Nanotechnology in Saxony

摘要

Nanotechnology is going to become one of the key technologies of the 21st century.rnAlready now we have first applicable products at our disposal. Well known examplesrnare hard disks and reading heads for the magnetic data storage, coated with fewrnnanometer thin films, or scanning microscopes, which allow an insight into the worldrnof atoms and molecules. Other examples are highly precise x-ray optics and ultrathinrnfilms for the microelectronics, which are the presupposition for a further increasing ofrnthe integration density and the clock rate.rnDue to the interdisciplinary character of nanotechnology a strong collaborationrnbetween different disciplines as well as an intense cooperation between partners fromrnindustry and academia is a prerequisite for a successful and rapid implementation ofrnnew innovative applications.rnTherefore, in Germany the federal ministry of research and education funds a fewrncenters of competence in nanotechnology, which support an intensified cooperationrnbetween different partners. As an example the competence center for "ultrathinrnfunctional films", which is managed by the Fraunhofer Institute IWS in Dresden,rnconsists of about 90 partners from industry, universities and research institutions.rnMore than 50 percent of them are located in Saxony. Reflecting the leading position ofrnSaxony in this field. The main activities of the network focus on the following topics:rn- organizing workshops, seminars and conferencesrn- initiating and executing R&D projectsrn- brokering of competent partnersrn- support of education and advanced trainingrn- promotion of spin offsrn- performing public relations.rnConcrete examples of different activities of the center of competence will bernpresented as well as some results of different R&D projects within the center. Anrnindependent assessment of the different networks proved the usefulness of therndifferent activities.