The Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) has opened the Center of Research in Nano-Engineering (CRnE) dedicated to research, development and innovation in the fields of micro and nanoengineering, nanotechnology and nanoscience. The CRnE is a multidisciplinary project among different UPC groups of research and it has among its objectives to attract young brilliant and motivated researchers while it offers the best conditions to carry out cutting edge research in these fields. In these moments, five research groups are already working on projects related to nanoparticles, nanochemistry, nanomechanics, nanotechnology of biomaterials, and organic solar cells and 20 other groups of researchers of the UPC are associated to it.
The new center is located at the Barcelona Knowledge Campus (BKC), which has been recently designated as the first Campus of International Excellence in Spain. It is, thus, the first UPC research infrastructure opened shortly after the Ministry of Education has conceded this recognition of international excellence, which funds the UPC and the University of Barcelona (UB) for the BKC project during the period 2009-2012. The BKC is one of the most active and powerful knowledge hubs in southern Europe. It occupies 227 hectares and encompasses 16 schools, 90 departments, and 15 libraries.
The center is located in a new building of about 700 square meters behind the School of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona; 500 square meters are occupied by sophisticated scientific equipment.
Participants in the opening ceremony for the CRnE included the Government of Catalonia’s Commissioner for Universities and Research, Joan Majó; UPC Rector, Antoni Giró; the president of the Board of Trustees of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia-UPC, Joaquim Boixareu; the Director of UPC Park, Francesc Solé Parellada; and the brand new CRnE Director, researcher Ramon Alcubilla.