Key Information

The importance of Nanoscience as an area of research to be focused on by a cross-council programme was established from two rationale. From the scientific reasoning; the subject is genuinely interdisciplinary, the potential impacts of breakthroughs in this subject challenge society as we know it and new science is enabled from the technology given the effects of working at the nano-scale. From the exploitation point of view, it is estimated to contribute increasingly to the global economy and it is a key contributor to future development areas such as energy, environmental remediation, healthcare and ICT.

The basis for the programme was formed through a number of community consultations, which resulted in the current three tiered approach to research, guiding projects through innovation to scale up with the final goal of deployment. The involvement of the community has continued since, reflecting on the success of the programme and amending the strategy where needed.

This includes consultation through the following routes:

• Strategic Advisory Team (SAT)
  The Strategic Advisory Team includes representatives drawn from a wide range of nanoscience stakeholders. It provides the programme with advice and information that shape our approach to supporting research and training.
• Strategic Advisor
  Professor Peter Dobson (Director of Oxford University's Begbroke Science Park)
• Workshops and Documents
  A variety of workshops held to identify research and training challenges and priorities, scope specific activities, and consult and engage with a wide range for stakeholders.

Banner image accreditation:
Copper reach phase segregation on the surfaces of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS). CIGS based solar cells hold the record efficiency for single junction thin film solar cells. Image taken with equipment from Manchester Metropolitan University, funded by EPSRC equipment access grant.