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Brand Statement
The use of nanomaterials can create new markets and opportunities, revitalise products, improve the quality, value and performance of brands, conserve energy, reduce pollution, increase corporate profits and energise the UK economy for decades to come.
All this is made possible by the pronounced changes in the properties of materials when they are engineered down to nanometre (1 billionth of a metre) scale. In very small quantities nanomaterials can make big differences. But comparatively little of the vigorous activity at the lab bench is feeding through into new products on the warehouse and supermarket shelf.
NanoCentral is here to overcome the obstacles to commercialisation: disjointed supply chains, lack of understanding by industry; and safety, health and environmental concerns. We provide, for the first time, a dynamic hub of technical knowledge and broad business experience dedicated to making the connections that will accelerate the nanomaterials revolution.
Market
Exploiting a nanomaterial firstly requires synthesis to produce it, followed by formulation into a usable state, characterisation of properties and SHE testing before application development to deliver a market benefit. Suppliers tend to specialise in a particular stage. Many are new. Few span the whole process. As a not-for-profit organisation, NanoCentral is bridging knowledge gaps between the stages and injecting the right expertise to put together collaborations that complete the supply chain.
Awareness
Nanomaterials can add value to products for both business and consumers: for example, greener catalysts, effective and non-harmful sunscreens, efficient fuels, longer lasting medical implants and self-cleaning windows. But industry is not fully realising such competitive advantages. NanoCentral is busy creating awareness and building alliances with nanomaterial suppliers so that increased demand will pull innovation through into practice.
Risk Reduction
Because the properties of materials change at nano scale, their effect on the human body and nature might not be the same as that of bulk materials. Concern from environmental groups is understandable. NanoCentral is working to promote SHE related advice, spread best practice and connect suppliers with expertise like that provided through our partnership with the SAFEnano initiative at the Institute of Occupational Medicine.
As an exchange for knowledge, ideas and enterprise, NanoCentral is pivotal to the success of the UK in the race for global leadership in nanotechnology.