Capacity-building for SSbD Perspective

Abstract:

Advanced materials, including nanomaterials, are increasingly recognized as strategic enablers of Europe’s green and digital transitions. At the same time, Safe and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) has emerged as a key framework for integrating safety, sustainability, and functionality throughout the innovation life cycle. However, the implementation of SSbD remains constrained by fragmented expertise, discipline-specific training pathways, and limited opportunities for coordinated capacity-building. In this Perspective, we argue that achieving the objectives of SSbD will require a new generation of professionals equipped with interdisciplinary competencies spanning technical, sustainability, ethical, and governance dimensions. Drawing on recent literature, emerging European training initiatives, and stakeholder-informed perspectives, we identify key competency needs and discuss remaining challenges for workforce development in nano- and advanced materials. Building on these insights, we propose key elements of a Pan-European training partnership and present a conceptual training ecosystem linking competency development with system-level enablers and implementation outcomes. We argue that coordinated, modular, multilingual, and adaptable sector-sensitive training approaches can help bridge current competency gaps, accelerate the operationalization of SSbD, and support broader European objectives related to sustainability, industrial competitiveness, and innovation.

Authors: Luis Mauricio Ortiz-Galvez, Ineke Malsch, Susanne Resch, Andreas Falk, Sophie M. Briffa, Ciro Salcines, Thomas Exner, Sean Kelly, Effie Marcoulaki, Lya G. Soeteman-Hernandez, and Martin Himly.

Read the full Perspective article here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nanotechnology/articles/10.3389/fnano.2026.1913843/full