BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (BNN) is a non-profit scientific network that specialises in the Key Enabling Technologies nanotechnology and biotechnology located in Austria, with the emphasis on (1) nanotoxicology, (2) sensor technologies, as well as (3) health, (nano-)safety and (nano-)medicine, and additionally supports projects in coordination, management, dissemination and communication. BioNanoNet is a European key player in the field of nanosafety, specialised in developing nano-related safe-by-design strategies together with researchers and industry, and coordinator of international nanosafety and nano-innovation activities (e.g., Industrial Innovation Liaison i2L, Closer-To-The-Market, etc.).

BNN coordinates the Austrian NanoToxicology and NanoSafety-research-community and therefore has access to key technologies for nano-safety assessment along the value chain. BNN provides communication and dissemination activities; its newsletter reaches “nano-professionals” worldwide. Standardisation and regulatory aspects of nanotechnology (e.g. safety data sheets, exposure scenarios, REACH context, etc.) are key topics in the research of BNN. Therefore, BNN continuously interacts with national and international stakeholders, as well as policy makers and regulatory and legislative authorities (e.g., in the context of NANoREG, EURO-NanoTox, standardisation committees, etc.). BioNanoNet has a wide experience participating in national (SbD-AT) and international projects, and is currently part of H2020 projects like ACEnano, BIORIMA, HI-Response, Inspired, NANOGENTOOLS, R2R Biofluidics, Smart4Fabry, etc.

The key people that will be involved with NanoCommons from BNN are Andreas Falk, Beatriz Alfaro Serrano, Christa Schimpel, Simone Jagersbacher and Christine Halbedel. The role of BNN within the project will mainly be within the following activities: community building, dissemination, case studies and integration and sustainability, leading this last work package. BNN will further expand and develop the community interaction to facilitate synergy effects along the whole value chain, bringing into the project knowledge from fundamental research along to commercialisation to end of life data, as well as contribute to set up a sustainable long-term infrastructure for the nanosafety community providing integrated solutions.