News: Rotherham Nanotechnology event

An event is taking place on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham this month to look at research funding and regional support for innovation in nanotechnology, materials and new production technologies.

Put simply, nanotechnology is "small-scale science" that enables the unique properties and behaviours of particles and materials at this nanoscale to be applied in a diverse range of sectors – from medical device companies and chemicals firms through to engineering, food technology and construction businesses.

The event will outline the benefits of new nanotechnology advances and provide a forum for companies, those in the supply chain and technology experts to brainstorm ideas for future R&D possibilities. Ideas that are generated may form the basis of grant applications to appropriate funding bodies.

The workshop is organised by Nanofactory and Enterprise Europe Yorkshire and is delivered in association with the National Contact Point for FP7.

The Framework Programme 7 offers the facility to engage in collaborative research and receive up to 75% funding from the European Commission. It is the EU's main source of support and funding for research. The current programme (FP7) will run from 2007 to 2013 with a total budget of over €50 million.

Nanofactory brings together nanotechnology experts from the universities of Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam and York and provides tailored support from the region's universities to encourage collaborative research in nanotechnology.

Nanofactory's director, Professor Richard Williams said: "Nanofactory connects the knowledge and expertise of academic researchers with the needs and challenges of companies in the region. This offers a powerful combination and driver for innovation. As a result new fundamental and applied research programmes will be stimulated and leading university researchers will seek out funding and partnerships to deliver these."

"This type of research based activity goes way beyond the usual consultancy support that SMEs can access at universities and it aims to provide much more than short term problem solving. Nanotechnology doesn't have to be the domain of large companies and multinationals – there are opportunities for all sizes of company."

The event takes place at the AMP Technology Centre, Rotherham on April 27 at 12 noon.

Nanofactory website
Enterprise Europe Yorkshire website
Rotherham

Images: nanofactory.org.uk