Type Research Institute Director Chad Mirkin | Established 2000 Academic staff 190 | |
Parent institution Northwestern University Location Evanston, Illinois, United States | ||
The International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) was established by Northwestern University in 2000. It was the first institute of its kind in the United States and is one of the premier nanoscience research centers in the world. Today, the IIN represents and unites more than $600 million in nanotechnology research, educational programs, and supporting infrastructure.
Contents
- Research areas
- Northwestern Faculties Involved with IIN
- Executive Council
- Education
- Innovation
- Nanotechnology Corporate Partners NCP Program
- Small Business Partnership Commercialization Program
- References
IIN faculty includes 44 members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. It brings together 190 chemists, engineers, biologists, physicians, and business experts, to focus on application of nanotechnology to improve society, creating a synergy essential to the progress of nanotechnology, that cannot be easily found elsewhere. It has developed collaborative partnerships with academic institutions in 18 countries, as well as with more than a dozen U.S. federal agencies and almost 100 corporations.
Since its inception, more than 1,800 products and systems have been commercialized world-wide. Twenty start-up companies have been launched based upon IIN research, and they have attracted over $700 million in venture capital funding. The IIN is changing the face of research in fields from medical diagnostics to materials science. The IIN drives innovation-based business formation, employment and economic growth.
The IIN has partnerships in 18 countries outside the United States, as well as connections with universities worldwide. For students, these relationships mean they can take advantage of postdoctoral exchange programs. Their annual symposium draws researchers from around the world.
The IIN embodies an extraordinary combination of scientific capabilities, outreach programs, and partnerships that provide a unique and fertile ground from which to continue to make substantial contributions to the field and ensure that the U.S. remains a world leader in nanotechnology. The role of the Institute is to support meaningful efforts in nanotechnology, house state-of-the-art nanomaterials characterization facilities, and nucleate individual and group efforts aimed at addressing and solving key problems in nanotechnology. The IIN positions Northwestern University and its partners in academia, industry, and national labs as leaders in this exciting field.
Research areas
Research is organized into the following eight pillars, each focused on a critical societal issue:
Northwestern Faculties Involved with IIN
IIN faculty are drawn from 31 schools and departments at Northwestern:
Executive Council
The IIN Executive Council is a group of businesspeople, led by David Kabiller, is devoted to building a community of alumni, parents, and friends who are committed to advocating for nanotechnology research and education; promoting the IIN as a high-impact philanthropic opportunity; and advising IIN leadership on philanthropy, marketing, and bringing technology from the laboratory to market.
Education
The IIN seeks to develop and nurture the scientists, engineers, technicians, and teachers of tomorrow; enrich the academic environment; and inform and engage the public through the following programs:
Innovation
The IIN has created a new kind of research coalition with a large precompetitive nanoscale science and engineering platform for developing applications, demonstrating manufacturability and training skilled researchers.
Nanotechnology Corporate Partners (NCP) Program
The IIN works on joint research initiatives with corporations including:
Small Business Partnership Commercialization Program
This program links institute researchers with venture capital experts and has resulted in the formation the 20 companies below, which have collectively raised over $700 million in financing: