A new 30-million dollar Technion Multidisciplinary Center for Biology-Oriented Nanosciences - the construction of which is slated to start in the months ahead - will coordinate the various university faculties? activities in this field. As one of the central developing areas in science today, nanotechnology will provide new technologies for application in a variety of areas - ranging from pharmaceuticals to electronics. In recent years, instruments have been developed that enable imaging, controlling and manipulating objects on a scale of several "nanometers." [One nanometer is one billionth of a meter.] Application of science and technology of that scale could lead to great breakthroughs in information technology, advanced industry, materials, medicine, biology and energy. This could result in new materials that are stronger and more resilient, improved drugs and new foods.



The combination of nanotechnology and biology enables new possibilities in medical and biological diagnosis. The new Technion center will be inter-disciplinary; it will incorporate knowledge and expertise developed in the various faculties and serve research teams from the scientific and engineering faculties. Activities at the center will focus on adopting biological approaches and biotechnology-enabled tools, to develop complex systems of tiny dimensions.