Preface: Phys. Status Solidi C 6/10
Authors: Correia Antonio , Sáenz Juan José , Ordejón Pablo , Guest Editors  
Published: October 2009

Trends in Nanotechnology (TNT2008)

This issue of physica status solidi (c) presents representative contributions describing the main topics covered at the 9th “Trends in Nanotechnology” (TNT2008) International Conference, held in Oviedo (Spain), 1–5 September 2008. Further articles from TNT2008 are published in physica status solidi (a) 206, No. 10 (2009) on pp. 2217–2254.

During the last years many international or national conferences have emerged in response to the growing awareness of the importance of nanotechnology as key issue for the future scientific and technological development. Among these, the conference series “Trends in Nanotechnology” has become one of the most important meeting points in the nanotechnology field: it provides fresh organisation ideas, brings together well known speakers, and promotes a suitable environment for discussions, exchanging ideas, and enhancing scientific and personal relations among participants. TNT2008, successful consequence of a coordinated effort among several organising institutions, was organised in a similar way to the prior TNT conferences, with a scientific programme including 32 keynote lectures covering a wide spectrum of nanoscience and nanotechnology research. In 2008, more than 285 scientists worldwide attended this event and contributed with 46 oral contributions and 156 posters, stimulating discussions about their most recent research.

The aim of the conference was to focus on the presentation of the latest nanoscience results obtained worldwide and their related applications and to bring together, in a scientific forum, various groups belonging to industry, universities and government institutions. TNT2008 was again particularly effective at transmitting information and establishing contacts among workers in this field. Graduate students attending such conferences have understood the importance of interdisciplinary skills to afford their future research lines. One of the main objectives of the TNT2008 conference was to provide a platform where young researchers can present their latest work (for the second time, a specific parallel session was dedicated to students) and also interact with high‐level scientists. Therefore, 52 graduate students received a grant allowing them to attend and present their work. In addition, 19 prizes to the best posters were awarded during this event.

The following scientific institutions, companies and government agencies supported TNT2008: Phantoms Foundation, Universidad de Oviedo, Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), CIC nanoGUNE Consolider, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientνficas, Universidad Autσnoma de Madrid, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, University of Purdue, Georgia Institute of Technology, CEA/LETI, MINATEC, Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior (ICEX) & “españa‐technology for life” program, NIMS (Nanomaterials Laboratory) and MANA (International Center for Materials and Nanoarchitectonics), University of Fribourg and frimat, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, The Office of Naval Research International Field Office (ONRIFO), iNANO, NSERC/CRSNG (Nano Innovation Platform), GDR‐E/NanoE, Raith GmbH, Parque Cientνfico de Barcelona (PCB), IE Universidad, cajAstur, Gobierno del Principado de Asturias, Ayuntamiento de Oviedo, Auditorio Palacio de Congresos Prνncipe Felipe, Fundaciσn Itma, Instituto de Desarrollo Econσmico del Principado de Asturias (IDEPA), Bioker Research, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaciσn, Parque Científico de Madrid (PCM), Forschungszentrum Jülich, nanoICT Coordination Action & EU/ICT/FET, P. Van Hove (private donation), and Wiley‐VCH with physica status solidi (pss).

We would also like to thank all the participants for their assistance, the authors for their written contributions and the following companies for their participation: Nanotec Electronica, Raith, Scientec, Biometa, Telstar Instrumat, Omicron Nanotechnology, Crestec Corporation, Phantoms Foundation, ICEX, Wiley‐VCH and nanoICT EU project.

We invite readers of this special issue to join us in Barcelona (Spain) and Braga (Portugal), respectively, where the next “Trends in Nanotechnol‐ogy” 2009 and 2010 editions take place (www.tntconf.org).idi for the rapid publication of the proceedings (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)