Centro de Investigación en Nanotecnología

Centro de Investigación en Nanotecnología
Name	Centro de Investigación en Nanotecnología
Established	2000
Location	Mexico City
Type	Research institute
Director	María García
Affiliations	National Autonomous University of Mexico

Centro de Investigación en Nanotecnología is a research institute focused on nanoscale science and technology located in Mexico City. The center engages in interdisciplinary projects spanning materials science, chemistry, physics and engineering, interacting with international institutions and industrial partners. Its activities include basic research, applied development, and graduate education, contributing to regional innovation ecosystems and national scientific agendas.

Historia

The center was founded in 2000 during a period of expansion in Mexican research linked to initiatives by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología and regional development programs, and it received early support from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología and private firms. Initial projects drew collaborations with groups at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, ETH Zurich, and the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados while leveraging infrastructure influenced by models from the Max Planck Society, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Throughout the 2000s the center participated in networks associated with the European Research Council, the National Institutes of Health, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and hosted visiting scholars from the Imperial College London, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and Tsinghua University. Major milestones included awards from the Prince of Asturias Awards, technology transfer agreements with Siemens, and patents filed in coordination with the World Intellectual Property Organization and corporate partners.

Misión y visión

The mission emphasizes advancing nanoscience through interdisciplinary research aligned with strategic priorities of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, and regional innovation agencies. The vision positions the center as a national and international reference comparable to institutions like the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Riken Institute, and the Kavli Foundation, aiming to impact sectors represented by partners such as Bayer, Panasonic, IBM, and BASF. Strategic goals reference collaborative frameworks championed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the European Commission research programs.

Organización y gobernanza

Governance follows a model influenced by the National Autonomous University of Mexico senate, with oversight committees drawing expertise from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, and advisory boards that include members from MIT, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, and national research councils. The organizational chart includes directorate, scientific council, administrative unit, and technology transfer office similar to offices at the Max Planck Society and the National Research Council (Italy), while ethics and safety policies reference standards from the World Health Organization and the International Organization for Standardization. Funding streams include competitive grants from the European Research Council, bilateral programs with the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and contracts with industry players like Honeywell and General Electric.

Líneas de investigación

Research lines span nanomaterials, nanofabrication, nanoelectronics, nanobiotechnology, and nanophotonics, drawing methods from groups at IBM Research, Intel, and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Projects address two-dimensional materials inspired by work at Graphene Flagship, molecular self-assembly akin to studies at California Institute of Technology, nanoscale characterization paralleling National Institute of Standards and Technology protocols, and biomedical nanoformulations in coordination with the World Health Organization and pharmaceutical partners like Pfizer and Novartis. Specific themes include carbon nanotubes research resonant with studies at Rice University, perovskite nanostructures linked to groups at University of Oxford, quantum dots investigations comparable to work at University of Cambridge, and plasmonics research aligned with laboratories at Harvard University and Stanford University.

Infraestructura y laboratorios

Facilities include cleanrooms modeled on those at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and NanoLab Delft, advanced microscopy suites comparable to instruments at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and characterization platforms drawing on techniques from the Argonne National Laboratory and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The center operates fabrication tools such as electron beam lithography systems used at CERN facilities, atomic force microscopes similar to inventories at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, and spectroscopy equipment found in labs at the National Institute for Materials Science (Japan). Shared facilities support projects with industrial partners including Siemens, Schlumberger, and Shell.

Colaboraciones y redes internacionales

The center maintains formal collaborations with the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, Tsinghua University, University of California, Berkeley, and regional partners such as the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados. It participates in consortia funded by the European Commission, bilateral agreements with the Japan Science and Technology Agency and the National Science Foundation (United States), and thematic networks associated with the Graphene Flagship, the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience, and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Partnerships include joint projects with corporations like IBM, BASF, Bayer, and Pfizer and mobility schemes linked to the Fulbright Program, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and the Newton Fund.

Formación académica y programas de posgrado

Graduate programs integrate coursework and research training comparable to curricula at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and ETH Zurich, offering master's and doctoral degrees with co-supervision from partners at Imperial College London and University of Cambridge. The center organizes doctoral schools modeled after the European Molecular Biology Laboratory training programs and postgraduate courses in collaboration with the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología and the Secretaría de Educación Pública, and it hosts summer schools inspired by events at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Alumni have progressed to positions at institutions including the University of California, Berkeley, Oxford University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and industrial roles at Intel and Pfizer.

Category:Nanotechnology research institutes