The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars’ Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) recently published a short pamphlet intended to steer "nano firms" down the path towards commercial prosperity.
D. Lekas, "How to Reduce Your Firm’s Risk and Increase Revenues Related to Nanotechnology," Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, PEN Brief No. 4, April 2008.
PEN’s "8 Step Program for Small Firms" is: 1. focus on the bottom line; 2. become or develop a champion within your firm; 3. incorporate life cycle thinking and operations and product development; 4. seek information and assistance on EHS implementation; 5. follow best practices for worker health and safety precautions; 6. prepare for potential nano-specific regulations; 7. increase educational efforts; and 8. seek continued improvement.
The new pamphlet is somewhat superficial and lacks the detail provided in PEN’s numerous regulatory papers. Additionally, regular readers will note that steps 3-6 in particular have been advocated by PEN in one form or another since its inception. However, two of our friends received nice plugs under step 6 where PEN suggests that "[t]o keep up with the latest developments, firms may wish to subscribe to various listservs, including . . . www.nanoregnews.com . . . [and] . . . www.smalltimes.com."
