Summary

The Nanotechnology Cluster was initiated within the Cluster Initiative of the Bavarian state government in 2006. Besides its cluster management Nanoinitiative Bayern GmbH, the Nanotechnology Cluster consists of the not-for-profit association "Nanonetz Bayern e.V.".
Approximately 350 participants currently benefit from the cluster's activities.

Main activities

One of the major tasks of the Cluster Nanotechnology is the further development of a compentence network in the field of nanotechnologies to promote an efficient transfer of results in research and development into industrial applications. Therefore, a close interlinking of the research sector with the industry and teaching sector is of high importance. Primary target groups are companies with application potential for nanotechnologies. In the focus are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities, universitites of applied sciences and (public) research institutes.

A further topic is the school and university programme comprising advanced courses for teachers, school visits with the own NanoShuttle, school competitions and workshops for universities of applied sciences  in order to stimulate the interest of the young generation for the natural sciences.
The members of the network association Nanonetz Bayern e. V. have already performed considerable basic groundwork to further develop the position of the Bavarian industry via the application of nanotechnologies. The Nanonetz Bayern e. V. acts as a platform for the non-profit activities of the Cluster Nanotechnology.

Technology focus

The main goal of the cluster is to further develop and strengthen a competence network in the area of nanotechnology with the participation of industry, universities and research institutes as well as service providers and financiers. Interdisciplinary research and cooperation between research and industry should be supported for a more efficient transfer of research results into applications. Creating an optimal environment will increase the attractiveness of the location for enterprises.

The definition of core subtopics has explicitly been avoided in order to include in our target audience those enterprises which do not have their main focus of activities in the nanotechnology field, but are potential users.

This strategy has innovative cooperation approaches as a consequence, i.e. cooperation projects with other clusters of the Bavarian Cluster Initiative or with networks from other federal states or countries.

The state ministry responsible for the Nanotechnology Cluster and the cluster advisory board support this generalist approach because their main focus is on establishing functioning networks in a new high technology sector, while excellence-oriented research associations such as CeNS/NIM, EAM and BZKG are already being funded by other support programmes.

Highlights

• Raising awareness of nanotechnologies in industry and business, providing information and creating transparency about the application possibilities and targeted consulting of commercial enterprises regarding the potential for their specific branch of industry
• Strengthening the transfer of technology and optimising the networking.
• Interlinking research and industry for an efficient transfer of research results into products and processes.
• Supporting an active transfer of know-how.
• Organising workshops focussing on specific issues under consideration of the local economic structure.
• Intensified consulting on the use of funding instruments and stimulation of R&D activities in the industry and at universities through information about EU, federal government and state government support programmes.
• Coordinating research topics at universities and developing application-oriented research at universities of applied sciences.
• Supporting nanotechnology-related teaching at schools and universities with the aim of increasing the number of young academics in the natural and engineering sciences.
• Participating actively in the discussion about the chances and risks of nanotechnology.