CATRIN and ICN2 lay the foundations for future scientific collaborations
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 10 May 2022 by the Directors of the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2). The agreement establishes a programme of scientific cooperation, interchange of ideas, knowledge, and researchers.
From 9 to 10 May 2022, theCatalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) hosted a delegation from the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) and held a workshop on a wide range of nanoscience and nanotechnology topics, with the aim of laying the foundations for future R&D collaboration. This two-day event closed off with a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Directors of the involved institutes, Pavel Banáš (CATRIN) and Pablo Ordejón (ICN2).
The objective of this agreement is to foster collaboration and interchange of knowledge between CATRIN and ICN2. The two institutes will establish common projects, identify suitable funding opportunities, facilitate the mobility of visiting scientists and students, and share the organization of scientific seminars and conferences.
The establishment of this cooperation, which is expected to bring mutual benefits, was strongly advocated by Michal Otyepka and Radek Zbořil from CATRIN and ICREA Arben Merkoçi, Leader of the ICN2 Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group, and endorsed by Margarita Navia, Head of the ICN2 Strategy Development Area. “This agreement contributes to expanding the frontiers of the ICN2 and to the internationalization effort that we are currently undergoing, as part of our 2021–2024 institutional strategy,” states Navia.
The workshop that took place at the ICN2 on 9 May was kicked off with a visit to selected laboratories where CATRIN’s representatives had the occasion to meet a number of ICN2 senior scientists and learn about the equipment available at the facility. Then, four sessions of talks were held during the two days, in which research lines carried out at the two institutes were introduced and discussed. In particular, the presentations focused on novel technologies based on graphene and other 2D materials for application in nanomedicine, energy, and environment.
“During the workshop, we identified many topics we would like to tackle jointly, mainly in the field of water treatment, advanced low-dimension materials for electronic and magnetic applications, as well as technology related to energy storage and solar energy harvesting,” commented Zbořil. A delegation from ICN2, in turn, will visit CATRIN on 17–18 October 2022 to further deepen the relationship established between the two centres and move the collaboration programme forward. The agreement signed at the end of the meeting covers 5 years; a common wish is to establish solid and fruitful collaboration which could extend over this first period.