ICN: Institut Català de Nanotecnologia

The Institut Català de Nanotecnologia was created in July 2003 by the Ministry of Universities, Research and Information Society of the Catalan Government and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) within the framework of the 3rd Catalan Research Plan. The Institute’s main objective is the research of excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology with the purpose of becoming an international reference center in this field. The specific targets of the institute are:

• The research of new material properties resulting from their aggregation at the nanometric scale.
• The development of methods for the nanofabrication, growth, analysis, characterization and manipulation of aggregates and structures of nanometric dimension.
• To foster the collaboration of scientists in different fields to enable the integration of their contributions.
• The training of new researchers in the field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Negotiations are currently being made with the CSIC for the creation of a joint center CSIC-ICN.

The research areas of the institute will be:

• Synthesis and applications of nanoparticles and nanotubes
• Design and synthesis of macromolecules for the integration of nanodevices
• Magnetism of thin films and spintronics
• Imaging and manipulation of atoms and molecules
• Theory of surfaces and inter-phases
• Interaction of biomaterials with inorganic matter

The building of the ICN will be constructed in the Campus of Bellaterra of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).