CRANN celebrates 10 years

CRANN, the Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices, has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a major event in Dublin.

Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, said: “The European Commission has prioritised nanoscience research directing €1bn of funding through the Graphene Flagship. CRANN is involved in that project and with a track record of working with industry, is recognised as using excellent research for commercial impact. That link between industry and academia is a model which we aim to replicate across Europe to ensure that the economic return of research is fully realised.”

CRANN is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and is based at Trinity College Dublin. The institute now employs 300 researchers and works with 100 businesses. Professor John Boland, director of CRANN, said Ireland was now ranked sixth for nanoscience and eighth for materials science internationally, and that the institute had “won €50m of non-Exchequer funding and filed almost 50 patent applications.”

Speaking at the celebratory event, Eamonn Sinnott, general manager of Intel Ireland (industry partner of CRANN), told attendees: “Intel is working with CRANN in the field of nanoscience to look for new ways to continue the miniaturisation of our computing technology. Our partnership began in 2003 and has delivered significant mutual benefit. We look forward to another successful decade of leading edge research and technology innovation.”

Irish minister Fergus O’Dowd was also present at the event.