ERA-NET for nanoscience shows nanoscale is in vogue
04.09.2008
NanoSci-ERA, a joint European undertaking in fundamental research at the nanometric scale, is gaining new ground: the project is set to continue under the ERA-NET plus scheme. “Nanoscience is indeed now quite a hot research topic in Europe,” says Programme Manager Anssi Mälkki from the Academy of Finland.
Much is happening in the world of nanoscale research. “There are a number of research programmes ongoing at the national level, like the Academy’s Research Programme on Nanoscience FinNano.”
It seems almost impossible today to produce a distinct definition of nanoscience or nanotechnology, as one discipline or research field after another is incorporating a nanoscale approach into its research. “In NanoSci-ERA plus, this could be seen in that it was now more difficult to define the research themes than in 2005, when the first NanoSci-ERA project was launched.”
Nanoscience has already cornered a chunk of a few fields in particular, namely molecular biology, chemistry, material technology and electronics. “In fact, it’s very difficult to say whether there is such a thing as nanoscience in a collective and general sense,” observes Mälkki.
Reduced red tape, enhanced efficiency
Anssi Mälkki got on board the NanoSci-ERA project at the turn of the year. “Everything has been running quite smoothly. Seeing as the 18 funding agencies involved all have quite similar scientific objectives, it’s quite easy to determine a common policy.”
The funding agencies come from twelve different countries. “Nanoscience scientists applaud the project for its light bureaucracy, its high-level research and the range of its networking,” says Mälkki.
The ERA-NET funding awarded to individual research consortia has contributed to concrete collaboration between research groups in the field. “These researchers often know each other from before, but haven’t had the financial resources for joint research efforts.”
Smooth sailing
Professor Jukka Pekola and his research team PICO, who are conducting research on a single-electron refrigerator, were among the grant winners of the first NanoSci-ERA call.
“Our research got started in February last year. All teams within the Italian-French-Dutch-Finnish consortium are researching nanoelectronics, each from its own perspective. The cooperation has been on track and is running along seamlessly; it has really benefited all those involved,” says Pekola.
The work conducted by Pekola and his team at Micronova, the Centre for Micro and Nanotechnology in Espoo, Finland, can be labelled as basic research. “The electron refrigerator we’re working on may well be used in space technology, for example as a cooling device for state-of-the-art satellite sensors.”
200 proposals submitted within the new round
NanoSci-ERA plus is hard at work preparing the evaluation of project proposals in the second stage, set to take place in October. “All in all, there were more than 200 proposals submitted, and funding is available for twenty or so, for three years. Among the 60 applicants that proceeded to the second round were also two Finnish research teams,” reports Anssi Mälkki.
The ongoing call has been reserved funding to the tune of 24 million euros, of which the European Commission’s contribution is eight million.
The funding of NanoSci-ERA plus is based on the idea that European research is to be funded from one common pot. “Finland didn’t get on board the common pot concept in this call. Depending on the research theme, smaller ERA-NET countries will always run the risk of being left with a very minor share of the pot. That’s why many lean towards funding their own research groups on a national basis,” says Mälkki.
ERA-NET gave good seed money
Jukka Pekola’s nanoelectronics research team did not participate in the new application round of NanoSci-ERA, largely because Pekola felt the research theme was elusive and hard to approach.
“Our consortium did, however, manage to get funding from other EU sources. We’ll also be moving up a notch, as we’re incorporating research on the application of new technology into our work.”
Pekola says the ERA-NET project has in a sense provided the research with seed money and an opportunity to engage in longer-term collaboration. “For instance, we received more money than just the three-year salary of a single researcher. I also like the fact that this funding system doesn’t require overly rigorous reporting.”
Text: Tiina Ruulio
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• ERA-NETs
• www.nanosci-era.org
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