Modernizing innovation governance to meet policy ambitions through trusted environments

A vision for modernization of nanotechnology innovation governance is a Safe Innovation Approach (SIA). SIA combines two concepts: Safe-by-Design (SbD) and Regulatory Preparedness (RP). SbD aims to motivate industry to integrate safety considerations early in the innovation process and onwards. RP aspires to improve the anticipation capabilities of regulators and develop legislation that can keep pace with innovations. The pace, scope and complexity of nanotechnology present novel challenges for governance, especially law and regulation. A possible option forward for nanotechnology is to move towards a more goal-based governance system including anticipatory regulation. Anticipatory regulation and experimentation can be considered as an agile approach with emphasis on flexibility, collaboration and innovation. SIA can be seen as part of experimentation in support of agile regulatory practices. A trusted environment is needed in which innovators, regulators and other stakeholders are motivated to understand each other's concerns and together develop solutions to anticipate and address safety whilst also facilitating the development of safe, sustainable and socially beneficial innovations. Trust drivers to facilitate trusted environments include focusing on the public interest, competence, respect, integrity, inclusion, fairness and openness. Here, we explore the concept of building trusted environments in the context of the SIA for nanotechnologies.