A decision to halt all research and development into nanotechnology
would be irresponsible and dangerous, according to the non-profit Center
for Responsible Nanotechnology™, an independent policy research group.
This statement comes in response to a lengthy report issued by the watchdog
group ETC, which recommends that governments declare an immediate moratorium
on commercial production of new nanomaterials.
“ETC’s report was wide-ranging, but perhaps too ambitious,” says
Mike Treder, Executive Director of CRN. “Going from biotechnology to
structural nanotechnology, and then all the way to molecular nanotechnology
is inappropriate. It is frequently a mistake to generalize from one
area of technology to another.”
Biotechnology is not the same as nanotechnology. Moreover,
molecular nanotechnology (MNT) is quite distinct from structural nanotechnology
(SNT). The technologies are so different that they must be analyzed
and administered separately. In addition, it’s too early to recommend
specific actions with regard to molecular nanotechnology.
“CRN is actively researching MNT policy issues. The first thing
we learned is that simple solutions won’t work,” says Chris Phoenix, CRN’s
Director of Research.
“We agree with many of the points made by ETC,” says Treder.
“For example, it is vital that economic and humanitarian benefits from
advanced nanotech accrue to all strata of world society. The quickest
way to realize those benefits, however, is to put more emphasis on research
and development, not less.”
CRN contends that ETC’s report went too far in calling for a
complete moratorium. An attempted global shutdown of molecular nanotech
development would not assure anyone’s safety or security. Rather, it
would drive research underground and could result in a dangerous and
unstable black market.
“We’ve done our own analysis of the Precautionary Principle and
its relevance to nanotechnology,” says Phoenix. “There are ways to apply
the Principle and allow the safe and effective use of nanotech, while
still protecting users, developers, and innocent bystanders. That’s where
our research is going.”
