27 April 2006

The III Nanotechnology Congress, held in Pamplona March 20-23, surpassed the organization's expectations as regards the quality of the more than 200 papers and reports presented, the high rate of participation of Spanish and foreign researchers (300 experts) and the broad acceptance on the part of the companies and institutions as shown by the 19 stands.

Over the course of the four days, the experts attending the main annual event for nanoscience knowledge transfer to the industry learned about the status of lines of research on new, atomic and/or molecular scale materials and devices that comprise a new technoscience.

One hundred and thirty-three scientific reports (poster-flash) presented by young Spanish investigators dealing with advanced nanomanufacturing methods, nanobiotechnology, nanochemistry, safety evaluation systems, nanoelectronics, nanomaterials, force microscopy (SPM), and simulation on the nano scale, among others, contributed to the lectures given by Spanish and foreign guest researchers. The meeting recorded a significant increase in the number of businesses taking part, in the form of nineteen stands occupied by companies (technology centers and businesses).

The Congress was organized by the Spanish Nanotechnology Network through the Phantoms Foundation, a body that brings together 184 groups with more than 2,000 researchers, and the Government of Navarre through Sodena. The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC, its acronym in Spanish), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAM, its acronym in Spanish), the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), the Universidad Pública de Navarra, the Universidad de Navarra, CREBEC/ Scientific Park of Barcelona (University of Barcelona), the Spanish Center for Metrology, Pamplona City Council, and Caja Navarra also collaborated.

Among the experts in physics, chemistry, and biology that debated the findings and behaviors of the new materials measuring one millionth of one millimeter, the participation of the Navarre-born scientist Javier Tejada is of particular note. Tejada, full professor of Physics at the University of Barcelona, urged [the attendees] to continue to invest in R&D in nanoscience, making scientific advances compatible with technological progress. The Congress has borne witness to the fact that new nanomaterials, nanomagnets, nanotubes, nanoparticles, nanosensors, chip-on-laser will have applications currently unthought of in just a few years time, in medicine, industrial production, energy, or computing.

The presence of institutions and business from Navarre was noteworthy. Miguel Sanz, President of the Government of Navarre, inaugurated the meeting and pointed out that Navarre is “firmly committed to R&D+i”, a commitment that translates into an investment of 1.9% of the region’s GDP, “almost double that of R&D in Spain”, which is limited to 1.1%.

A Chance to Get to Know Navarre

As Antonio Carreira from the Phantoms Foundation, sponsor of the meeting, pointed out, the congress has served for researchers from all over Spain as well as leading international centers “to get to know Navarre, which has been a pleasant surprise to them, both because of the interest the authorities have demonstrated in nanotechnology, as well as for the hospitality the city of Pamplona has shown to the Congress”.

They also got a taste of the cuisine of Navarre, since the Congress participants partook of a dinner organized by ICAN based on products from Navarre, plus another dinner that took place at Castillo de Gorraiz, where they had the chance to continue sharing experiences. Carreira indicated that an important aspect of the Congress is that of creating synergies and sharing information in a discipline that is undergoing constant change. “There are very young, highly trained people here and that enthusiasm catches on. We want the industries to back nanotechnology, but for that to happen, institutional support is needed. Some European countries have understood this, but Spain is slower to react. That is why it is so important to find an autonomous community such as Navarre that wants to invest and that is thinking along the same lines as the French or German governments”.

Intervention of general director of Sodena