Nanotechnology Research – Networks and Initiatives

An international association of companies and institutes in the field of microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials.

The JONAS Research Network (Joint Research Network on Advanced Materials and Systems) incorporates four European partners: the I.S.I.S. Institute at Strasbourg University, Freiburg University, and ETH Zurich -�as academic partners, and BASF SE, as the industry partner. The close cooperation of three leading European universities with BASF enables all partners to�extend the scientific basis and their understanding of future materials and systems.

This virtual centre of expertise brings together leading edge academic research and expertise in applied materials chemistry at the universities of Bolton, Liverpool, Manchester and the molecular modelling capabilities of the Science and Technology Facilities Council at Daresbury, all in the UK. KCMC aims to drive industrial growth for the UK chemistry-using industries through the coordination, development and exploitation of leading edge materials chemistry research.

The Lehigh Emerging Technologies Network (LETN), formerly the Lehigh Nanotech Network (LNN), was founded by Lehigh University in 2004, comprising a diverse group of business, education, government, economic development, and services/consulting members. We bring members together to learn about applications, research, funding opportunities, and educational initiatives, and to advance the understanding, development, and commercialization of novel materials technology. The LETN also supports education and outreach for student development. Membership is open to any company or organization with interest in materials or nanotechnology.

MAFIN aimed at developing a new magnetic recording media at prove-of-concept level for ultrahigh density magnetic storage applications, by using low-cost, environmentally friendly processes and both advanced and new nanotechnologies. The MAFIN project successfully ended in May 2009. Reserach on magnetic storage is continued within the TERAMAGSTOR project.

MAGMANet is an interdisciplinary Network of Excellence that focuses on the magnetic properties of molecular based systems. The consortium comprises 22 leading European players in the field from 8 EU states plus Romania and Switzerland. The entire range of expertise necessary for carrying out research in molecular magnetism is involved, from theoretical and solid state physics, to synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry.

MANCEF globally supports the creation, exchange, and dissemination of knowledge vital to people, organizations, and governments interested in the commercialization of miniaturization technologies.

This European Nanotechnologies Project is funded by the European Commission Sixth Framework Programme, under priority 3: Nanotechnology and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices (NMP). The first level objective of the project is to provide the manufacturing industry with an entirely new platform for manufacturing (i.e. even beyond micromanufacturing), by way of the high productivity, high resolution, direct, one step laser sintering process.

A 300-acre greenfield site designed to become the nanoelectronics manufacturing and R&D cluster for the state of New York.

Nanomicrowave is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) aiming to train a new generation of multidisciplinary researchers in the field of nanoscale microwave technologies and related emerging applications. The consortium consists of three industrial partners and seven academic and research institutions.

MANA is a collaboration to develop and position the tri-state region (PA, NJ, DE) as a global hub for the expanded research, development, application and commercialization of nanotechnology

(Site in Dutch) A network to strengthen the economic acitivities of companies active in the areas of micro- an nanotechnologies.

The aim of the network MINAEAST-NET is to prepare the participation of organisations from associated candidate countries (ACCs) for projects in FP6 in the area of Micro and Nano Technologies (MNT). The main objective is networking on micro and nanotechnologies, according to priority thematic areas 2 (IST) and 3 (NMP) from FP 6.

A 'competitiveness cluster' that brings together major corporations, small and mid-sized businesses, government agencies, and organizations from the public and private sectors to develop a unique hybrid of micro- and nanotechnologies and embedded software.

A three-year project undertaken by an international consortium of researchers covering 3 continents which could help bring to mass market organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), which could have far reaching technological implications and cut the cost of lighting by billion of pounds each year. The Modecom consortium will work on the molecular level and also look at the workings of the device as a whole.

The focus of MODERN (MOdeling and DEsign of Reliable, process variation-aware Nanoelectronic devices, circuits and systems) is to develop new design tools and methodology for transistors and circuits at the nanoscale which will enable the manufacturing of reliable, low cost, low electromagnetic interference, high-yield complex silicon chips and corresponding products using unreliable and variable devices.

Molecular Frontiers is a global effort to promote the understanding and appreciation of molecular science in society.

The MONA project (Merging Optics and Nanotechnologies) has been launched in June 2005 by the European Commission in order to bridge the gap between photonics and nanotechnologies. The ultimate objective of the project is the development of a European roadmap for photonics and nanotechnologies.

The CARBIO partners apply a multidisciplinary approach to exploit the potential of multi-functional carbon nanotubes (CNT) for biomedical applications, in particular to act as magnetic nano-heaters, drug-carrier systems and sensors which allow a diagnostic and therapeutic usage on a cellular level.

The goal of the MultiPlat project is to develop biomimetic proton conductive membranes with nanometer thickness (nanomembranes) through convergence of the number of fields. The primary application of this multipurpose nanotechnological platform is the next generation of fuel cells where it will replace the prevailing evolutionary modifications of the state of the art solutions.

MULTIPROTECT is an Integrated Project within the thematic priority of 'Nanotechnology and Nanosciences, knowledgebased multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices' of the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission. The consortium aims to provide a generally applicable, highly innovative, heavy metal free, multifunctional and corrosion preventing surface technology on the basis of smart nanocomposite materials with new nanoparticles as functional design elements.

The project MUST aims at providing new technologies based on active multi-level protective systems for future vehicle materials. 'Smart' release nanocontainers will be developed and incorporated in commercial paints, lacquers and adhesive systems to prepare new products exhibiting self-healing properties.

N2P - Flexible Production Technologies and Equipment based on Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Processing for 3D Nano Structured Surfaces. This project will develop innovative in-line high throughput technologies based on atmospheric pressure surface and plasma technologies. The two identified approaches to direct 3D nanostructuring are etching for manufacturing of nanostructures tailored for specific applications, and coating.

The NADINE project aims at the development of a diagnostic tool able to detect in blood as early as possible, and at a cost compatible with large scale screening, an emerging neurodegenerative disease, and thus aid in the selection the best treatment. The project involves a multidisciplinary consortium of technology developers, three leading biomedical groups in clinical neuroscience for definition of specifications and end-user pre-clinical validation, three research-oriented SMEs in biotechnology, nanosensing and microfluidics and a pharmaceutical company.

The Namur Nanosafety Center involves several research teams including physicists, chemists, biologists and pharmacists. Each team will fulfil a specific mission in order to obtain an integrated view of nanomaterials physico-chemical properties and interaction with biological systems.