Europe Concentrates Forces in the Nanotechnology AreaAugust 18, 2004The University Twente (The Netherlands), representing a network of 12 partners, has received a considerable grant from the European Commission to implement the nanotechnology program 'Frontiers'. Frontiers is a European network which aims at establishing leadership in research and innovation on behalf of life sciences related nanotechnology by integrating the strengths and facilities of the network partners. This integrated approach will strengthen Europe's position in nanosciences and will increase its competitive R&D position with respect to the US and Japan. In the Frontiers consortium 12 top-level nanotechnology institutes are united including the University of Cambridge, Max Planck in Germany and the Nano Science Group from Toulouse, France. On August 23 the network gathers in Enschede (The Netherlands) to launch a joint program of activities. Back in 2000 the EU already recognized that the scientific and technological development in Europe was falling behind relatively compared to the US and Japan. It recommended that investment in nanotechnology R&D should triple by 2010 to strengthen Europe's competitive position and to help Europe become world leader in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. One of the crucial differences between the EU and our main competitors is that the latter have coordinated R&D programmes whereas European research is scattered. The Frontiers initiative is designed to create critical mass in life sciences related nanotechnology and hence maintain European excellence in nanosciences. The Frontiers network consists of twelve top-level nanotechnology research institutes and integrates 192 researchers. The nanotechnology field is multidisciplinary and consequently Frontiers will set-up an infrastructure allowing researchers with different backgrounds to share their knowledge, experience and research results. Laboratory equipment present at the different institutes and universities will be listed and shared. Frontiers will also create and implement a science-to-industry chain to capitalise the knowledge generated in the network by transforming it into applications and products. By combining the educational material currently present at the partners Frontiers will develop a new high profile nanotechnology master program. Interdisciplinary education and training for research personnel are prerequisites to develop and maintain centres of excellence in Europe. Active participation in international ethical discussions surrounding nanotechnology applications and risk assessment procedures will help contribute to the development of safe and responsible products. On August 23-25 the University of Twente will organize a kick-off conference which as the first step towards the construction of the Frontiers network. The press is kindly invited to attend. Twente, University of |
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| Related Nanotechnology Current Events and Nanotechnology News Articles New study confirms exotic electric properties of graphene First, it was the soccer-ball-shaped molecules dubbed buckyballs. Then it was the cylindrically shaped nanotubes. Now, the hottest new material in physics and nanotechnology is graphene: a remarkably flat molecule made of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal rings much like molecular chicken wire. Behavior modification could ease concerns about nanoparticles In an advance that could help ease health and environmental concerns about the emerging nanotechnology industry, scientists are reporting development of technology for changing the behavior of nanoparticles in municipal sewage treatment plants - their main gateway into the environment. UT Knoxville and ORNL researchers turn algae into high-temperature hydrogen source In the quest to make hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel source, researchers have been stymied about how to create usable hydrogen that is clean and sustainable without relying on an intensive, high-energy process that outweighs the benefits of not using petroleum to power vehicles. Caltech scientists develop DNA origami nanoscale breadboards for carbon nanotube circuits In work that someday may lead to the development of novel types of nanoscale electronic devices, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has combined DNA's talent for self-assembly with the remarkable electronic properties of carbon nanotubes, thereby suggesting a solution to the long-standing problem of organizing carbon nanotubes into nanoscale electronic circuits. New 'finFET' promising for smaller transistors, more powerful chips Purdue University researchers are making progress in developing a new type of transistor that uses a finlike structure instead of the conventional flat design, possibly enabling engineers to create faster and more compact circuits and computer chips. Findings show nanomedicine promising for treating spinal cord injuries Researchers at Purdue University have discovered a new approach for repairing damaged nerve fibers in spinal cord injuries using nano-spheres that could be injected into the blood shortly after an accident. Magnetic nanoparticles to simultaneously diagnose, monitor and treat Whether it's magnetic nanoparticles (mNPs) giving an army of 'therapeutically armed' white blood cells direction to invade a deadly tumour's territory, or the use of mNPs to target specific nerve channels and induce nerve-led behaviour (such as the life-dependant thumping of our hearts), mNPs have come a long way in the past decade. Breakthrough in industrial-scale nanotube processing Rice University scientists today unveiled a method for the industrial-scale processing of pure carbon-nanotube fibers that could lead to revolutionary advances in materials science, power distribution and nanoelectronics. An exquisite container In campy old movies, Lucretia Borgia swans around emptying powder from her ring into wine glasses carelessly left unattended. The poison ring is usually a confection of gold filigree holding a cabochon or faceted gemstone that can be broken to empty the ring's contents. It is invariably enormous - so large it is rather odd nobody seems to notice it. University of Cincinnati researchers create all-electric spintronics A multidisciplinary team of UC researchers is the first to find an innovative and novel way to control an electron's spin orientation using purely electrical means. More Nanotechnology Current Events and Nanotechnology News Articles |
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