About Nano4Security

Introduction

Nano4Security will be of great added value to the safety in The Netherlands. Technical innovations can be tested in an early stage to check the expected product safety, impact on the environment and health, and the social capacity.

Nano forensic research: the development of nano sensors, for example in DNA profiling and nano based detection sensors for the detection of minuscule amounts of relevant substances in traces. Nano for food safety: for consumer health and food security, for  sufficient food and to prevent waste.

Nano for safe clothing: the development of protective clothing against aggressive substances and weather conditions that comply with the current health and safety regulations. Nano and fraud: development of methods for the identification and authentication characteristics on products. Nano-based solutions for track and trace of products and the technology to protect sensitive communication, for example through quantum communication.

Nano-enabled quantum security: Secure internet. Nano for safety in traffic and in the living work environment. To make optimal use of new materials to make processes more efficient and to combine functionalities. The development of methods and instruments to do on sight readings for undesirable substances or products.

Nanotechnology is the key technology at the basis of a lot of these innovations in the security sector.

Economic perspective

The security sector offers plenty of opportunities for new companies. The sector will need to take into account all the technical developments that are influential on the safety of man and nature and judge these on their impact. Response to these (possibly threatening) developments will come from high-tech innovations. There appears to be a willingness to invest in the development of technologies, if these are result driven applications.

The Nano4security program builds on NanoNextNL and will utilize results from that program. The technological maturity of some of the innovations is already quite high and in some cases already applied. The size, complexity and dynamics of the field demands a more thorough study to reach the desired results.

Because the program is embedded in an existing ecosystem of knowledge institutes and industry (from multinational to SME) the flow of results will be successful. In addition, the organizations in the are connected to a number of ongoing initiatives on smaller and larger scale that ensure an optimal use of the output. Nano assessment plays an important role in successful intergration.

Prospect

Security becomes a more important point of focus in our future. How can we take control of the continuing digital advances and how do we prevent unsecured data to fall into the wrong hands?

How can we protect ourselves in the future against terrorist biochemical warfare? As citizens, can we keep a grip on the large amount of medical data that is generated in larger quantities? Can we protect our own DNA coding? How do we deal with food safety? In a lot of these cases nanotechnologies provide the solution.

Nanophotonic data encryption plays an important role, as well as biosensors that can identify a virus or microorganisms much faster. However, in the future we might see nano-inside handheld DNA tests or new nano coatings that protect surfaces from bacteria.

Applications

Quantum Computing

Nanodevices for quantum computing and encryption (nano-photonics)

Data storage

Nanobased data storage technology (DNA encoding); Nano for forensic research

Safe-by Design

Risk management, risk analysis, toxicity or nanotechnology

Forensic research

Nano forensic research: Nanosensors, for example DNA profiling and nanobased sensors for the detection of minuscule amounts of relevant substances.

Safe clothing

Nano for safe clothing: protective clothing against aggressive substances and weather conditions that comply with the current health and safety regulations.

Quantum communication

Nano en fraud: Identification and authentication characteristics on products. Protection of sensitive communication.

Traffic safety

Nano for security: safety in traffic and in the living work environment. New materials to make processes more efficient and to combine functionalities.

News Nano4Security

QuiX delivers its processor to Germany!

QuiX Quantum, the worldwide market leader in quantum photonic processors, has delivered a 12-mode quantum photonic processor to Germany, for a collaboration with researchers from Paderborn University.  This photonic processor is the most powerful in the world. Quantum photonic processors are the central component of photonic quantum computers, holding great […]

First draft of program iMNC21 published, register now!

The program for the international MicroNanoConference 2021 is well underway with speakers from academia and industry. On December 2 and 3, 2021 we look forward to meeting you on location in Utrecht, at the Jaarbeurs. This year’s main theme is: From science to market – scale-up in nanotech With these […]

Nanotechnology companies share experience with Safe-by-Design

Companies test Safe-by-Design and are positive. This is evident from work by the European project NanoReg2. The nanotechnology companies saw the opportunity to reduce risks early in the innovation process. It turns out to be difficult to choose the most suitable Safe-by-Design measures. Safe-by-Design aims to minimize risks to health […]

Technologies

Clusters

Contact person

Annerie van Steijn-Heesink

Annerie van Steijn-Heesink

Project manager