Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies (NMP) is a €3.5bn programme within FP7 broad-based and relevant to all key industrial and technology sectors in the UK; from manufacturing to energy, from the life sciences and ICT, to low-carbon build and green cars.
 
FP7 Security, although one of the smaller priority themes in the Co-operation Programme, has considerable areas of overlap with other major themes such as NMP, ICT and Health/Bio.

In particular, it includes Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN )protection and detection, forensics (including cyber-forensics), border security issues such as biometric data handling, biosecurity protection and systems interoperability.

Many of these areas may be of interest to companies operating in the NMP and nanotechnology fields which may not have previously considered exploring the opportunities available in the Security theme.
 
The key contacts for FP7 in the UK are the TSB funded UK National contact point (NCP) network, and  Dr Alastair McGibbon (left) and Derek Gallaher (right) NCPs for NMP and Security respectively are keynote speakers.
 
Particular interest will be any early indication they give about what topics to expect in forthcoming programmes due to be published July 2011.Delegates will also have the chance to speak to the Scottish FP7 support providers in the form ofthe Enterprise Europe Network and Scotland Europa.