The Norwegian Centre for Transmission Electron Microscopy - NORTEM

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is an essential tool in both fundamental and applied research within physics, chemistry and materials science. The understanding of materials at the nanoscale is of growing importance in several strategic areas for N orway, such as materials for sustainable energy, catalysis, light metals and nanotechnology. The Norwegian Centre for Transmission Electron Microscopy (NORTEM) will be a national Centre with two geographical nodes, in Oslo and Trondheim, and three project partners, NTNU, UiO and SINTEF. NORTEM constitutes a coordinated effort by the leading national TEM groups to make a world-class TEM centre with state-of-the-art instrumentation. The aim of the Centre is to secure the high level TEM infrastructure and co mpetence needed by academia and industry within the physical sciences in Norway. NORTEM will ensure long term competence development, dissemination and transfer of competence to national user environments. NORTEM will position the Norwegian TEM community as an attractive partner for cooperation and serve as a recruitment base for researchers. This initiative will allow the Centre to take the lead in large international projects. NORTEM will make investments in complementary advanced TEM equipment at the two nodes. The current proposal will further consolidate and strengthen the national collaboration between NTNU, UiO and SINTEF, thereby securing a high international level of competence with a critical mass for both fundamental and applied research activ ities at both nodes.