Knowledge News Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Visits INL Construction Works Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Visits INL Construction Works
- 18/12/2008
The Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education visited the construction work for the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory on 19 December 2008, which was started in July of this year in Braga, on a plot of land of approximately 47 500 m2, given for this purpose by the Braga Municipal Council.
The INL is the first, and until now the only, research organisation within the area of nanoscience and nanotechnology with a legal status which is completely international.
The INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory was set up through the joint initiative of Spain and Portugal at the 21st Luso-Spanish Summit, held in November 2005, in Evora. With its headquarters in Braga, the Laboratory will develop scientific policy and recruit internationally renowned researchers and be open in the future to the participation of more countries from Europe and other continents. It is envisaged that there will be around 200 researchers and will involve a total of 400 people, including the technicians, PhD and Post-Doc researchers.
The building must be finished by July 2009. The facilities, occupying an area of approx 26,000 m2, include 7,500 m2 for offices and laboratories, 2,400m2, for clean rooms, 4,800m2 for the auditorium and public areas, 3,500 m2, for technical areas and 700 m2 for administrative areas.
From the construction point of view the future premises of the INL has singular technical requirements inherent to the specific requirements of a nanotechnology laboratory, namely in terms of vibration control and electromagnetic fields.
These requirements have been transferred to the dimensions of the structure, with the use of specially behaved concrete, as well as reinforcements coated with epoxy or stainless steel. With regard to the demands placed upon it by the infrastructure networks, electromechanical fittings are used, as well as landline networks and gas networks with singular characteristics. Various construction techniques are being employed for the first time in Portugal.
This visit to the construction works was also carried out by the Director-General of the INL, José Rivas, the Deputy Director-General, Paulo Freitas, and the President of the INL Council, Luís Magalhães.
Photographs of the work on 12 December 2008:
Key: Laboratory and offices wing
Key: Social facilities building
Key: Construction of the support slab for the clean room
Photographs of the work on 17 December 2008:
Key: 1st Detail of the construction of the support slab for the clean room
Key: 2nd Detail of the construction of the support slab for the clean room