Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
research is indeed supported, but maybe not getting a major part
of the resources. This criterion can thus be considered to be a moral
rule stimulating changes in funding priorities.
7.
Environmental sustainability:
In line with the philosophical concept of
human beings as rational animals, a fair development of nanotech-
nology should prevent endangering other species as well as human
beings. Risk governance of engineered nanomaterials should therefore
be aimed at reducing environmental as well as health risks. The debate
on how to accomplish such nanorisk governance is ongoing; however,
it appears that there is currently more attention for health risks than
for environmental risks. In most developing countries and emerg-
ing economies, risk assessment research and debate on regulation of
engineered nanomaterials is lagging behind compared with Western
countries. On the other hand, there is some discussion on potential
environmental benefits of applications of nanotechnology for sustain-
able energy, remediation, environmental monitoring, and resource
efficiency. Whether the actual investment in nanotechnology for stim-
ulating environmental sustainability is enough and well targeted is a
matter for debate. These developments may contribute to the capability
“control over one's environment.”
13.4 Applying Capability Approach to
Nanotechnology Policies in Latin America
The present chapter makes use of conceptual analysis of national nanotech-
nology policies in several Latin American countries, including Argentina,
Brazil, and Mexico. Information on these policies has been compiled mainly in
the EU-funded projects Nanoforum, NanoforumEULA, and ICPC-NanoNet
from the literature, Internet, interviews, and participation in events. The
countries take different positions in the UN HDI (ranking between 46th and
70th out of 179 countries), but none of them is among the 50 Least Developed
Countries (Table 13.1).
13.4.1 International Cooperation Involving Latin American Countries
International cooperation in nanotechnology research is stimulated in a
number of cooperation agreements between Latin American countries (e.g.,
MERCOSUR, Common Market of the South), and with other continents (e.g.,
EU-Latin American framework agreements). The research question for this
section is whether these international cooperation activities contribute to the
principles for a just global structure for ST&I.
