Today, The Royal Society, Insight Investment, the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network, and the Nanotechnology Industries Association announced the launch of an initiative to develop a Responsible NanoCode for businesses working with nanotechnologies.

The aim of the Code will be to establish a set of internationally relevant principles which outline good practice for businesses involved in all aspects of these emerging technologies and their applications including research, development, manufacturing, distribution and retailing.

The Responsible NanoCode will be developed by a working group made up of representatives from the Code's four founding partners and a range of organisations including business and non-governmental organisations along with scientists and social scientists.

The working group is joined by Smith & Nephew; Peter Arnold, Group Director of Technology for Smith & Nephew and on the board of the NIA, said: ‘We are delighted to lend our scientific expertise to an initiative aimed at uniting key businesses and organisations behind a code to ensure best practice for the use of these emerging technologies.’