ADVANCING GREEN TECHNOLOGY THROUGH GLOBAL COLLABORATION IN NANOMATERIAL INNOVATION: A PATH TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Nanomaterial innovation has presented new possibilities for creating green technologies that solve multifaceted environmental problems and contribute to sustainable development. Nanomaterials with their property of size and shape dependent characteristics, large surface to volume ratio and multimorph functionality are facilitating advancements in energy storage, water and agriculture, and consumer goods. However, these pioneering materials can only be marketed successfully with the help of multi-national efforts on the part of researchers, industry, and government. The current developments in green nanotechnology and SSbD will be discussed in this paper with theoretical underpinnings from green chemistry and systems theory. The paper focuses primarily on investigating international research networks, quantitive LCA, and regulatory systems. It then proposes a new approach to understanding global research networks, policy strategies, innovation mechanisms, and the outcomes of sustainability endeavours. The issues of the static nature of the current regulatory systems, the necessity of the dynamic risk assessment for smart nanomaterials, and socio-economic impediments to technology transfer are also outlined, along with suggestions for further work. In conclusion, the paper claims that effective cooperation and harmonization of efforts at the global level and based on data can make nanomaterial innovation a major driver of circular, climate-neutral and sustainable development.