A Compliance Toolkit Helping Companies Safely Use Nanomaterials and Meet Regulations

Imagine you're a company using tiny engineered particles — nanomaterials — in your products. Right now, figuring out whether they're safe for workers, consumers, and the environment is a nightmare: the rules are scattered, the science is complicated, and one misstep can mean a product recall or a lawsuit. NANORIGO built a one-stop system that pulls together the best risk assessment tools, validated safety methods, and a web platform so companies and regulators can actually understand and manage nano-risks without needing a PhD. Think of it as a GPS for navigating the regulatory maze around nanomaterials, plus a permanent European council to keep the guidance up to date.

What needed solving

Companies using nanomaterials face a regulatory minefield — safety rules differ by country, risk data is scattered and inconsistent, and one compliance failure can trigger product recalls, lawsuits, or market access bans. Most companies lack the in-house expertise to properly assess and document nano-risks across the full product life cycle, leaving them exposed to both legal liability and reputational damage.

What was built

The project delivered validated hazard and exposure identification methods, risk management decision-making tools for industry, a web-based information and communication platform for accessing quality risk data, and established a self-sustained European Nanotechnology Risk Governance Council. Case studies demonstrated real-condition application of these tools in regulatory settings.

Who needs this

Who can put this to work

Quick answers

Who built it

The 29-partner consortium spanning 14 countries is unusually large, reflecting the cross-border nature of nanomaterial regulation. With 8 industry partners (28% industry ratio) and 5 SMEs alongside 9 universities and 9 research organizations, this is a balanced mix that signals both scientific rigor and practical business relevance. The coordinator is Aarhus Universitet in Denmark, a well-established research institution. The international spread — covering major EU markets like Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, plus Switzerland and the UK — means the tools were designed to work across different regulatory environments, which is critical for companies operating in multiple markets.

• AARHUS UNIVERSITETCoordinator · DK
• INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DEL EMBALAJE, TRANSPORTE Y LOGISTICAparticipant · ES
• REUTHER RUDOLFparticipant · DE
• DECHEMA GESELLSCHAFT FUR CHEMISCHETECHNIK UND BIOTECHNOLOGIEparticipant · DE
• TRANSGERO LIMITEDparticipant · IE
• SOCIEDADE PORTUGUESA DE INOVACAO CONSULTADORIA EMPRESARIAL E FOMENTO DA INOVACAO SAparticipant · PT
• ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNIONparticipant · EL
• HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR UMWELTFORSCHUNG GMBH - UFZparticipant · DE
• PARIS-LODRON-UNIVERSITAT SALZBURGparticipant · AT
• ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
• FUNDACION GAIKERparticipant · ES
• DIALOGIK GEMEINNUTZIGE GESELLSCHAFT FUR KOMMUNIKATIONS UND KOOPERATIONSFORSCHUNG MBHparticipant · DE
• GRUPO ANTOLIN-INGENIERIA SAparticipant · ES
• UNIVERSITAET BREMENparticipant · DE
• Quercus - Associação nacional de Conservação da naturezaparticipant · PT
• UNIVERSIDADE DE AVEIROparticipant · PT
• OPTIMAT LIMITEDparticipant · UK
• BUNDESANSTALT FUER MATERIALFORSCHUNG UND -PRUEFUNGparticipant · DE
• ETSS AGparticipant · CH
• UNIVERSITAET FUER BODENKULTUR WIENparticipant · AT
• WOMEN ENGAGE FOR A COMMON FUTURE FRANCE (WECF)participant · FR
• ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION ON STANDARDSparticipant · BE
• SCHUURBIERS DANIELparticipant · NL
• EIDGENOSSISCHE MATERIALPRUFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALTparticipant · CH
• OEKO-INSTITUT E.V. - INSTITUT FUER ANGEWANDTE OEKOLOGIEparticipant · DE
• TYOTERVEYSLAITOSparticipant · FI
• UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANIparticipant · SI