National Institute for Nanotechnology

The National Research Council of Canada Nanotechnology Research Centre (NRC-NANO), formerly known as the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT), is a leading Canadian research institution dedicated to advanced nanoscience and nanotechnology research. It is located on the main campus of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and serves as a major hub for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale. The centre operates as a branch of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and plays a significant role in Canada’s national research and innovation ecosystem.

Establishment and Institutional Framework

The institute was established in 2001 as a strategic partnership between the National Research Council of Canada, the University of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta. Its creation reflected the growing global importance of nanotechnology and Canada’s intention to develop world-class research capacity in this emerging field.
Administratively, the centre is managed as an institute of the NRC and is governed by a board of trustees nominated by the partner organisations. Core funding is provided by the Government of Canada, while additional financial and research support is contributed by the University of Alberta, the Government of Alberta, and a range of federal and provincial funding agencies. This collaborative model allows the centre to combine national research priorities with academic expertise and regional innovation goals.
In 2017, the institute was formally recognised as the Nanotechnology Research Centre, reflecting its maturity, expanded scope, and distinct role within the NRC’s research structure. Although physically located on university premises, it remains an integral part of the NRC’s national laboratory system rather than a university department.

Facilities and Infrastructure

In June 2006, the institute moved into its purpose-built research facility on the University of Alberta campus. The building was designed specifically to support large-scale nanotechnology research and was regarded at the time of completion as one of the world’s largest and most advanced facilities dedicated to nanoscience.
The building integrates specialised laboratories, clean rooms, advanced microscopy suites, and fabrication spaces within a highly controlled environment. Only a small number of comparable facilities worldwide match it in scale and technical capacity. The design emphasises flexibility, enabling researchers to conduct experiments across physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering while maintaining the stringent environmental controls required for nanoscale research.

Research Mandate and Objectives

The primary mandate of the Nanotechnology Research Centre is to advance fundamental and applied research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The centre aims to translate discoveries at the atomic and molecular scale into practical technologies that support industrial innovation, healthcare advancements, and national priorities.
Research at the centre is interdisciplinary by nature, combining expertise from materials science, engineering, life sciences, physics, and chemistry. The centre also places strong emphasis on developing novel research tools, instrumentation, and methodologies that enable new forms of nanoscale investigation and manufacturing.

Core Research Areas

The research programme of the Nanotechnology Research Centre is organised around several major thematic areas that reflect both scientific opportunity and societal need.
One major focus is nanobiology, which explores the interaction between nanomaterials and biological systems. Research in this area includes antimicrobial technologies, targeted drug delivery systems, gene delivery mechanisms, immune system interactions, and the development of advanced biomaterials. These studies support innovations in medicine, biotechnology, and healthcare diagnostics.
Another key area is nanoelectronics and micro-scale systems. Research topics include electrochemical systems, microfluidics, nano- and micro-fabrication techniques, optical nano-electromechanical systems, photonics, and quantum-scale devices. This work contributes to the development of next-generation electronic components, sensors, and communication technologies.
The centre also places strong emphasis on advanced characterisation and microscopy. This includes next-generation microscopy techniques, instrument development, and integration and optimisation of imaging systems. Microscopy-enabled manufacturing is a distinctive focus, allowing researchers to observe, control, and manipulate materials during fabrication at the nanoscale.

Scientific Achievements and Contributions

The Nanotechnology Research Centre has produced several internationally recognised scientific achievements. In 2006, researchers at the institute created what was described as the sharpest man-made object at the time: a tungsten needle with an atomic-scale tip, developed by Mohamed Rezeq. This achievement demonstrated the institute’s capability in extreme nanoscale fabrication and precision engineering.
In 2018, researchers affiliated with the centre published a groundbreaking study in the journal Science describing a novel approach to nanosensors. This work significantly altered existing concepts in nanosensor design and demonstrated new possibilities for ultra-sensitive detection technologies, with potential applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and industrial process control.

Collaboration and Knowledge Transfer

Collaboration is a central feature of the centre’s operation. As part of the NRC, the Nanotechnology Research Centre works closely with Canadian industry, government departments, and international research organisations. These partnerships support the translation of laboratory discoveries into commercial applications and public-sector solutions.
The close physical proximity to the University of Alberta enables strong academic collaboration, including joint research projects, shared facilities, and the training of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. This environment fosters knowledge exchange between government scientists and academic researchers while contributing to the development of highly skilled personnel in nanotechnology-related fields.

Role within Canada’s Research Landscape

Within Canada’s national research infrastructure, the Nanotechnology Research Centre serves as a flagship facility for nanoscale science and engineering. It complements university-based research by providing large-scale infrastructure, long-term research continuity, and direct alignment with national science and innovation strategies.
The centre also supports Canada’s broader objectives in advanced manufacturing, clean technology, health innovation, and digital technologies. By focusing on both fundamental science and applied research, it bridges the gap between discovery and deployment.