Nanotechnology Research Boosted with Swedish Micro and Nano Fabrication Network Funding Grant

The Swedish Micro and Nano Fabrication Network, MyFab, has now been strengthened through a grant of SEK 75 million from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The goal of becoming a national resource has come one step closer.

MyFab focuses resources for nano and micro fabrication in the three leading university laboratories in Sweden - at KTH [Royal Institute of Technology], Chalmers University of Technology and Uppsala University. The idea is that MyFab shall link up requirements and resources as efficiently as possible.

MyFab was founded in 2004 and during the autumn of 2007 it started its second operating period with a new board, new higher goals and vision as well as a new director, Thomas Swahn at Chalmers Industrial Technology (CIT). He has led an intensive period of work and, amongst other inputs, reviewed how the systems for co-ordination, co-planning and accessibility can be improved.

"The investments we are now planning include an investment in the best current technology that can be acquired. Through MyFab this is made available to Swedish research and process engineering within micro- and nanotechnology. Jointly we have an immense strength," says Thomas Swahn.

The grant from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation provides an important boost to the network's infrastructure and is in line with the goal of establishing MyFab as a national resource.

Both Swedish and international researchers and companies within the nano- and microtechnology field are welcome to MyFab. The network functions as a single entry point to which the users can turn with their requirements and are then rapidly conducted to appropriate and available equipment. The distributed organisational structure with a presence at three universities offers a very high level of access to the joint resources.

Already today MyFab is used by both researchers and a number of small and medium-sized companies. With the new electronic booking and follow-up system the entire process is reinforced. This facilitates the contacts for all users and provides even better support for their development.