RESEARCH INFRASTUCTURES
I-PHOQS: Integrated Infrastructure Initiative in Photonic and Quantum Sciences
I-PHOQS is the largest Italian network of facilities in photonic and quantum sciences, offering open access to national and international users from both academia and industry. Funded through the European Union’s Next Generation EU programme within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the project is jointly realised by the National Research Council (CNR) and the Politecnico di Milano, and coordinated by the National Institute of Optics of CNR. The infrastructure combines technologies across a wide range of domains, including novel laser sources in extreme spectral regions, nanofabrication and state-of-the-art diagnostics for semiconductors and optoelectronics, and the full spectrum of quantum science — from quantum simulation with ultracold matter to quantum computing, communication, sensing, and metrology. Through its network of experimental facilities, I-PHOQS enables investigations in previously unexplored scientific areas and supports interdisciplinary research across the natural and applied sciences, while also providing training opportunities for doctoral students and early-career researchers
NANOMICROFAB: Open research infrastructure for the support of companies operating in the field of micro and nano-electronics
NANOMICROFAB is an open research infrastructure that brings together the instrumentation and expertise of CNR’s Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM), Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (IFN), and Institute for the Structure of Matter (ISM), together with the Department of Electronic Engineering of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The infrastructure supports companies and research institutions operating in nanotechnology and microelectronics through the design, characterisation, and development of materials and devices. Its main application areas include flexible and printable electronics, sensing systems, microsystems and electronics for the Internet of Things, though its scope extends to many other fields of advanced technology. Multiple access modalities are available, with equipment managers providing assistance and tailored training to users. The infrastructure was co-funded by the Lazio Region under the public call “Open Infrastructures for Research.”
NFFA-DI: The digital infrastructure for nanosciences.
NFFA-DI is a full-spectrum research infrastructure for nanoscience and nanotechnology, designed to strengthen Italian research competitiveness in the fundamental study of multi-atomic matter. It integrates nanofoundry laboratories — covering atomically controlled growth and structural characterisation of nano-objects and nanostructured materials — with experimental facilities for fine analysis using synchrotron radiation at Elettra, and includes pathways for scaling the most promising results to intermediate technology readiness levels. Access to the infrastructure’s catalogue of over 55 scientific techniques and more than 120 instruments is provided through a single entry point, supported by FAIR data services that cover the entire value chain from material discovery to industrial technology transfer. The project is funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU and brings together CNR, AREA Science Park, Politecnico di Milano, and the University of Milan, with CNR-IOM serving as coordinator.
