The rapidly developing field of nanotechnologies presents many opportunities and benefits for new materials with significantly improved properties as well as revolutionary applications in the fields of energy, environment, medicine, etc... The industrial production and use of nanoparticles will be the driving force for the emerging new materials industry of the 21^st century. In terms of economics, analysts have estimated that the worldwide market for nanomaterials will be 2,600 billion Euros in 2014. However, the potential impact of these new materials on human health and the environment is viewed with apprehension. This new industry can only develop dynamically if these preoccupations are satisfactorily allayed.

Following the successful outcome of the past International Conference on Safe production and use of nanomaterials Nanosafe 2008 that took place in Grenoble (France), the Organizing Committee has decided that the next edition will take place in MINATEC again in November 2010.