| Posted: November 26, 2008 |
New facility in Belgium aims to boost consolidation of nanoscience in Europe |
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(Nanowerk News) On Friday 28 November, the European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF) is to be inaugurated in Louvaine, Belgium, the aim being to boost the consolidation of nanoscience in Europe.
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The ETSF is made up of ten nodes, i.e. ten European scientific groups, all leaders in the field of modelling and analysis of nanometric-scale processes. The Spanish ETSF node, directed by Professor of Physics at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Ángel Rubio, is located at the Jose Mari Korta R+D+I Centre on the San Sebastian (Gipuzkoa) campus. Mr Rubio also holds one of the two Vice-Presidencies of ETSF (responsible for Scientific Development).
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Financed by the EU Infrastructure Programme I3 and by various national agencies, ETSF can be described as the equivalent, in the field of numerical theory and simulation of a large-scale scientific infrastructure, to the synchrotron. The novelty lies in that its headquarters, located at the Catholic University of Louvaine, acts as a coordination centre for the nodes that make it up and not as the physical places where research activity actually takes place.
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As regards its activities, ETSF is specialised in the explanation, simulation and prediction of phenomena related to the electronic and optical properties of materials, in order to find out, for example, what materials are the most suitable for solar panels or digital mediums.
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The basic aim is the provision of services to the scientific community, both in the academic and business world, devoted to basic research, innovation and development of nanometric devices and processes. The UPV/EHU node is also specialised in the design of new nanotechnological, molecular electronic and biophysical devices.
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