In a significant step forward in the collaboration within EDUC-WIDE, five partner universities gathered in Vestfold, Norway to lay the foundation for future innovations in micro- and nanotechnology.
Over three days in May 2025, the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) hosted an exciting workshop organized by EDUC-WIDE, focusing on micro- and nanotechnology. The "EDUC-WIDE Knowledge Exchange Scheme Workshop for Micro and Nanotechnology Infrastructures" was arranged by the Department of Microsystems at USN (usn.no).
"This was a great opportunity for research infrastructure experts, lab engineers, lab leaders and researchers alike to gather and exchange knowledge and discuss important common topics such as nanosafety," says coordinator for EDUC-WIDE at USN, Mary Anderson-Glenna.
"Before the event concluded, concrete collaboration plans and possibilities for cooperation in EU-funded projects had already emerged.
Opening Research Facilities
The workshop brought together participants from five partner institutions, including Masaryk University (MUNI), University of Cagliari (UNICA), Jaume I University (UJI), Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (PNU) and USN.
Explore Research Facilities Linked to Micro- and Nanotechnology in EDUC-WIDE:
- USN: Flexible cleanroom for fabrication and processing at micro- and nanoscale, and laboratories for Bio-MEMS and material characterization + USN MST-Lab – NorFab (norfab.no)
- MUNI: R&D centre for plasma and nanotechnology surface modifications - CEPLANT (EDUC@OpenUp) + CEPLANT (ceplant.cz)
- UNICA: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering (unica.it)
- UJI: The Central Scientific Istrumentation Service (uji.es)
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) (EDUC@OpenUp)
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) (EDUC@Openup)
- Elemental analysis (EDUC@Openup)
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (EDUC@Openup)
- Wavelength dispersive x ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (WXRF) (EDUC@Openup)
- Liquid Mass Spectrometry (EDUC@Openup)
- Single crystal X-ray diffraction (EDUC@Openup)
- X-Ray Powder Diffaction (DRX) (EDUC@Openup)
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) (EDUC@Openup)
- Raman Spectroscopy (Raman) (EDUC@Openup)
- Pulsed Lasers (PL) (EDUC@Openup)
- Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) simultaneously with DSC (EDUC@Openup)
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) (EDUC@Openup)
- Circular Dichroism (EDUC@Openup)
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) (EDUC@Openup)
- PNU: Nanotechnology lab for materials science, energy and medicine + PNU-NANOLAB (pnu.edu.ua)
The event opened with presentations of the various research facilities, before participants received a guided tour of USN's laboratory infrastructure and MST lab, the USN node in the Norwegian Infrastructure for Micro- and Nanofabrication (NorFab).
"Our strong infrastructure is an important aspect of what we offer, and can be a focal point for further collaboration in education, research and innovation. Having the opportunity to gather together to get to know each other and our facilties like this is instrumental for building strong foundations for our university allliance," Anderson-Glenna notes.
Introducing Key Researchers
As part of the tour, key research group leaders and researchers got a chance to present their projects in short pitches, and time was allocated for discussions on potential research collaborations and collaborative groups.
"Discussing potential collaborations is one of the most valuable parts of these meetings. This is where ideas can truly flourish," Anderson-Glenna adds.
Nanomaterial Handling
Participants also got to exchange experiences and procedures for nanomaterial handling at the different universities, and are asked to join a discussion on the various needs and challenges.
Participants will also get a tour of the characterization labs at USN, where participants are to be given demonstrations of equipment such as the Broad-Beam Ion Miller and Hitachi FE SEM / XRD / XRF. There will also be plenty of room for an exchange of characterization process options at the different universities.
"These workshops and the knowledge development they generate are invaluable for strengthening ties between our partner universities and enhancing our overall research capacity. I look forward to seeing the fruits of this collaboration," Anderson-Glenna concludes.
Quotes from participants:
”Well organised, very interesting and beneficial.”
”We got new ideas and found new ways to apply techniques.”
”We got insight in to new technologies and new ways to use exisitng technologies which will add value to both researchers and students using our research infrastructure.”
”It was important to hear how other labs are dealing with coming challenges.”