• Nanomedicine:
1. Diagnostic systems
2. Therapeutical applications and drug delivery
• Nanotechnology for
1. Environmental monitoring
2. Safety and food quality

The research topic generally referred to as Nanotechnology has gained relevance in the last years. This is largely due to the development of the available technologies, but a very strong motivation is that most biological and chemical processes occur at nanoscale. Seeing and actuating at this scale has almost unlimited potential, in Biomedicine as well as Electronics or Materials science and technology. It is multidisciplinary in nature, as classic disciplines like Biology, Chemistry or Physics are confounded at this scale. A new class of applications is at reach if the appropriate effort is placed into Research and Development in this area.

The assembly of this Network, in close relation with the creation of the International Nanotechnology Laboratory by Portugal and Spain, is part of a strategic action intended to set up Nanotechnology as a key area for development and innovation in Portugal in the near future.

The Institute will concentrate on Nanotechnology and Nanoscience, as agreed by both parties, and will have around 200 researchers, to be hired internationally.

The Institute will receive an initial investment of about 30M€, and will be provided an annual budget of similar magnitude.

The XXI Portugal-Spain Summit, presided by both Heads of Government, that occurred in Évora in 18-19 November 2005, confirmed the importance of bi-lateral relations, as proved by decisions taken on Science and Technology: to give a new thrust to cooperation in Science and Technology, to which strategic importance was attributed.

In this way, both Governments decided to launch a relevant set of initiatives, of which stands out the decision to create an international Nanotechnology laboratory.

The Institute will be installed on Portuguese Territory, in the Braga region and jointly managed. It will have an International character, being open to the participation of institutions and experts from the whole World.

Partnerships shall also be actively developed between Public and Private sectors, and cooperation networks with Universities and R&D institutions will be encouraged.

This is a very ambitious project, to be built from scratch. Important steps have already been taken during the current year for its implementation.

The Bilateral Technical Committee, that was meanwhile created to follow up the preparatory work, will finalize the proposal, defining the exact dimension of the Institute, its legal statute, the initial structure/scientific program and work subjects, the organizational structure and management model, as well as the execution agenda.

This Bilateral Committee is supported by an International Scientific Committee. The Members of this International Committee are renown Nanotechnology experts: Mihail Roco, National Science Foundation, USA; Heinrich Rohrer, Noble Prize for Physics laureate, Switzerland; Christopher Murray, IBM, USA; Emilio Mendez, State University of New York, USA; Thomas Jovin, MPI, Germany; Roberto Caciuffo, ITE/JRC, Germany; Aristides Requicha, University of South California, USA.

The first Director of the Institute will be from Spain, Prof José Rivas of the University of Santiago de Compostela. Prof. Paulo Freitas, from the Instituto Superior Técnico Physics Department, Director of INESC-Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias, is the Portuguese Scientific Coordinator.

From 2007 a team responsible for supervision of construction and staff recruitment will start working actively on setting up this project. In parallel the team will prepare an Iberic capacitation program targeted on all Research Centers and Universities active in the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology topics in Spain and Portugal.