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| C2N (Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies) | |
|---|---|
| Name | C2N (Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies) |
| Established | 2011 |
| Type | Research institute |
| City | Palaiseau |
| Country | France |
C2N (Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies) is a French research laboratory specializing in nanoscience and nanotechnology located on the campus of Université Paris-Saclay in Palaiseau, France. It was created through a merger of laboratories associated with CNRS and Université Paris-Sud and operates within the frameworks of French national research policy and European research initiatives such as Horizon 2020. C2N engages with institutions including École Polytechnique, CEA, and Institut d'Optique Graduate School to pursue interdisciplinary work spanning physics, engineering, and materials science.
The origins of the laboratory trace back to legacy units from Université Paris-Sud and national centers like CNRS and CEA that contributed to French microelectronics efforts exemplified by collaborations with Thales Group and STMicroelectronics. Founding activities coincided with the consolidation of the Paris-Saclay research cluster, influenced by policy decisions related to Investissements d’avenir. The site development paralleled relocations from Orsay and integration with facilities near Massy and Saclay Plateau, aligning C2N with initiatives such as the European Research Area and networks including EMBO and Euratom partnerships. Over time, C2N expanded capabilities through capital projects linked to Réseau National des Micro et Nanotechnologies and cooperative programs with Université Paris-Saclay faculties and partner laboratories like Laboratoire Kastler Brossel and Institut d'Alembert.
C2N is jointly governed by CNRS and Université Paris-Saclay under statutes similar to units like Unités mixtes de recherche and maintains links to national entities such as Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche and regional authorities in Île-de-France. Its internal structure comprises research teams led by directors and principal investigators drawn from institutions including École des Mines de Paris and Sorbonne Université, with oversight committees resembling those at CEA and advisory boards with representatives from European Commission programs and industrial partners such as IBM and Nokia. Administrative coordination interacts with funding agencies like ANR and participates in evaluation processes by AERES and peer review panels involving associations such as IEEE and OSA.
C2N hosts divisions in areas comparable to groups at Max Planck Society institutes, including quantum optics groups inspired by Institut d'Optique traditions, nanofabrication units akin to cleanrooms at LETIC, and materials characterization centers similar to those at European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Facilities include class 100 cleanrooms, electron-beam lithography tools analogous to equipment used at IMEC, scanning probe microscopes like those found in Jülich Research Centre, and cryogenic measurement setups used by teams associated with CERN and LKB (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel). The laboratory also operates spectroscopy suites employing techniques developed in collaboration with groups such as CNES-affiliated labs and instruments comparable to those at ESRF and SOLEIL.
Research themes at C2N encompass quantum technologies inspired by programs at IQOQI and QuTech, photonics research comparable to studies at INRIA and Thales Alenia Space, and semiconductor nanostructures studied by groups linked to STMicroelectronics and CEA-Leti. Projects address topics such as superconducting circuits with methods used at NIST, two-dimensional materials investigations following work from Manchester University and ICL (Imperial College London), and hybrid quantum systems drawing on collaborations with MIT and Harvard University. Applied endeavors include optoelectronic device prototyping influenced by Philips Research and sensors development in concert with Institut Pasteur-style biomedical collaborations. C2N participates in European consortia similar to Graphene Flagship and multinational efforts like Quantum Flagship to advance scalable quantum information platforms.
C2N maintains partnerships with academic institutions such as École Polytechnique, Sorbonne Université, Imperial College London, Max Planck Society, ETH Zurich, Utrecht University, and University of Cambridge, and industrial collaborations with Thales Group, STMicroelectronics, IBM, Intel, and Nokia. It is active in multinational projects funded by European Commission frameworks, coordinates bilateral programs with CNES and CEA, and engages in internships and joint laboratories modeled after Joint Research Centre and Industrial Doctorate schemes. Networking includes membership in European networks like COST actions, exchanges with Helmholtz Association, and partnerships with private foundations such as European Research Council awardees and collaborations tied to awards like the CNRS Gold Medal laureates.
C2N contributes to graduate education through doctoral programs registered at Université Paris-Saclay and supervises PhD candidates in collaboration with schools such as École Normale Supérieure and Institut d'Optique. It hosts postdoctoral researchers recruited through schemes like the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and organizes summer schools and workshops modeled on events at Les Houches and ICFO. Outreach includes public engagement activities coordinated with Palais de la Découverte and regional science festivals with partners like Fête de la Science, and training programs for engineers developed with IUT branches and professional continuing education providers.
Researchers at C2N have contributed to breakthroughs in quantum photonics and two-dimensional materials that garnered recognition comparable to awards from European Research Council, CNRS Silver Medal, and prizes akin to those conferred by Institut de France. The laboratory’s staff have authored high-impact publications alongside collaborators from MIT, Harvard University, Stanford University, Max Planck Institutes, and University of Cambridge, and have secured significant grants from ANR, European Commission, and industry consortia. Infrastructure projects have been celebrated within the Paris-Saclay community and cited in strategic reviews by bodies such as Ministère de la Recherche.
Category:Nanotechnology institutes in France