Nano2Life is the first European Network of Excellence in nanobiotech supported by the 6th Framework Programme of the EU. Its aim is to merge existing European expertise in the field of nanobiotechnology. These endeavours are undertaken in order to keep Europe as a competitive partner to the US and Asia. Europe is meant to be made among the leaders in nanobiotechnology transfer in 4 years. Nano2Life’s major objectives can be summarised as:
- Reducing fragmentation in European nanobiotech
- Interfacing the world of life sciences and nanotechnology,
- Making Europe an international leader in nanobiotech,
- Translating nanobiotech into economic benefits,
- Educating the society about nanobiotech.
OzNano2life: the concept
OzNano2Life is a network of key Australian scientists and research institutions, whose research is in the area of nanobiotechnology. The major purpose is to provide the portal for structured exchange of scientists and information with European nanotechnology institutes. The objective is to facilitate ongoing collaboration in nanobiotechnology research.
Participating institutions include universities, hospitals and government research institutions that bring together chemists, physicists, biologists, engineers and clinicians focussing on research projects in nanobiotechnology. There are 80 scientists currently associated with OzNano2Life.
Several of the institutions conduct degree programs in nanotechnology, which provides the important education and training for the next generation of nanobiotechnologists. Indeed, Australian institutions are world leaders in pioneering undergraduate nanotechnology education.
More information at: www.ambafrance-au.org/spip.php?rubrique200
OzNano2Life is a practical example of a large-scale successful co-operation between Europe and Australiain the field of nanobiotechnology.
- primary funding from the International Science Linkages (ISL) program under the Australian Government’s innovation statement Backing Australia’s Ability,
- support from Embassy of France in Australia, FEAST, and AFAS NSW (Australia France Association for Science & Technology),
- OzNano2Life is committed to helping achieve the objectives of the ISL program by conducting six international collaborative research programs with partners in the European Union, Canada and the U.S.A. through a strong connection with the EU-funded Network of Excellence in nanobiotechnology (Nano2Life),
- OzNano2Life addresses the Australian Government’s national research priorities themes of promoting good health, frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries and the regional priority of promoting links between Australia and the European Union and the U.S.A.,
- partner institutions include Centre d’Énergie Atomique (CEA-Léti, France), Univ. of Münster (Germany), Univ. of Lyon 1 (France), Univ. of British Columbia (Canada), Univ. of Chicago (U.S.A.), Tyndall Research Institute (Ireland).
OzNano2Life Joint Research Program (2005-2007)
- P1: the “artificial cell” (UTS, Sydney)
- P2: G-protein coupled receptor biosensor technology (CSIRO-HSN, Adelaide)
- P3: immobilisation of proteins and novel biochip array platforms (CSIRO-HSN, Melbourne)
- P4: biomimetic nanosprings and novel nanostructured elastomeric materials (CSIRO-LI, Brisbane)
- P5: nanomechanics of lipid membranes using holographic interferometry (UTS, Sydney)
- P6: nanoscaled biological screening devices in microfluidic applications (Univ of Queensland-AIBN, Brisbane)
Source: Don Martin and OzNano2Life
