NanoNed: major Dutch nanotech programme starts
After recent approval of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, the NanoNed programme has now started. NanoNed is a Dutch national research programme, joining forces in The Netherlands within the field of nanosciences and nanotechnology. Chairman of the programme is David Reinhoudt, scientific director of MESA+ Institute of Nanotechnology of the University of Twente. MESA+ has the scientific coordination of the programme.
NanoNed is an initiative of eight scientific institutes and Philips, it is a major programme investing in experimental facilities, scientific research and dissemination of knowledge. Together, the partners want to stimulate nanotechnology as a major source for economic growth in a highly productive and sustainable knowledge economy.
The new consortium received 95 million euros of Dutch government within the so-called BSIK programme (government investments in Dutch knowledge infrastructure). The overall budget of NanoNed is over 235 million euros. This includes the funding for the preceding NanoImpuls programme, and contributions of all institutions involved. NanoNed runs from 2005 to 2009.
Partners within the consortium are MESA+ (UT), Kavli Institute of Nanoscience (TU Delft), CNM (TU Eindhoven), Biomade (University of Groningen), IMM (Radboud University, Nijmegen), BioNT (Wageningen UR), Photonics group (University of Amsterdam), TNO and Philips Electronics.
NanoNed has eleven so-called flagship programmes. Within these programmes, over 200 research projects will run in the coming 5 years, with over 1200 man-years of research. A substantial amount of money will be destinated for NanoLab NL, in which all nanotechnology scientists can share state of the art facilities. Part of the funds will be reserved for research into the sociological implications of nanotechnology and the impact on society.
More information: www.nanoned.nl |