Global Geoethical Implementation of Nanofactory Production: Multi-Stakeholder Engagement for Effective Policy and Administrative Structures

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The sooner we develop this technology, the sooner dangers can be averted because we will know what they are. In addition, there are so many inherent benefits to nanomanufacturing -  environmental, alleviating poverty and disease, providing clean water, saving energy, humanitarian – that the need to have it as soon and as safely as possible is great. Millions and millions of lives could be saved or improved when this technology is developed.

Geoethical Solution
A global solution is imperative. This will probably require a treaty organization to administer environmental policies that cover all countries because environmental policies in one country can wreak havoc in another. For example, the terrible air pollution in China today is causing acid rain and destroying plants in countries all around the world. Environmental problems know no borders and neither will advanced nanotechnology.

Maintaining adequate product and manufacturing security might also require international agreements. A global approach would also prevent the likelihood of an arms race. Yet in order to achieve these goals, the international agreements must be in place before the technology is developed.

Challenges Ahead
Let’s summarize our approach to the many challenges ahead. First, we must understand the risks. We have touched on some of them, but we may have missed or overestimated something. Second, we must create policy that effectively deals with those risks. If we cannot prevent the risks, we cannot gain the benefits. This policy must satisfy multiple groups and not conflict with other policies. This could take years to develop.

Once that policy is developed, we must find the best way to implement it. How long will it take to create institutions on a global level or to encourage existing institutions to adopt the policies? It could take a long time. In fact, our fear is that it will take longer than it will to develop the technology.

No single group in the world can do this alone. It will take cooperation from many different groups and backgrounds, languages, nations, and training. It will take economists, sociologists, and medical, environmental, and military experts.

Battelle[1] is a huge non-profit research company that manages most of the large government research labs in the country. It has joined with the Foresight Institute to develop a technical roadmap for productive nanosystems, which should take one and one half to two years to finish. The roadmap will outline the technical steps necessary to reach this nanomanufacturing future.

In response to this, the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN) is organizing a policy task force. CRN believes that this will accelerate development, making it more urgent that we understand the risks, create policy, and design structures to implement them. The gong has been sounded.

CRN’s Approach
CRN’s task force will study the implications of nanomanufacturing by employing Delphi methods[2], as pioneered by the Millennium Project at the Amercian Council at the United Nations University[3]. Jerry Glenn[4], who runs that program, has agreed to work with us to institute the Delphi method.

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Footnotes
1. Battelle is a global science and technology enterprise that develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories for customers. http://www.battelle.org/ April 7, 2006 4:42 pm EST (back to top)

2. The Delphi Method - The objective of most Delphi applications is the reliable and creative exploration of ideas or the production of suitable information for decision making. http://www.iit.edu/~it/delphi.html April 7, 2006 4:45 pm EST (back to top)

3. The American Council for the United Nations University is a U.S. non-profit (501)(c)(3) organization that provides a point of contact between Americans and the primary research organ of the UN - the United Nations University (UNU) - which focuses intellectual resources from all nations on world problems. Having scholars on its governing council rather than nations and funding much of its programs through an endowment helps ensure academic autonomy. http://www.acunu.org/aboutacunu.html April 7, 2006 4:47 pm EST (back to top)

4. Jerome Clayton Glenn is Executive Director of the American Council/United Nations University and Director of the Millennium Project. He worked for over 30 years in futures research and consults and lectures internationally for governments, international organizations, and private industry in Science & Technology Policy, Economics, Education, Defense, Space, and Forecasting Methodology. http://www.acunu.org/millennium/resume/jglenn.html April 7, 2006 4:53 pm EST (back to top)

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