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FORSKSKOLE-Forskerskoler

NanoNetwork - Norwegian PhD Network on Nanotechnology for Microsystems - Phase 2

Awarded: NOK 17.7 mill.

Nano-Network was established in the fall of 2009, following the Research Council of Norway's (RNC) first call for proposals on their Program for National Researcher Schools - with the object of raising the quality and improve successful completion of postgraduate (doctoral) training programs in Norway. Our national researcher school was initially (phase I) funded by RNC's program for nanotechnology and new materials (NANOMAT) and then continued for a period of 6 years supported by Program for National Researcher Schools (phase II). Institutional partners of this researcher training network have been: NTNU University of Oslo University of Southeast Norway (campus Vestfold) University of Bergen (since 2011) University of Tromsø (since 2018) SINTEF Digital Nano-Network has throughout the project period supported doctoral training in Norway in the field of nanoscience and engineering of nano- and microsystems, through cooperation between the related research communities at the partner institutions and simpler access for the candidates to state-of-the-art research infrastructure (national, as well as international). Moreover, the project has contributed to increase the supply of highly qualified candidates to the Norwegian microsystems industry and helped to raise the awareness of nanoscience and micro-/nanotechnology in Norwegian academia, research institutes, and central and local government. Since the start of Nano-Network - phase II (January 2014), 85 PhD candidate members have defended their thesis, a number of these registered during phase I (2009-2013). 150 new PhD candidate members have entered the network in phase II, of which 123 were still registered as members by the end of 2019. The majority is expected to defend their thesis work at some point during this year. The candidates' projects vary from growth and characterization of new materials for microsystems applications to design, characterization, and packaging of micro- and nanosystems, including design of ASICs for such systems. We believe that Nano-Network has contributed to improve the scientific quality of PhD dissertations in this field, primarily thanks to economic support for access to modern research infrastructure - including mutual access to laboratory facilities, support for use of the NorFab laboratories and access to large international research facilities, such as several synchrotron radiation sources in Europe, America, and Asia. Nano-Network has also helped funding fabrication of prototype integrated circuits at industry laboratories (Fabs) abroad. With economic incentives from Nano-Network, the partner institutions have established a number of PhD level courses in micro- and nanosystems technology. The classes were made available for all network members by offering intensive training for a short period and covering travel expenses for outside attendants. Nano-Network has also granted travel support to candidates taking lab courses required for access to the NorFab laboratories. An important venue for the members of this national researcher school has been our annual Workshop, with on average ~100 participants. These conferences have served as an important training arena for the candidates to present their projects and research. Over the lifetime of Nano-Network (2010-2019), we have seen a noticeable improvement in quality of the candidates' presentations. Moreover, Nano-Network has offered economic support for members to participate in international conferences. We have also supported research visits for the PhD candidates at foreign universities and research institutes, participation in scientific summer and winter schools, and organization of seminars and conferences with international attendance at our partner institutions. Beyond the specialized courses and actions for network building and dissemination of the candidates' research, Nano-Network has supported the procurement of minor pieces of equipment and consumables required for completion of PhD project with insufficient funding. The benefit of our national researcher school to the relevant PhD training programs at our partner universities lies primarily in the academic network established during the project for contact, exchange of experience, and scientific cooperation. We believe that this project has contributed to raise the scientific quality of the PhD dissertations through the different support actions offered by Nano-Network, including mutual use of laboratory infrastructure, easier access to international research facilities, and economic support to visit collaborating research groups abroad. Our support actions have also contributed to better utilization of the comprehensive investment in modern laboratory infrastructure for nanoscience and nanotechnology research at the Nano-Network partner institutions since the turn of the millennium.

Forskerskolen «Nanoteknologi for mikrosystem» (fase II) har bidratt til å styrke kvalitet og vitenskapelig nivå i PhD-utdanningen på dette fagfeltet i Norge gjennom samarbeid på tvers av lærestedene, ved gjensidig bruk av forskningsinfrastruktur og tilgang til internasjonale forskningsfasiliteter, samt økt internasjonalt samarbeid. Forskerskolen har bidratt til økt synlighet av kandidatenes forskning gjennom støtte til aktiv deltakelse på nasjonale og internasjonale konferanser, invitasjon av forskere utenfra til vår Workshop og til seminar/konferanser støttet av forskerskolen. Videre har forskerskolen bidratt til at de over 100 PhD-medlemmer av forskerskolen som så langt har disputert og er gått videre til næringsliv, instituttsektor og akademia har fått et nettverk de vil kunne dra nytte av fremover. Ytterligere 100+ kandidater innmeldt de seneste år vil disputere over 2-3 år og sikre viktig tilgang på høykompetent arbeidskraft innenfor en innovasjonstung sektor av norsk industri.

This proposal supports a national network on graduate training in applied physics/physical electronics directed at the development of novel nanotechnology devices and microsystems with improved performance and functionality upon down-scaling to nanosize d imensions. The portfolio of PhD research projects includes design, modelling, fabrication, and packaging of microsystems, as well as growth, manipulation, processing, and fundamental studies of the physical properties of mesoscopic structures for a variet y of nano- and microsystems applications, developed to deal with challenges in health and environment, safety, renewable energy technologies (incl. microenergy harvesting), telecommunications, and transportation. The partners of the Nano-Network consortium are NTNU w/research groups at Dept. of Physics and Dept. of Electronics and Telecommunications, Univ. of Oslo w/research groups at Dept. of Physics and Dept. of Informatics, Univ. of Bergen w/research groups at Dept. of Physics and Technology, Buskerud and Vestfold University College w/research groups at Dept. of Microsystems Technology, and Sintef IKT Microsystems and Nanotechnology. The national center of expertise NCE Microsystems in Vestfold is affiliated as associate partner. The Nano-Network thus includes all academic institutions in Norway offering graduate training in this field of science and engineering, and serves to provide a strong link between academic research and the Norwegian microsystems industry.

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