1 Working paper 2006 An integrated design approach to the governance during research and innovation of environmental aspects related to nanotechnologies Michael Søgaard Jørgensen ∗ , Stig Irving Olsen, Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Management, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, Antonio Franco and Steffen Foss Hansen, Department of Environment and Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, Abstract The article develops an approach to the governance of environmental aspects and impacts related to nanotechnologies. The elements of the approach are 1) a design approach using scripts and scenarios to describe the roles researchers and designers assume the future users, the technology and the surrounding society will have, 2) a systems approach to ensure focus on the nanotechnology as a system, 3) environmental assessments based on a life cycle screening approach, 4) a governance approach to environmental aspects building on democratic legitimacy, visions as guidance in research policy and research, environmental screening of research proposals and environmental assessments as part of research. Three case studies of consumer products are part of the empirical basis. Keywords Nanotechnology, environment, design, scenarios Introduction In this article we present some methodological and strategic considerations about the governance (society’s management) of environmental aspects of nanotechnologies during research and innovation. A range of new materials, production technologies, products etc. have and will probably continue to arise based on processes within nanoscience and nanotechnology. Environmental benefits and risks are part of this development. The discussions of nanotechnology are, however, often quite overall in the sense that the discussions often are either in favour of nanotechnology in general or against nanotechnology in general. Many discussions of the environmental potentials have focussed on the small dimensions of nanotechnology and claimed that this would imply reduced material consumption. At the same time the small dimensions of especially nanoparticles have also been the focus of much of the analyses of risks related to nanotechnology, because the small dimensions also make the particles more reactive in relation to human tissue etc. This implies that the discussions ∗ Today: Department of Management Engineering. Phone: +45 45 25 60 24. E-mail: msj@man.dtu.dk