The Responsible Nano Code (2007)

The Responsible Nano Code was developed from 2006-2008

The initial development process ran from 2006-2009 creating Principles for Responsible Nanotechnology. However, it quickly became clear that these principles were valid across technologies and they have subsequently evolved and have been part of various discussions framing responsibili3es in industrial biotech, synthe3c biology, digital health, robo3cs, AI, food irradia3on & nanotech.

The Responsible Nano Code was co-created through working meetngs and on-line deliberation by a multi-stakeholder group formed of business (Unilever, BASF, J&J, Smith & Nephew, Tesco, Thomas Swann, Johnson Mathey, Oxonica), NGOs (Amicus Union, Which? Practical Action & later Greenpeace) academia (Prof Nick Pidgeon, Prof Richard Jones, Prof Vicki Stone, Prof Rob Aitken) and an investor (Insight Investment) and the then Head of Policy at the Royal Society Nick Green. It was chaired by the Earl of Selborne, then chair of the House of Lords Science & Technology Committee. Hilary Sutcliffe, initiated, obtained funding and ran the initiative in partnership with Insight Investment

The Responsible Nano Code initiative was paid for by the Royal Society, Insight Investment & the Nanotech Knowledge Transfer Network. Follow up consultations and work have been paid for by the Esme Fairbairn Foundadion, a consortium of businesses including (Unilever, GSK, Astra Zeneca, Leatherhead Food & others), & various EC FP7 & H2020 projects. However proper funding to take the initiative forward on a larger scale has eluded us despite significant interest from business, research funders and foundations over the years.

The initial contract to take forward the Responsible Nano Code was awarded to Cranfield University, but they were unable to obtain any funding and the initiative was therefore only taken forward by Hilary Sutcliffe as part of the ongoing ‘research and development’ of SocietyInside.