Europe joins forces at the nanotechnology front
Nanotechnology is a broad field of study with a variety of applications including drug delivery, food and health. Advances in the field are rapid and often require cooperation and sharing of information for scientists to remain competitive. To integrate nanotechnology research and create a Network of Excellence (NoE) among nanotechnology institutes in Europe, the EU funded the project ‘NoE research and facilities directed at instrumentation for manufacturing and analysis of single molecules and individual nanoclusters, targeted at life sciences’ (Frontiers). The key objective of the project was to increase research, infrastructure and education efficiencies in the nanotechnology field. More specifically, the project aimed at coordinating joint research among the partners and implementing a virtual European nanoscience laboratory. The generated research focused on the application of nanotechnology in drug delivery, nanopores and analytical techniques, as well as for the development of biosensors and nano-structured surfaces. Furthermore, the consortium developed an integrated European Joint Curriculum (EJC) offering a Master’s level educational programme on life sciences-related nanotechnology which was available at the participating partner universities for students with a nanotechnology profile. The Frontiers project also supported a series of student-organised international conferences – called Inascon – on nanosciences, hosting workshops on nanotoxicology and nanosciences in the media. A further goal of the consortium was to transfer the scientific knowledge to generate industrial applications and products. Frontiers has succeeded in uniting European researchers who work in the nanotechnology field and promoted collaborations and sharing of existing infrastructure. This is expected to strengthen Europe’s role in the sector and enhance nanotechnology business opportunities.
