ERA Chair MATTER focuses on nanoscale material behaviour in complex environments and upscaling of control of nanomaterial for interdisciplinary and widespread use. We enable breakthrough research in areas such as biomedical applications (nano-medicine, drug delivery, regenerative medicine), renewable energy sources, high electric field applications, high power microwave and radar equipment, materials research, ICT and electronics applications, MEMS & NEMS etc.
The Center
ERA Chair MATTER will combine competence of research groups in University of Tartu in the fields of multiscale computer simulations, nanomanipulation, nanotechnology applications and molecular biology, all related to different aspects of the development and use of nanomaterials in extreme environments with the aim of creating Centre of MATerials in Extreme EnviRonments. MATTER will aim it’s focus on suistainable nano-fabrication and IT and IP poses perfect combination of research groups for such challenge. Concentrated competence of MATTER allows to solve materials problems starting from the CERN accelerator design to biomedical applications such as nanomedicine and cancer therapy by focusing on the common problem — nanoscale material damage mechanisms in extreme environments!
The Challenges
Currently the preparation of nanomaterials requires specialized cleanrooms and technical equipment as well as highly trained staff. For example, lithography equipment for small scale electronics costs in magnitude of 1 million euros, seriously limiting its availability. To overcome such challenges, MATTER will combine simulation and experiment of material behaviour in heterogeneous extreme environments and conditions, enabling building of “low-tech” control of nanosystems. We upscale high-tech nanomanipulation techniques to reduce its technical complexity and reach widespread ability to use it outside high-tech lab environments, in large scale applications and in interdisciplinary research.
ERA Chair MATTER has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 856705.