Final Report Summary - ENF 2003 (EuroNanoForum 2003) The ENF 2003 project had as main output the organisation of the European and international forum on nanotechnology, EuroNanoForum 2003, held in Trieste in December 2003. The forum was promoted by the European Commission (EC) Directorate-General (DG) Research, Industrial Technologies Directorate, in partnership with the National Science Foundation of United States and the Japanese governmental organisation New Energy and Industrial Technology Development (NEDO). The project coordinator, Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia (SIFVG), was in charge of the local organisation of the forum and its related promotional, dissemination and follow up activities. SIFVG actively involved local, regional and national community and enjoyed the support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Sviluppo Italia SpA, Friulia SpA (regional investment company), Central European Initiative (CEI), Municipality of Trieste and the Chamber of Commerce of Trieste.ENF 2003 gathered the participation of about 1 250 delegates, coming from 47 countries, 22 exhibitors, 21 corporations, 210 SME, 25 international networks, 50 journalists and more then 70 national specialised agencies.The scientific focus of ENF 2003 had been coordinated by EC project officer and it was aimed at examining the present situation in the development of nanosciences and nanotechnologies in Europe within the context of the international state of the art and in line with the objectives of the European Research Area (ERA), the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union (EU), the international dimension and the integrating character of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).ENF 2003 aimed at actively contributing to the implementation of activities of FP6, and namely to the priority theme of nanotechnology, through the analysis and dissemination of results and the preparation of future activities to be undertaken within the EU and in cooperation with Associate Candidate Countries (ACCs) as well as with 'global' counterparts, including government agencies, research institutions and companies in the Unites States, Japan, Russia, with a view to enabling the community to achieve its Research and technological development (RTD) strategic objectives.More specifically, ENF 2003 had contributed to RTD objectives in the following ways: - realising and debating the bottlenecks related to nanotechnology and discuss the possible initiatives; - promoting and facilitating the dissemination, transfer, exploitation, assessment and/or broad take-up of past and present programme results; - contributing to strategic objectives, notably regarding the ERA, namely through improved networking; - creating opportunities for cooperation both at the research and enterprise levels, both at the institutional level, thus identifying themes and issues for future community RTD activities; - contributing to public awareness about the importance and impact of nanotechnologies.The scientific programme of ENF 2003 had been specifically designed to stimulate, encourage and facilitate the participation of researchers, experts as well as Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), small research teams, organisations involved in the priority thematic areas, in networks of excellence and integrated projects and also from newly developed and remote research centres based in ACCs. The forum in fact took place on the verge of the date of the EU's enlargement and involvement of delegates from these countries was fostered by the strategical geographical position of Trieste, as traditional 'gateway' to the East and ACCs.Furthermore, the forum had helped to accelerate cross-border regional development strategies that had been developed through the technical assistance provided under the programme of community aid to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (PHARE) for the Slovenia-Italy cross-border region, and which aimed to accelerate the move away from traditional sector-oriented industries towards an advanced form of knowledge based economy. Nanotechnology had the potential to become one of such key drivers because of its transversal impact and enabling characteristics.Within the above strategy, the forum had been structured to address the main bottlenecks or barriers to the expansion and reinforcement of nanosciences in general, and to the subsequent formulation, development, application and use of nanotechnology-based products and services.The impact of the ENF 2003 project on Trieste, site of the forum, and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region as well as Italy had been very important. The forum took place during the semester of the Italian presidency of the Council of EU and it was recognised as official event.The high concentration of researchers and innovation stakeholders in Trieste and the Region had been synergic for the success of the forum. Trieste can boost the presence of important international and scientific facilities because this border city embodies the development opportunities offered by the knowledge based society as the frontiers of research are brought down across the old frontiers of Europe, on the verge of the EU's enlargement towards New Member States (NMS).Furthermore, Trieste, due to history and the presence of large local communities is a traditional gateway towards West Balkan countries and the NMS, from Eastern Europe, of the EU. All of these countries are members of the CEI which played a relevant role in promoting and organising this high level event. ENF 2003 therefore also contributed to the objectives of the science and technology cooperation with these countries, which were - on the one hand - to stabilise and to reinforce their research potential and - on the other hand - to contribute to sustainable development and thus to help settle the political and social situation of the Western Balkan region. Related documents Final Report - ENF 2003 (EuroNanoForum 2003) Other documents EuroNanoForum 2003, European and International Forum on Nanotechnology, Examining the state-of-the-art to overcome the barriers: An open debate, Proceedings
