Emerging Technologies News International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
- 26/11/2006
The 23rd November 2006 meeting of the Council of Ministers approved the creation of the Setting-up Committee for the Iberian International Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) as a private non-profit making public utility association Its respective statutes were also approved. From the Portuguese side, the associates are the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, via the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) and the Knowledge Society Agency (UMIC), and on the Spanish side, the Ministry of Education and Science, represented by its Secretary General’s Office for Scientific and Technological Policies.
The Setting-up Committee’s objective is to carry out all additional action required for setting up the INL. It is its responsibility to launch international calls for tender for the design and/or construction of the premises, hiring of scientific and administrative staff, as well as preparing and carrying out the scientific activity programme until the INL starts operating.
The XXII Portugal-Spain Summit in Badajoz on 24th and 25th November 2006 saw the President of the Government of Spain and the Prime Minister of Portugal sign the International Convention creating the INL as an international legal body based in Braga and its respective statutes.
The Laboratory, which aims to step up collaboration in scientific and technology between Portugal and Spain, thus opening up a new cycle in their relations and in the construction of national knowledge-based economies, will initially cover Portugal and Spain. However, membership is open to other countries and institutions and specialists from all over the world with the goal being for the INL to become an international research centre of excellence, with partnerships with higher education institutions and the business sector, promoting the transfer of added value knowledge and generating jobs and training for specialist professionals.
The subsequent legislative procedures will now commence in both countries. In Portugal, this requires the approval of the Portuguese Assembly and in Spain the approval of both legislative chambers.