Introduction

Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Centre is a consortium of industrial and science partners formed for performing common research in the field of nanotechnology, results of which will be bases for development of new products and/or new research of consortium partners.

Mission

The Centre helps forming national professional community and technological basis in the field of nanotechnology. The Centre supports Partners’ developments towards international competitiveness by performing R&D projects, educating high-level professionals and participating in basic research necessary to ensure the sustainable growth of the field.

Goal of ENCC

Allow breakthrough Nanotechnology-driven innovations

Offer basic and applied Nanotechnology (NT) research

Emphasize the unique capability of bringing the NT concept to commercial products

Offer design, sample, and fabrication services to industrial, academic, and governmental customers

Support the development of the NT industry by educating new scientists

Lead joint research projects and drive the NT roadmap

Benefits of the centre

1) Concentration and sharing of resources
2) Stability
- Long-term collaboration
- Portfolio of projects
- Investments
3) Effectiveness
4) Attraction
5) International collaboration

Benefits for commercial partners

- Merging of resources-effective and quick way for achieving good result
- Creating of R&D infrastructure -equipment and researchers resources
- “Incubator” of good skilled specialists for high-tech business- future staff, partners, customers

Benefits of research partners

- Additional research work financing from business partners
- Research result commercialization
- Expanding possibilities to use outside technology

Vision

After 3 years: Centre has well-organized structure and high level competence in the fields of research. New products and prototypes for nanotechnology have been developed, including nanotools, test nanostructures and methods for precise quantitative measurements at the nanoscale. The Centre has active international collaboration.

After 7 years: The Centre is the leading centre for nanotechnological research in the Baltics. The Centre incorporates sufficient number of partners that together with international collaboration ensure continuation of the Centre after withdrawal of the state partnership. The Centre has become an essential link in the chain entrepreneurship – applied research (the Centre) – fundamental research (University of Tartu) in the field of material sciences and nanotechnology.