International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory2

International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), in

Braga Braga ( , ; cel-x-proto, Bracara) is a city and a municipality, capital of the northwestern Portuguese district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality has a resident population of 193,333 inhabitants (in ...

, Portugal, a fully international research organization in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

in the field of

nanoscience The nanoscopic scale (or nanoscale) usually refers to structures with a length scale applicable to nanotechnology, usually cited as 1–100 nanometers (nm). A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. The nanoscopic scale is (roughly speaking) a lo ...

and nanotechnology. INL is the result of a joint decision of the Governments of

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

and

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, taken on November 19, 2005, at the XXI Portugal–Spain Summit, in

Évora Évora ( , ) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. It has 53,591 inhabitants (2021), in an area of 1307.08 km2. It is the historic capital of the Alentejo and serves as the seat of the Évora District. Due to its well-preserved old ...

. In this summit it was decided that the institute would be located in Braga, Portugal and its first director would be a Spanish researcher (Professor José Rivas of the University of Santiago de Compostela, nominated on the occasion by the President of the Government of Spain) INL provides a research environment promoting an interdisciplinary effort in addressing the major challenges in the emerging areas of Nanobiotechnology,

Nanoelectronics Nanoelectronics refers to the use of nanotechnology in electronic components. The term covers a diverse set of devices and materials, with the common characteristic that they are so small that inter-atomic interactions and quantum mechanical p ...

Nanomedicine Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotech ...

and Materials Science at

Nanoscale The nanoscopic scale (or nanoscale) usually refers to structures with a length scale applicable to nanotechnology, usually cited as 1–100 nanometers (nm). A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. The nanoscopic scale is (roughly speaking) a lo ...

. The key research activities are based on existing areas in Portugal and Spain, as well as on new strategic development areas where researchers will be hired. The Laboratory is planned for 440 scientists, students, and supporting technical and administrative staff. INL works with international research centres, local and global industry and universities.

INL summit

Since 2015 INL organizes the INL Summit. This two days event brings together participants on all areas of knowledge with a focus on the impact of nanotechnology in today's world. In the 2016 event, BeeHex introduced 3D food printing at INL's annual conference. *Previous events: *2015: Scale Travels *2016: Nanotechnology as a key driver for rethinking food *2017: Nanotechnology: The new economy

History

*2005: Decision of Portugal and Spain to set up a joint R&D institution in the district of Braga; *2006: Signing of the International Convention with the Statutes by the governments of the two countries (November); *2007: Parliamentary approval of the Treaty in the two countries and corresponding ratification by Heads of State; *2008: Signature of the Headquarters Agreement with the Portuguese State and assignment of the land by the Portuguese State to the INL (January) and beginning of the construction of the facilities (July); *2009: Inauguration of the facilities (17 July); *2010: Beginning of scientific activities at INL's facilities (November); *2011: Authorization for the award of the 2nd tender for the purchase of scientific equipment (May);

Departments

* Micro and Nanofabrication * Nanoelectronics Engineering * Life Sciences * Quantum Materials, Science and Technology * Nanophotonics * Advanced Electron Microscopy Imaging and Spectroscopy

References

{{authority control International research institutes Nanotechnology institutions Research institutes in Portugal Science and technology in Spain Buildings and structures in Braga