The international project "Nano4m- Nanotechnology for Market" is in its last year of "life".
In fact the project, funded by the program of the European Union INTERREG IVC (with an ERDF contribution), began in October 2008, and is expected to end in September 2011.
It has the main objective of improving the innovation strategies at the level of local governments, as well as research and technological centers and in the field of nanotechnology, creating, among other things, a network for future cooperation after the end of the project.
"Nano4m" involves four regions (Asturias in Spain, Tuscany in Italy, Lorraine in France, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany) and twelve partners from local governments, research centers and centers of businesses' services.
From 22nd to 24th February 2011 the Nano4m partners participated in the 4th (and last) Seminar of the project, which took place in Münster (Germany).
The event focused most of all on the progress of Nano4m, the closure of the works of the expert groups (with the presentation of their results), the guidelines for R&T centers, and the planning of the activities in 2011.
Specifically, the work of the four expert groups covers the following topics: 1. dental implants, 2. biocidal nano carriers, 3. energy - photovoltaic, 4. transparent armours – security/defence. During the meeting in Germany, the leaders of the four expert groups reported on the progress and the vicinity thereof to the needs of the market.
Partners - also received by the Mayor of the German city – during their German stay visited some companies based in Münster, relevant for nanotechnology, such as CeNTech.
After the seminar in Münster, the third phase of the project Nano4m will begin: partners will make recommendations to the regional authorities, with the aim of improving public policies and in the field of technology transfer; opportunities for future cooperation between regional governments, in this area will also be explored.
During 2011, the project partners will meet again in France (Lorraine) for the so called "Think Tank" and in Spain (Asturias) for the final conference.
Moreover, Nano4m partners have organized several "study visits" in which experts of the project have visited and will visit, research centers and companies of other partner countries, to study their way of working and thus enhancing their knowledge