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What is anoLINK ?

NanoLink is a web portal (www.nano-link.net) and an e-newsletter (n@noLINK), but it is also a network (nanoLINKnet).
It is a knowledge network pursuing life quality through technological innovation (LINK=Life quality through Innovation by a Network of Knowledge.). The mere association of life, innovation, network and knowledge represents a network of knowledge.
NanoLINKnet will be a network of networks, each constitutive network being based, usually, on an existing project (e. g. a Network of Excellence financed from FP6).
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Why Nano?

Nanoscience and nanotechnologies are opening broad perspectives in many fields for new materials, new technologies and new applications, especially those related to the living matter (nanobiotechnologies).
Complementing and enhancing the revolution brought by IST (information society technologies) and by biotechnologies, the nanotechnologies may change produce dramatic changes in industry in our life in 15-20 years.
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Purpose

The purpose of this initiative is to foster the generation, transfer and application of knowledge, especially the utilization of new materials and new technologies towards life – oriented applications (biology, health, food etc.). The activities will be multidisciplinary. Not only research, but also education and industry will be involved.
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Objectives

The usual electronic dissemination of information through web pages and e-newsletter will be accompanied by the set-up of databases and electronic brokerage.
New tools for the management of information (e-room type) will be used for special projects.
Education and training will deserve a special attention. Both conventional learning activities (including "hands-on" training and training by research) and e-learning will be pursued.
Encyclopedias and courses will be developed by involving active researchers.
The exchange of information with industry will facilitate innovation.
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Specific features

Life and technology
NanoLink is conceived to highlight the two-way LINK between life and innovation in technology (based on scientific knowledge): technology improves life quality through health care, food control etc.; meantime having lessons to learn from the living matter.
A vital link for knowledge-based economy
NanoLink is intended to provide a real-time link between research, education and industry, which is vital for the knowledge era, by using efficient tools for knowledge management
Going East
NanoLINK will also provide an efficient LINK between countries and continents. The initial target is to accelerate the integration of Eastern Europe into the European Research Area (ERA), but apart from connections within Europe, interaction with the major actors from other continents will be also pursued.
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Core members

The nanoLINK initiative will be actively pursued by a number of core members of the nanoLINKnet.
It is expected that these core members will be, usually, the coordinators of the constitutive networks or certain members of the consortia (network) which have a special role in the dissemination of information, networking etc.
The initial core members (partners) are IMT and IMS.
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Network development

The initiative was taken by IMT and IMS. They are partners in the ROMNET-ERA project (FP 6) which will experiment new tools for knowledge management, also promoting networking in new technologies and their application to "life" (health, food quality, etc.), as already shown.
IMT is also the coordinator of MINAEAST- NET proposal (project still under negotiation at the European Commission) which is devoted to networking in micro- and nanotechnologies in candidate countries and Eastern Europe. Once associated to the nanoLINK initiative, MINAEAST-NET will bring to nanoLINK not only the network formed by the consortium partners, but also a network of national networks.
Also IMT is a hub of networking in micro and nanotechnologies at the national scale.
IMS will bring into nanoLINKnet its own network from Europe, as well as its partners from North America.
Finally we shall take the example of the new networks of excellence (NoE) to be financed from FP6. IMT is full partner in a few networks of excellence) and can be the initial contact point between them and nanoLINKnet. However, IMT will cordially invite the coordinators of such networks to become core members of the new network, because nanoLINKnet may be used as a tool in dissemination and training, i.e. e. spreading of excellence, which is one of the key objectives of the NoE.
Later on, nanoLINK will provide a platform of interaction for networks from different priorities of the EU FP 6, but also with networks and programmes from other continents.