4 March 2005 -

Ireland's CRANN

Ireland's first purpose-built research institute, the new Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures (CRANN), will open in early 2006, with the mission 'to advance the frontiers of nanosciences where physics, chemistry and biology converge'.

This new facility will have world-class facilities; house the activities of over 150 scientists and have ultra-low vibration laboratories, to allow highly sensitive measurements of nanoscale structures, and state-of-the-art clean rooms.
A total of €60m has been invested in CRANN since 2001, with €11m on the construction of the specialised vibration-free laboratory facilities.

The first phase of CRANN's scientific programme will focus on the physics and chemistry of materials, including biomolecules, which may be structured at the nanoscale with the aim of achieving novel device functionality.

The four major research areas will be: membrane-fluid interface; self-assembled nanostructures; nanoscale contacts and spin electronics.

CRANN involves collaboration between Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, the Intel corporation and several Irish high-technology companies.