A new article co-authored by Sean Kelly highlights the growing need for skills and training to support the implementation of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design approaches across Europe. The authors call for a coordinated training ecosystem to equip researchers, industry and policymakers with the expertise needed to embed safety and sustainability throughout the development of nano and advanced materials.
NIA contributes to European discussion on skills for safe and sustainable advanced materials
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnano.2026.1913843
Sean Kelly
1 min read
Summary
A new article co-authored by NIA Interim Director General Sean Kelly examines how Europe can build the skills and expertise needed to support the implementation of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) approaches for nano and advanced materials.
Published in Frontiers in Nanotechnology, the paper brings together stakeholder perspectives on the knowledge, training and capacity-building required across research, industry and policymaking communities. The publication also includes contributions from NIA member BioNanoNet Association (BNN) and draws on work undertaken through the NSC and INISS-Nano networks.
The authors argue that developing the necessary skills base will be critical to the successful implementation of the SSbD framework promoted by the European Commission through its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership initiatives. The paper calls for the creation of a coordinated European training ecosystem to help ensure that safety and sustainability considerations are integrated throughout the innovation process.
Read the full publication: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnano.2026.1913843
