The last twenty years has witnessed the beginning of a new revolutionary scientific era; one based on the capacity to observe, characterize, manipulate and organise a range of materials at nanometric scale. Involving the collaboration of physicists, chemists, biologists and engineers, this interdisciplinary field of research has applications in the healthcare, energy and communications sectors, among others.

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With the aim to promote the exchange of information and experiences on recent research in nanotechnology, from 14-17th March, more than 250 specialists will attend the second meeting of the Spanish Nanotechnology network, NanoSpain, which will be held in the “Edifici Docent” at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital. The meeting has been organised by the Fundació Phantoms , the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Donostia International Physics Center.

The opening of the event will be chaired by the director of the Nanobioengineering Research Laboratory (CREBEC) and deputy director of the PCB, Josep Samitier. The opening session will include contributions from Heinrich Hofmann, professor at the Institute of Materials at the École Polytechnique Féderale de Laussane, who will give a conference on the use of nanoparticles in biomedical applications, and from Frank Scheffold, professor at the University of Fribourg, who will present the optical and mechanical properties of nanoparticle assemblages.

The meeting will include conferences and work groups on advanced methods of nanofabrication, nanomaterials and simulation at nanoscale. In addition, several aspects concerning nanobiotechnology, nanochemistry and nanoelectronics will be addressed and also the scientific facilities that host research groups in this field, among these science parks, will be discussed. The meeting will also bring together international authorities, such as Lars Montelius, professor at the University of Lund; Miquel Salmeron, professor at the Lawrence Berkeley University; and Markus Antonietti, researcher at the Max Planck Insitute of Colloids and Interfaces, among others.

Coordinated by the CSIC and the Fundació Phantoms, Nanospain is the largest nanotechnology network in Spain and includes 150 research groups from public institutions, such as universities, the CSIC, technology centres and science parks, and companies, with more than 1,000 researchers registered. This network seeks to join and coordinate the activities of Spanish research groups in the field of nanotechnology. Furthermore, the network acts as an advisory body to public administration in the definition of work plans and potential actions in this field.