Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Historia

The Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology is a foundation located on the campus of the Autonomous University of Barcelona whose mission is to promote interdisciplinary research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. In addition to research activities, the ICN2 provides training for researchers, education programs and services to industry and the scientific community.The ICN2 is part of the Catalan Government's organisation for research centres which aims to encourage and maximise synergies and strategic cooperation between research centres in Catalonia. The Institute is also a founding member of The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology which was established in collaboration with five other research centres in Catalonia to achieve greater international competitiveness by promoting multidisciplinary scientific collaboration in the fields of genomic regulation, chemical research nanoscience and nanotechnology, photonic sciences, high energy physic and biomedicine.HistoryThe ICN2 was initially established as the `Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology (ICN) in 2003, at the initiative of the Catalan government and the UAB with the aim of attracting international research talent to create a world renowned centre for nanoscience and nanotechnology research. Following collaborations between the ICN and the Spanish government's Centre for Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CIN2), the ICN and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) agreed to put their collaboration on an official footing and signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect in 2006.This agreement was formalised in 2011, when CSIC representatives joined the ICN's board of patrons and then in 2013, when the ICN changed its name to the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2). In addition to research, management and financial synergies, an important outcome of this agreement was the construction of a new building on the UAB campus containing state-of-the-art equipment and purpose-built research facilities. The building was inaugurated in 2014 and provides facilities for 180 researchers and 40 technical and support staff.