The Institute of Nanotechnology CNR-NANOTEC develops fundamental and applied research in the fields of nanosciences and nanotechnology.

It gathers scientists and students from the disciplines of physics, chemistry, engineering, materials science, as well as biology and medicine. To promote knowledge and innovation in science and technology, CNR-NANOTEC develops cutting-edge experimental techniques and modeling tools, developed within the Institute in close collaboration with academic, institutional and industrial partners. The Institute was founded in 2015 and now host about 200 people.

The National Research Council Institute CNR-NANOTEC operates through its four research sites located in Lecce (headquarter), Bari, Roma and Rende. CNR-NANOTEC mission is to attract and involve talented researchers through an open-access management of the facilities in order to promote the development of external projects as well as partnerships with the international leading research centres. At CNR_NANOTEC, innovation is promoted through technology-transfer processes, the creation of joint-labs with international companies and in collaborations with venture capital funds is fostered, and the foundation of start-ups and spin-offs is stimulated.

CNR-NANOTEC stably collaborates, also through students and researchers mobility programs, with International Research Centres and Academic Institutions such as the Molecular Foundry Lab of the Berkeley University, London Imperial College, Cambridge University, Oxford University, the Institute for Problems in Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Wright Patterson U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the Laboratoire des Sciences des Procity of Duisburg-ESSEN, the Department of Mathematics and Mechanics of Saint Petersburg State University, as well as with many multinational companies such as STMicroelectronics, Bosch ed Engineering Ingegneria Informatica, SITAEL spa. Locally, Nanotec has strong collaborations with DHITECH and DTA Apulian districts.

Through a focused PhD program, CNR-NANOTEC trains its students to hold future responsibility as scientists or experts of their fields in the society.

CNR-NANOTEC promotes science communication and dissemination, and know-how transfer activities to foster citizen education and sustainable growth. Thorough its action in science, CNR-NANOTEC tries to promote the dignity and equality of persons, in a knowledge-based society.