© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Editorial

Editorial: Trends in Nanotechnology (TNT2005)

This special issue of physica status solidi (a) presents representative contributions describing the main

topics covered at the sixth “Trends in Nanotechnology” (TNT2005) International Conference, held in

Oviedo (Spain), 29 August–2 September 2005.

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 techno-

logical 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, enhancing scientific and personal relations among participants. TNT2005 was organised in a simi-

lar way to the five prior TNT conferences, with an impressive scientific programme including 40 Key-

note lectures and two Nobel prizes, without parallel sessions, covering a wide spectrum of Nanotechnol-

ogy research. In 2005, more than 360 scientists worldwide attended this event and contributed with more

than 60 oral contributions and 250 posters, stimulating discussions about their most recent research.

The aim of the conference was to focus on the applications of Nanotechnology and to bring together,

in a scientific forum, various worldwide groups belonging to industry, universities and government insti-

tutions. TNT2005 was 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. 76 graduate students received a grant allowing

them to present their work. 28 prizes to the best posters were awarded during this event. We would like

to thank all the participants for their assistance, as well as the authors for their written contributions.

TNT2005 is the successful consequence of a coordinated effort among several organising Institutions:

PHANTOMS Foundation, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones

Científicas, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad de

Oviedo, Donostia International Physics Center, Nanomaterials Laboratory-NIMS, CEA/LETI and

CEA/DSM/DFRMC, University of Purdue and Georgia Institute of Technology. In addition, we are

indebted to the following institutions, companies and government agencies for their help and financial

support: NASA, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, iNANO, NSERC/CRSNG (Nano Innovation

Platform), Sociedad de Microscopía Española (SME), Wiley-VCH, Raith GmbH, The European Office

of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD), The Office of Naval Research International Field

Office (ONRIFO), World Scientific and Imperial College Press, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia,

Parque Científico de Barcelona, Parque Científico de Madrid, Tyndall National institute, Nanoquanta,

GDR-E Nano-E, Minatec, Dupont, Physica Status Solidi, Zeiss, Ayuntamiento de Oviedo, Gobierno de

Principado de Asturias, Asturiana de Zinc, cajAstur, Aleastur, Aceralia-Grupo Arcelor, Saint-Gobain

Cristaleria, Mediadores Asociados Asturianos and Inderscience Publishers.

We would like also to thanks the following companies for their participation: NanoTec, Raith GmbH,

Scientec, NT-MDT, Schaefer Techniques, Suss Microtec, Carl Zeiss, Biometa, Wiley-VCH, World Sci-

entific and Imperial College Press and Atomic Force.

We invite readers of this special issue to join us in Grenoble (France), where the next “Trends in Na-

notechnology” 2006 edition will take place (http://www.tnt2006.org).

1046 Editorial

Guest Editors

Antonio Correia, PHANTOMS Foundation, Spain

Pedro A. Serena, ICMM/CSIC, Spain

Juan José Saenz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain

Ron Reifenberger, Purdue University, USA

Pablo Ordejón, ICMAB/CSIC, Spain