology (Brazil)
- National Research Council (Brazil)
- National Research Council (Canada)
- National Science Foundation (U.S.)
- National Toxicology Program (U.S.)
- Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (Canada)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (U.S.)
- Reflexive Governance
- Regulation (Europe)
- Regulation (U.S.)
- Risk Governance
- Sixth Framework Programme
- Technological Determinism
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)
- Toxic Substances Control Act and Nanotechnology
- Woodrow Wilson International Center
- History and Philosophy
- “Nano Culture”
- Bainbridge, William
- Control
- Converging Technologies
- Drexler, K. Eric
- Emergence
- Engines of Creation
- Feynman, Richard
- Future
- Historical Examples of Nanomaterials
- History-in-the-Making
- IBM
- Indigenous Nanotechnology
- Joy, Bill
- Kabbalah
- Kroto, Sir Harry
- Kurzweil, Ray
- L5 Society
- Nanophilosophy
- Nordmann, Alfred
- Novelty
- Roco, Mihail
- Smalley, Richard
- Taniguchi, Norio
- Transhumanism
- Integration and Interdisciplinarity
- Nanotechnology Companies
- Nanotechnology Organizations
- Asia Pacific Nanotechnology Forum
- Australia Nanobusiness Forum
- Australian Office of Nanotechnology
- Australian Research Council Nanotechnology Network
- Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance
- Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology
- Center for Nanotechnology in Society (ASU)
- Center for Nanotechnology in Society (UCSB)
- Center for Responsible Nanotechnology
- Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology
- Center on Nanotechnology and Society (Kent School of Law)
- Commission for Atomic Energy (France)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization
- Community Research and Development Information Service
- Foresight Institute
- Friends of the Earth Nanotechnology Project
- International Council on Nanotechnology
- International Nanotechnology and Society Network
- International Symposium on Nanotechnology, Occupational and Environmental Health
- Iran Nanotechnology Policy Studies Committee
- Latin American Nanotechnology and Society Network (Mexico)
- Nanobase
- Nanoparticle Occupational Safety and Health Consortium
- Nanotechnology Business Alliance
- Nanotechnology Engagement Group (Involve)
- Nanotechnology Enterprise
- Nanotechnology Foundation of Texas
- Nanotechnology Group
- Nanotechnology Industries Association
- Nanotechnology Institute (ASME)
- Nanotechnology Issues Dialogue Group (UK)
- Nanotechnology Safety for Success Dialogue (Food Industry)
- NanoTrust Project (Austria)
- National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (U.S.)
- National Nanotechnology Initiative (U.S.)
- National Program of Nanotechnology (Brazil)
- National Science Foundation (U.S.)
- Society for Nanoscience and Technology
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