New-Tech Europe | March 2016 | Digital edition

starts with grouping different nanomaterials into categories. We have 3 categories of supposed increasing hazard, and we have 3 categories of increasing likely hood of exposure. That makes a matrix of 9 categories, and all steps in a process can be categorized in this way. For each of the categories, we prescribe different safety measures. For example, when we know that there is a nanomaterial, but exposure is unlikely, the measure can be limited to post signing and labeling. For another category, we will prescribe the use of directed ventilation, or ,when needed, the use of a full breathing apparatus. As part of the NanoStreeM project, we will compare the various risk banding approaches that are being used within the industry. We will share best practices and make recommendations for improvement." Imec, besides coordinating the project, will share experience in this risk assessment, and will participate in the mapping exercise for future materials. Outcome of the project The European Union has taken concerted efforts to understand and promote nanotechnology, but also to address public concerns. Dimiter Prodanov: "With this Horizon 2020 project, we answered a call which was opened last year for support action in the area of ICT, and which aims to look into the use and characterization of nanomaterials. By comparing various approaches to risk assessment and sharing

Fig 2: (Middle, left) Dimiter Prodanov, project coordinator, and (middle, right) Alain Pardon, Safety, Environmental & Health Manager atimec, at the kick-off meeting of the NanoStreeM project on January 28, 2016, at Imec

good practices, the NanoStreeM project will contribute to improve the awareness and safety of the workers in semiconductor fabs, and minimize the impact on the environment. We will come up with recommendations concerning the use of nanomaterials in semiconductor processing. We will also set up comprehensive training and communication efforts." But the project will also enable the semiconductor industry to share and benchmark its approach with other sectors that face similar challenges, such as the pharmaceutical industry, the paint industry etc. Dimiter Prodanov: "The semiconductor industry is an advanced industry that is well aware of its duties and responsibilities. We have a very safety aware culture, resulting in a very tight process control. And this is an attitude that can be transferred to other industries

as well. " The

NanoStreeM

project

(Nanomaterials: for safety assessments in advanced integrated circuits manufacturing) receives funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement n° 688794. Imec collaborates in many projects (EU, ESA and IWT) on which we work in close collaboration with industrial and academic partners. On our website, you can view the projects that are currently running. You can browse this information by research domain. And on April 30, 2076, imec participates in Europe Day (Dutch website), where we will put some of our European projects in the spotlight. strategies

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