Space system vendors seek for solutions to deliver small size and cost-effective sensor systems to 'de-congest' satellite payloads, drastically reduce the equipment cost and open the possibility for new generation of micro-payload systems. MERMIG aims to provide this technology replacing current expensive, bulky, heavy and power-consuming fiber optic gyroscopes (FOGs). To address these key challenges, MERMIG invests in the right mix of silicon photonic CMOS-compatible component fabrication and nano-imprint lithography laser fabrication. Both technologies are being adopted by the terrestrial telecom market and MERMIG will develop them for bringing their unique advantages into space sensor systems. MERMIG will squeeze the bulky FOG into a couple of cm2, integrating a racetrack cavity, pin junctions and a phase decoder into compact sub-micron waveguides. The MERMIG 'smart' packaging technique will allow power-efficient optical pumping and hermetic packaging of the gyro-photonic chip. MERMIG will develop the first 1550nm high-power laser with a fiber-coupled power of 150mW using an integrated laser MOPA, fabricated with advanced nano-imprint lithography (NIL). The 150mW delivered will enable a modular architecture, with pump sharing among 3 integrated silicon lasing cavities, for 3-axis sensing. The single-step NIL process enables fast wafer scale patterning and ensures low-cost and high-volume laser production. Finally, MERMIG will bring together photonics and electronics on a fully-functional opto-electronic gyroscope system prototype characterized according to ASTRIUM testplan procedures. MERMIG will deliver to ASTRIUM a new generation gyroscope that will weigh <1kg, consume <5W electrical power in a few cm3 footprint. The angle random walk range that will be feasible within MERMIG is 0.1 -0.01 deg/sqrt(hr) suitable for telecommunications and scientific satellites. The technology full potential can allow for future opto-electronic integration of photonic 'gyroscopes-on-a-chip'.

Recent developments in the design and synthesis of nanoscale building blocks as active elements in opto- or bio-electronic devices with tailored electronic functionality have the potential to open up new horizons in nanoscience and also revolutionise multi-billion dollar markets across multiple technology sectors including healthcare, printable electronics, and security. Ligand-stabilised inorganic nanocrystals (~2-30 nm core diameters) and functional organic molecules are attractive building blocks due to their size dependent opto-electronic properties, the availability of low-cost synthesis processes and the potential for formation of ordered structures via (bio) molecular recognition and self-assembly. Harnessing the complementary properties of both nanocrystals and functional molecules thus represents a unique opportunity for generation of new knowledge and development of new classes of high knowledge-content materials with specific functionality tailored for key applications, e.g., printable electronics, biosensing or energy conversion in the medium term, and radically new information and signal processing paradigms in the long term. Self-assembly and self-organisation processes offer the potential to achieve dimensional control of novel multifunctional materials at length scales not accessible to conventional “top-down” technologies based on lithography. It is critical for European industry to develop new knowledge and low-cost, scaleable processes for assembly and electrical interfacing of these multifunctional materials with conventional contact electrodes in order to produce into tailored devices and products, in particular on low-cost substrates. The FUNMOL consortium will deliver substantial innovation to European industry via development of cost-effective, scaleable processes for directed assembly of high-knowledge content nanocrystal-molecule materials into electrically-interfaced devices at silicon oxide, glass and plastic substrates.

NATAL aims to develop a new core technology of powerful and compact laser sources for the visible and ultraviolet spectral ranges. Such devices are needed for a variety of applications including nano-materials processing, medicine, RGB displays, life sciences, as well as UV lithography and surface chemistry. The lasers envisaged by NATAL represent a radical departure from the existing technologies. Nanophotonic materials and science are the key themes running throughout the proposed programme. The main areas addressed by NATAL include (i) development of innovative nano-structured gain devices (ii) development of advanced micro-optical elements to enable the functionality and control of lasers. Central focus of this programme is the concept of the Optically-Pumped Vertical External Cavity Surface-Emitting Semiconductor Laser (OP-VECSEL). These sources retain the power-scaling, beam quality and intracavity control capability of solid-state lasers, while offer the wavelength versatility, broadband pump absorption and compact gain region supplied by semiconductor technology. NATAL will use the innovative thermally-conductive optical windows bonded directly to the surface of the OP-VECSEL chip. This approach allows to facilitate wavelength extension and power scaling, microchip operation and novel schemes for optical mode control, in addition to integrated device formats with a wide range of functionality. Specific wavelength targets include direct operation in the red (630-670 nm) and frequency-doubled OP-VECSELs operating at 315-335 nm (UV), 470 nm (blue), 520 nm (green), and 610 nm (red). These wavelengths cover important absorption bands in a host of materials significant to nanotechnology (quantum dot and conventional fluorphores, light-emitting polymers, photoresists, biomaterials) and large scale consumer applications.

The general goal of this project is to train young researchers in nanotechnology, to go for a technology leap from purely silicon technology to new and more advanced technologies in the future Europe. A broad interdisciplinary training program in the field of nanotechnology is proposed covering three areas, 1) The improvement of analysis methods for nanotechnology, 2) prototyping of nano-devices and 3) a novel and future process for nanotechnology, i.e., self-assembly. The objectives of the training program are:O1: Challenge the limits of high-resolution imaging and explore new types of electron sources. O2: Perform research on new ways to image and understand self-assembly processes.O3: Investigate ways to enhance electron beam lithography and nano-deposition techniques.O4: Research on a new ion source that can produce focused ion beams of any desired atom.O5: Build sensors for bio-molecules from nanotubes and nanowires, using self-assembly and micro-contact printing.O6: Build sensors for bio-molecules using self-assembly of magnetic particles. It is expected that the proposed training will meet the stringent needs of a modern science and technology training, which will give the trainees a strong basis to start a research career at international top-level. The training will be in Philips Research Labs in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, mounted in the sector Materials and Process Technology. This sector, where all activities of Philips Research on basic physics, chemistry and nano-technology are concentrated, consists of a staff of 130 highly skilled researchers. The program is embedded in a large structure of successful Philips internal projects related to nanotechnology and a network of national- and international contacts with university groups. The requested 6 trainees will be coached by 10 senior-, or principal scientists at Philips Research and by 6 professors from 4 Dutch universities (Delft, Eindhoven, Leiden and Utrecht).

NEreO addresses to the study and the development of nano-scale field-effect transistors (i.e. transistors with source-drain inter-electrodes distance varying from hundreds to few nanometers) based on organic molecular films. Organic materials are expected, in the near future, to give rise to a new generation of devices for electronics, photonics and optoelectronics, which will cause a paradigm shift in the production of electronic devices and pave the way for the era of plastic electronics. The main goals of NEreO will be achieved by the original combination of a sophisticated nano-scale fabrication method, namely e-beam lithography, with the unprecedented ability of the Supersonic Molecular Beam Epitaxy deposition technique to control morphology, structure and interfaces of organic films. Besides technological applications, nano-scale organic field-effect transistors will be basic tools for studying charge transport, charge injection and interfaces in organic materials. At Cornell, the fellow will benefit by the presence of several multicultural scientific communities built around national facilities such as the Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility, the Cornell Center for Materials Research and the Cornel High Energy Synchrotron Source. The fellow will thus attain levels of world-class excellence, satisfying the objectives of the Specific Programme, and acquire the professional independence required to realize the objectives of the Work Programme. The success of NEreO will rely on the multidisciplinary approach pursued together with the state-of-the-art facilities and methodologies adopted. The collaboration between two world-class leading experts will give the chance to Dr Cicoira to grow as a leading scientist with global thinking and ability to promote networks and common strategy for the creation of new facilities.

The main problem in nanotechnology is the lack of methods for mass production. This is especially true for SMEs, which do not have the ability to invest in expensive equipment for large-scale production of nanostructures. Nanoimprint lithography on the other hand provides a tool that is comparably cheap and suited for mass production. 3D NANOPRINT aims at the development of a complete process technology with the necessary tools to produce 3-dimensional nanostructures with ultra high precision. In comparison to deep or extreme ultra violet lithography (abbreviated as DUV and EUV lithography respectively) this research paves the way for the widespread use of a nanoscale production technology also by smaller companies, since the investment costs of nanoimprint production lines are less than 1% of the DUV or EUV investments. The project consist of two levels, a directly process oriented part dealing with nanoimprint lithography itself, nanoimprint resists, reactive ion etching and alignment problems and an application oriented part. In this part requirements for nanoimprint lithography as production tool are defined, assuring that the final result of the project is a cost effective, high throughput, ultra-precise tool for the production of 3 dimensional nanostructures. As a reference application 3-dimensional photonic crystals have been chosen, since the optical properties of such devices are extremely sensitive to the quality of the production process (therefore are excellent indicators) and assure a high economic impact since the photonics market is growing quickly. Other applications considered are micro- and nano-optical devices.

The ultimate goal of the project is to generate and transfer knowledge on the development of new nanomaterials specifically applicable in novel macro-bacterial sensors for food manufacturing and processing industry. The special structure of nanomaterials gives rise to their amazing properties. The ability to manipulate the structure and composition on the nanoscale provides very large opportunities to create new materials with superior performance for new products and devices. Since the optical properties of nanomaterials can be controlled by changing their size, shape, and aspect ratio, as well as via their surface modification, nanomaterials are prime candidates as building blocks for photonic sensors. The overall objective of this research is to develop the synthesis of ZnO, ZnS and PbS nanostructures with different sizes and morphologies via the laser ablation in liquid technique, then to modify and functionalize the surfaces of the prepared nanostructures and finally to use them for the preparation of photonic sensors with bacteria-detecting properties. Such efficient, easy-to-use and rapid sensors will be evaluated within different food processing, weighing and packaging lines available from project partner. This is an ambitious research programme, with a strong interdisciplinary nature combining materials engineering, surface science, bio-engineering, physics, chemistry and soft matter science. Its success is underpinned by the combination of complementary expertise of the Fellow, Host and Partners in nanomaterial preparation and characterization, photonics and food processing and analysis, respectively. The project will have a positive impact on a longer shelf-life of ready food, monitoring of food manufacturing lines, and optimization of cleaning routine during food manufacturing and packaging. Hence, positive impact on public health sector, as well as economic and ecological effects, is expected.

Two-photon direct laser writing (DLW) lithography is a powerful tool to fabricate 3D structures with feature sizes of ~100 nm. This technique is based on the quadratic dependence of the absorption of near-infrared (NIR) light (two-photon absorption, 2PA) by molecules called photoinitiators which trigger the photopolymerization of curable resins. With the aim of downsizing the structures to the nanometer resolution, a requirement of the microelectronics industry, a new strategy has been added to the DLW lithography, the two-beam approach (excitation and inhibition beams) based on the reversible saturable optical fluorescence transition (RESOLFT) concept. This approach is borrowed from the field of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and consists in the reversible depletion of some intermediate excited state of the photoinitiators only at some specific areas of the point spread function (PSF) of the excitation beam. The objective of this project is to further develop the two-beam DLW lithography to make it more competitive compared to other advanced nanofabrication techniques. The project is conducted to overcome the limitations of the two-beam DLW lithography: 1) the large feature size, the state-of-the-art has recently been pushed to 9 nm line width from a previous value of 55 nm, and 2) the large spatial resolution (Abbe´s resolution limit) due to the so-called 'memory effect', this value always exceeds 2–5 times the feature size, with a lowest value of 52 nm. The approach is based on the investigation of the photophysics and photochemistry involved in the photopolymerization by means of the ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy to shed some light on the inhibition processes. The expected results are the decrease of the actual size of the written features to the real nanometer resolution, ~1 nm and even more important to reduce the minimal distance of two adjacent yet separated lines (spatial resolution) to the same order of the feature size.

Insulin resistance, the key feature of the metabolic syndrome, not only causes type 2 diabetes but also gives rise to its deadliest complications - the cardiovascular disease. A key factor in the development of insulin resistance is the accumulation of triglycerides in liver and muscle, a process that seems to be highly regulated. NACARDIO is a multidisciplinary project aiming to develop and commercialise a nano-biosensor technology, capable of analysing extremely small amounts of protein in small sample volumes. The technology can be used to quantify proteins involved in lipid storage to investigate if any of these proteins are potential biomarkers for the development of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. The sensor technology is based on single electron tunnelling (SET), a phenomenon well explored for low temperature applications. State of the art nanofabrication utilising metallic nanoparticles now make this technology platform available for room temperature operation. SET-technology provides unique possibilities for biosensing. Direct electrical detection can be made with sensitivity greater than for any other existing or proposed technique. To achieve the goals of NACARDIO, extensive multidisciplinary work addressing questions at the interface between nanotechnology, physics, electrical engineering, surface chemistry, biotechnology and medical sciences will be performed. Frontline experimental approaches encompassing peptide-stabilised gold nanoparticles, electron-beam lithography, nano-imprint, molecular self-assembly, engineered antibody-fragments, protein expression and fluidic simulations will be employed to fabricate the sensor and ensure biological functionality and usability. The efforts will result in a technology that not only revolutionises cardiovascular research and diagnostics, but also promotes other innovative approaches including analyses of extremely small sample (e.g. single-cell) and real-time monitoring of cell-signalling.

The NaPANIL project aims to develop processes, materials and tools, both for manufacturing and for control, for truly 3-dimensional nanosurfaces with feature dimensions ranging from 50 nm to several m. The nanosurfaces will be realised using various variants of nanoimprinting lithography. The dedicated application is to control light at nanostructured surfaces and a few potential high impact products have been identified by the end-user partners in the consortium. Design, demonstration and prototyping these applications will act as test-bench for the new manufacturing paradigm. The manufacturing processes possess generic aspects for production of any kind of topographically 3-dimensional nanostructured surfaces. In the R&D of nanoimprinting Europe has a leading position. The NaPANIL consortium combines the best expertise and know how in field to reach the goals in the project.