nanoNet Austria

Nanotechnology is considered as one of the key technologies of the 21st century. It offers a wide range of uses, which must be considered in terms of their opportunities, risks and feasibility.

Both science and business are working on the research, development and development of new products, which will have a significant impact on the economic development of Austria.

Many developed countries promote nanotechnology through their own thematic FTI programmes and strategies. The publication of the EU-HLG expert paper "Key Enabling Technologies" clearly highlighted the importance of nanotechnology for Europe's competitiveness and the solution of societal challenges and, in addition to the other KETs, is an integral part of European research policy.

The convergence and integration of nanotechnology is seen as a new opportunity or need to establish close cooperation between commercial/industrial users of nanotechnology, producers of nanotechnology products and research institutions in the field of nanotechnology.

The networking and cooperation of implementation-oriented research in the field of nanotechnology is a key element in networks and platforms for the successful implementation of an Austrian nanostrategy.

Goals / Mission / Strategy

  • Aims of the nanoNET Austria platform
  • Strengthen the knowledge base and competencies for fields of application relevant in Austria.
  • Enable the diffusion of technological knowledge and strengthen cooperation between science and business.
  • Strengthen the interdisciplinary approach.
  • Support for the implementation of nanotechnologies.
  • Provide access to know-how and cooperation partners abroad.
  • Increase the international visibility of Austrian nanocompetence.

International Cooperation

The national and international members of nanoNET Austria are embedded in various international cooperations. nanoNET Austria itself is on the advisory boards of CEITEC Nano (Brno), ANTARES (Novi Sad) and the EU project MIRACLE.

NanoNET Austria also represents Austria at the Association of European Cleanroom Infrastructures (ENRIS Meetings).

Areas of work / Topics

Building on the results of the nanoNET Austria platform, which arose from the various joint projects of the Austrian Nanoinitiative, one of the main activities of the association is the continuous expansion of the existing Austria-wide network, which the stakeholders in a wide range of applications of nanotechnology.

This includes the promotion of links between members up to concrete and actionable projects. Currently, regular events are held to present the latest research results; Platform meetings are preferably held by companies in the Austrian medium-sized industry in order to clarify the integration into industrial production.

Another area of activity of the association is the development and continuation of programs for the promotion and presentation of nanotechnology in its various applications for the public, in particular schools are increasingly addressed to have to.

Regular events with scientific program priorities of various nanotechnologically relevant disciplines offer members of other disciplines the opportunity to identify commonalities and network. This includes providing information and support for new calls for proposals from the various sponsors, both at national and international level. 2015. Together, important social, political, economic and scientific actors are actively involved in shaping the future world of production and work. The aim is to contribute to securing and increasing future prosperity for all people in Austria.

Success Stories / Lead Projects

Since nanotechnology is a cross-sectional technology, a good part of Austria's nanoactors are also active in other platforms, such as Photonics Austria, ECSEL-Austria or BioNanoNet Austria. This, of course, results in a partial overlap of activities as well as synergy effects through interdisciplinary networking.

With partly joint exhibition stands at exhibitions such as THE CHINANO (Suzhou 2013), the Photonics West (San Francisco 2015), the Saltex (Dornbirn 2016) or the IndTech (Vienna 2018), such synergies are highly desirable and increase the visibility Austrian economic and/or scientific activities.

Joint delegation trips with representatives of Austrian business and academia, which are regularly conducted by the BMVIT together with the WKÖ, have been involved in joint projects of Austrian industry, Austrian research institutions and e.g. Chinese partner organizations such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and various Chinese universities and companies.

In this way, Austrian universities and research institutions have succeeded in establishing long-standing cooperative projects in the fields of nanotechnology together with partners of the Austrian economy. The FTI initiative "Production of the Future" not only enabled the transfer of expert knowledge between the partners involved across national borders, but also formed the basis for common IP and joint economic exploitation of the Project.

NaCoS

In the project "Gold Graphene Nano Composite Sensors for Biomolecule Detection (NaCoS)", nanocomposites enabled a new printing technology and the development of electrochemical nanosensors for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

In general, new applications for printed biosensors require the simultaneous measurement of various biomarkers. In order for electrochemical biosensors to be successfully commercialized, two requirements must be met: on the one hand, production by printing process, on the other hand, sensors must be able to measure several molecular biomarkers simultaneously.

The core innovation of the NaCoS project is the novel approach for the modular production of multiparametric biosensors. For example, the project has made it possible to produce electrochemical nanosensors capable of quantitatively developing the three biomarkers CRP, BNP and thrombin, which are crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Detect. The research looked at various aspects of printing technology, with a focus on the development of special nanocomposites to increase the sensitivity of biosensors.

The project led to a new printing technology that enables modular production of multi-parameter biosensors. This approach enables flexible production of biosensors with commercially available electrode systems, eliminating multi-stage electrode biofunctionalization.

The basic concept can also be used for a variety of other applications. The Austrian project partners were supported by the expertise of the Nanoscience and Technology Research Center at the University of Shanghai and were thus able to gain new insights into the development of nanomaterials for the printing of electrochemical sensor electrodes.