Joint R&D Projects
The ICN actively invites joint research projects with local and international companies as well as other research institutes. Several kinds of projects can be carried out, ranging from collaborative/co-development research, joint R&D projects to achieve a technology or market objective and/or contract research. Funding for such products is often available from both Spanish and EU sources.
Training
The ICN often undertakes free dissemination of knowledge to specific organisations or a wider public, via a number of routes, including specific seminars and extension courses, publication of reports and news, informal contacts, and staff exchanges and training.
Consulting and advice on science and technology is available upon request.
In addition, senior scientists at the ICN supervise both postgraduate students and post-doctoral researchers. Scientific staff also contributes to teaching in the frame of the UAB’s Master in Nanotechnology program.
Specialised short courses for technicians and R&D personnel can also be custom designed.
Core facilities and services
Nanotechnology does not always involve expensive equipment or rare materials, often it can be incorporated into existing industrial processes with minimal capital investment. The key to successful nanotechnology is detailed knowledge of the behaviour of materials at the nanoscale, and how to control such behaviour. A number of companies are already working with the ICN to develop new commercial products and techniques incorporating nanotechnology, with at least one product close to market launch.
In order to support cutting-edge research, ICN has invested in the latest state-of-the-art technology for electron and optical microscopy, nano-fabrication, spectroscopy and magnetic characterisation.
These facilities are run by qualified teams that not only provide services to ICN and external research groups, but also actively refine and develop new equipment and techniques, often in close collaboration with the equipment manufacturers.
Examples of services on offer include:
- Characterisation of physical, chemical, electromagnetic and toxicological properties of nanoparticles, nanostructures and nanomaterials.
- Nano- and micro-encapsulation of substances using a wide range of materials and techniques.
- Development and manufacturing of state-of-the-art of organic and inorganic nanoparticles as well as conjugation “a –la-carte” at laboratory and pilot plant scale for multiple industrial and research applications and their complete physical and chemical characterisation.
- Micro and nano-fabrications: metallisation, lithography, nanoimprinting, self-assembling, Dip Pen Nanolithography, etc. of a wide range of materials and applications and metrology services.
- Development of specific customized biosensors for medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food quality control, safety and security applications.
Some of these specialised facilities are unique in Spain, which along with high level technical assistance can be made available for both collaborative research activities and commercial R&D.
We invite anyone interested in developing either advanced research techniques or commercial nanotechnology applications to contact us.
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In particular, we highlight the following facilities and services which are available:
