- 25 February 2005 -

New nano chair

Surface Technology Systems plc and Sumitomo Precision Products Co Ltd are
to create a new professorial chair at the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) and the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at University College London (UCL).

The new professorial appointment, will sit at the LCN and work to strengthen the relationship between STS and the educational organizations and pursue research in a number of important areas.

The role will be particularly geared towards producing new nanotechnology devices, materials and processes for a range of important applications. This will enable a growing range of commercial, scientific, engineering and biomedical applications and produce real economic and societal impact through the creation of new healthcare, IT and environmental products.

The chair endowed by STS and SPP represents an important Japanese investment into the UK which is particularly strong in the nanotechnology arena, with the LCN as a highly visible player leading some of the UK's largest nano and bio-nano initiatives.

The LCN is also extremely well connected to the rest of the world and so can be viewed as an international hub -- particularly as it is the only center based in a metropolis. This investment leverages and builds on the LCN's existing strengths and combines them with the substantial skills of STS and SPP in the nanotechnology area.