CRANN

CRANN
Name	CRANN
Established	2003
Type	Research institute
Location	Dublin, Ireland
Affiliations	Trinity College Dublin
Director	Jenny Nelson

CRANN is a Dublin-based nanoscience research institute affiliated with Trinity College Dublin and located on the Trinity College Dublin campus. It functions as a multidisciplinary center focusing on nanoscale science and engineering, integrating researchers from physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. CRANN has cultivated links with international institutions, industrial partners, and funding bodies, positioning itself among European nanoscience hubs such as Copenhagen NanoScience Center, Max Planck Society, and Laboratoire Kastler Brossel.

Overview

CRANN was created to provide a dedicated infrastructure for nanoscale research within Trinity College Dublin, drawing talent from departments including School of Physics, School of Chemistry, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, and the School of Engineering. The institute emphasizes translation from fundamental studies to applications relevant to Intel Corporation, Apple Inc., IBM, and small and medium-sized enterprises across Ireland. Its remit aligns with initiatives championed by entities like the European Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland, and the Irish Government's research strategies.

History and Development

The institute originated from a strategic proposal involving Trinity College Dublin leadership and national funders, formalized in the early 2000s alongside buildings and core facilities developed with capital from Science Foundation Ireland and philanthropic support. Early leadership included academics who had trained at institutions such as University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and École Normale Supérieure. CRANN expanded during the 2008–2018 period, establishing dedicated cleanrooms and microscopy centers comparable to facilities at Imperial College London and University of Oxford. Its growth paralleled European nanotechnology initiatives like the European Nanotechnology Infrastructure Roadmap and collaborations with programs funded by the European Union.

Research Focus and Programs

Research themes at the institute span quantum materials, molecular electronics, bio-nanotechnology, and nanoscale imaging. Groups investigate phenomena related to graphene, topological insulator, perovskite solar cell materials, and single-molecule devices studied with techniques originating from labs at Harvard University, California Institute of Technology, and ETH Zurich. Programs include investigator-led projects supported by awards from the European Research Council, the Royal Society, and national fellowships such as those from Science Foundation Ireland. Applied research projects have targeted sensor development for partners like Medtronic and energy-harvesting concepts aligned with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland priorities.

Facilities and Equipment

CRANN houses advanced instrumentation including transmission electron microscopes similar to those found at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, atomic force microscopes used in studies at Stanford University, and optical spectroscopy suites analogous to resources at Imperial College London. Its cleanroom infrastructure supports fabrication processes employed by teams at National Institute of Standards and Technology and Fraunhofer Society. Specialized equipment enables work on scanning tunneling microscope-scale devices, photon-counting experiments comparable to setups at University of Cambridge (UK), and cryogenic measurement facilities like those at Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft.

Collaborations and Partnerships

CRANN maintains academic collaborations with institutions including University College Dublin, Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin, and international partners such as University of Manchester, University of California, Berkeley, and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Industry partnerships involve multinational companies and indigenous firms, drawing on networks with Intel Corporation, Analog Devices, Johnson & Johnson, and Irish technology companies. The institute participates in consortia funded by the European Commission and contributes to training networks administered by organizations like the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Education and Training

The institute supports postgraduate education through links with doctoral programs at Trinity College Dublin and hosts postdoctoral researchers with fellowships from the European Research Council and national schemes. CRANN runs seminars, workshops, and short courses modeled on programs at Max Planck Society institutes and summer schools similar to those organized by International Centre for Theoretical Physics. Training emphasizes hands-on experience with instruments used at leading centers such as Cavendish Laboratory and promotes career development via connections to industry partners like Intel Corporation and Medtronic.

Impact and Recognition

CRANN has contributed to high-impact publications in journals frequently used by researchers at Cambridge University Press and cited by studies at Harvard Medical School and MIT. Its researchers have received awards and fellowships from bodies including the Royal Society, European Research Council, and Science Foundation Ireland. The institute’s translational projects have led to patent filings and spin-out activity resonant with commercialization efforts at University of Oxford and Stanford University. CRANN’s role in national research infrastructure has been noted alongside institutions such as Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin in assessments by governmental and European review panels.

Category:Research institutes in Ireland