Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)

Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
Name	Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Native name	Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
Established	2013
Location	Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Type	Research institute
Director	(position)
Website	(official)

Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) is a Barcelona-based research institute focused on nanoscale science and technology. The institute conducts experimental and theoretical work spanning materials, quantum devices, and biomedical nanotechnology, engaging with academic, industrial, and policy institutions across Europe and beyond.

History

The institute originated from initiatives involving Autonomous University of Barcelona, Institut d'Estudis Catalans, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Catalan Government, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and European Research Council funding mechanisms, emerging during frameworks linked to Horizon 2020 and FP7. Early phases connected to projects coordinated with ICREA, CSIC, University of Barcelona, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, and Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research. Strategic milestones included alignments with European Research Area priorities, contributions to Graphene Flagship, participation in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and collaborations with EUREKA clusters. Notable scientific leadership drew from researchers associated with Nobel Prize in Physics, Wolf Prize, Prince of Asturias Awards, Royal Society, and European Molecular Biology Laboratory networks, fostering ties to institutes such as Max Planck Society, CERN, MIT, Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of Cambridge.

Research Areas

Research groups pursue themes in quantum materials and nanodevices, molecular nanoscience, and nanobiotechnology. Investigations intersect with graphene, topological insulators, transition metal dichalcogenides, perovskites (material), and magnetoresistance phenomena, often assessed via techniques originating in work by André Geim, Konstantin Novoselov, Philip Kim, and Charles Lieber. Device efforts target applications linked to quantum computing, spintronics, valleytronics, photovoltaics, and plasmonics. Molecular research engages concepts from Supramolecular chemistry, Self-assembly (chemistry), and Scanning tunneling microscopy, while bio-nano efforts intersect with drug delivery, biosensors, CRISPR, and immunotherapy translational pathways exemplified by teams at Broad Institute, Salk Institute, and Weizmann Institute of Science.

Facilities and Infrastructure

ICN2 operates cleanrooms, characterization centers, and nanofabrication suites comparable to facilities at National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, C2N (Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies), Imec, and IMB-CNM. Instrumentation includes transmission electron microscopes akin to models used at EMBL, cryogenic systems paralleling National High Magnetic Field Laboratory resources, and scanning probe microscopes used in research by IBM Research, NIST, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Computational resources support simulations involving algorithms from Quantum ESPRESSO, VASP, Gaussian (software), and collaborations leveraging PRACE and EuroHPC infrastructures. Shared core facilities host technologies developed in partnership with Oxford Instruments, Thermo Fisher Scientific, JEOL, and Zeiss.

Governance and Funding

Governance frameworks integrate statutes influenced by Catalan statutes and Spanish research policies, with oversight involving stakeholders from Catalonia, Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain), European Commission, and funding agencies such as AEI (Agencia Estatal de Investigación), La Caixa Foundation, Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología, and European Investment Bank instruments. Financial support stems from competitive grants via ERC Advanced Grant, Horizon Europe, Marie Curie, and bilateral agreements with corporations like Siemens, Roche, Novartis, Samsung, and Apple Inc. for translational projects. Advisory boards include members affiliated with European Research Council, Royal Society, National Science Foundation, and international consortia including European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

Collaborations and Partnerships

ICN2 maintains partnerships with universities and institutes including University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, EPFL, Technical University of Munich, Karolinska Institute, University of Oxford, Yale University, Columbia University, Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, Peking University, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Riken, RIKEN, KAIST, Sungkyunkwan University, and corporate research centers such as IBM Research, Intel Corporation, Samsung Electronics, BASF, Bayer, and Philips. Regional alliances engage Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Grifols, and Almirall. Participation in consortia includes Graphene Flagship, Human Brain Project, EuroNanoMed, and ECOC collaborative projects.

Education, Training and Outreach

Training programs collaborate with doctoral schools at Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and international doctoral programs like European School of Materials. Postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates engage with initiatives such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, EMBO, Human Frontier Science Program, and summer schools modeled after Gordon Research Conferences and ESOF. Outreach efforts connect to public venues including CosmoCaixa, Museu de la Ciència, European Researchers' Night, Barcelona Science Festival, and networks involving Science Museum (London), Smithsonian Institution, and CERN Open Days to promote nanoscience literacy and technology transfer via Technology Transfer Office mechanisms and incubators similar to Biocat and Barcelona Activa.

Category:Research institutes in Catalonia