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| ICN2 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia |
| Acronym | ICN2 |
| Established | 2013 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Location | Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain |
| Affiliation | Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Spanish National Research Council, Autonomous University of Barcelona |
| Director | Núria Montserrat |
| Staff | ~250 |
| Research fields | Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, Materials Science, Quantum Materials, Nanomedicine |
ICN2 is a multidisciplinary research institute focused on nanoscience and nanotechnology based in Bellaterra, Catalonia. It brings together researchers from Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Spanish National Research Council, and the Autonomous University of Barcelona to pursue fundamental and applied work in materials, devices, and biomedical nanotechnologies. The institute operates cleanrooms, characterization centers, and training programs that connect to European and international initiatives such as Horizon 2020, the European Research Council, and networks anchored by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
ICN2 integrates groups in synthetic chemistry, condensed matter physics, and biomedical engineering to address challenges in graphene-based devices, topological insulator research, and organoid technologies. The institute hosts joint projects with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, collaborations with the Max Planck Society, and participation in consortia led by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory. Facilities support work on two-dimensional materials, spintronics, plasmonics, and nanoscale imaging relevant to initiatives like the Human Brain Project and the European Quantum Flagship.
The institute was formed through the consolidation of groups from Catalan and Spanish research bodies, formalized in the early 2010s amid regional science policy reforms influenced by agencies such as the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain) and the Government of Catalonia. Its creation followed precedents set by centers like the ICFO and the CIC nanoGUNE, and aligned with European strategies advanced at the Lisbon Strategy and continued under programs like Horizon 2020. Early research milestones included collaborations with teams from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, and the University of California, Berkeley on graphene electronics and molecular self-assembly. Over time, leadership transitions and strategic hires connected ICN2 to awardees of European Research Council grants and to industry partners such as Siemens, Nokia, and several biotechnology startups spun out in the Barcelona innovation ecosystem.
The institute focuses on several interlinked themes: quantum and electronic materials, nanophotonics, spintronics and magnonics, hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces, and nanomedicine. Projects explore electronic transport in graphene, superconductivity in iron-based superconductor heterostructures, and light–matter coupling in plasmonics and metamaterials. Biomedical groups develop organ-on-chip systems and stem cell-derived organoids for disease modeling in collaboration with hospitals such as Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and research centers like the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park. The materials division investigates energy-relevant catalysts connected to research by the European Energy Research Alliance and battery technologies referenced in initiatives by the European Green Deal.
ICN2 operates advanced instrumentation including nanofabrication cleanrooms, transmission electron microscopy suites, and scanning probe platforms. Cleanroom capabilities enable lithography and device processing compatible with standards used by the Semiconductor Research Corporation and fabrication centers like the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure. Characterization tools include cryogenic systems for quantum transport comparable to those used at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and spectroscopy setups aligned with methods from the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. The institute also maintains core facilities for cell culture and bioimaging compatible with protocols from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and clinical partners.
ICN2 maintains bilateral and multilateral partnerships with universities and institutes such as the Imperial College London, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and the University of Cambridge. It participates in European projects funded by Horizon Europe and hosts researchers funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and the European Research Council. Industrial collaborations include partnerships with multinational firms and startups in nanotechnology clusters around Barcelona and Basel. The institute is part of networks like the European Nanotechnology Community and contributes to standardization efforts alongside bodies such as the European Committee for Standardization.
ICN2 offers PhD training and postdoctoral programs in conjunction with the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and contributes to graduate courses linked to the Barcelona School of Economics and engineering programs at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Outreach activities include public lectures coordinated with venues like the CosmoCaixa science museum and participation in regional science festivals such as La Mercè and the Barcelona Science Festival. The institute hosts summer schools and workshops aligned with initiatives from the European Materials Research Society and mentoring programs supported by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation.
Governance combines representation from funding and academic stakeholders including the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, the Spanish National Research Council, and regional government bodies like the Government of Catalonia science directorates. Funding streams comprise competitive grants from the European Research Council, project funding under Horizon Europe, national grants from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain), and partner-supported contracts with industry. The institute pursues intellectual property strategies similar to those of university technology transfer offices and participates in spin-off formation processes modeled after successful cases in the Catalan innovation ecosystem.
Category:Nanotechnology institutes