Top 5 Reasons you should look to North East England for Nanotechnology Investment

Companies are often looking for opportunities to develop their business further. In the nanotechnology area it is important that you have the right staff and the right backing in the region you are moving into. North East England has the largest and best equipped public sector facilities in the UK. 

The resources that are all ready located in the North East of England are already huge. INEX is the largest and best equipped public sector micro and nano device fabrication facility in the UK. It was founded in 2002 as the business arm of the Institute of Nanoscale Science and Technology at Newcastle University, but has been an independent organisation since 2004.

The facility has generated millions of pounds worth of new technology since its formation, so far spinning out 11 companies in the process.

The Centre of Excellence for Nanotechnology, Micro and Photonic Systems (Cenamps) is funding research and development programmes that will lead to further commercial opportunities and spin-outs in North East England.

Here are the top 5 reasons you should consider investing in North East England for nanotechnology expertise.  

1. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne is the leading UK Higher Education Institute in government contract and the commercialisation of research undertaking work in laboratories including Inex: the largest public sector micro and nano device fabrication facility in the UK providing ample nanotechnology investment opportunities.  

2. A cooperation agreement has been established between Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne and NTT Basic Research Laboratories, Nippon Telegraphy & Telephone Corporation conducting research in information technology, microelectronics, submicron technology and bionanotechnology.

3. Key new centres in the region include a Plastic Electronics Technology Centre (PETeC) that will draw expertise from Newcastle, Durham and Cambridge Universities, an open access Flexible Electronics Facility that will establish the region as a focal point for flexible electronics materials in the UK and a National Microfluidics Application Centre.

4. The UK Department of Trade’s University Innovation Centre (UIC) for nanotechnology is in North East England. Newcastle has a 5* Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) rating in biological and biomedical applications whilst the University of Durham was one of only three UK Chemistry departments to be awarded a 5* RAE and specialises in film and surface technologies.

5. Northumbria University’s strengths include advanced materials and surface technologies and the University of Sunderland works on biosensors. The University of Teesside Centre for Nanotechnology and Microfabrication carries out research into manufacturing techniques.

Expertise and support organisations place North East England in a unique position to support companies in the commercialisation of research and getting new products to market through nanotechnology research and development.