The EPF Council has decided to allocate 40 million francs to the Nano-Tera.CH initiative (5 million in 2008, 8 million in 2009 and 13.5 million in 2010 and 2011).

The nano-tera program is centered on the application of micro/nano-technologies to embedded systems design, with the goal of improving human conditions through the monitoring of the human body and the environment. The total funding for this program, on the order of 60 MCHF, will support multidisciplinary projects to create complex systems for health, security and environment.

This decision is excellent news, not only for researchers in this domain, but also for industrial partners, and it will be an opportunity to showcase Swiss dynamism in this area. The program, coordinated by EPFL professor Giovanni de Micheli, will be officially launched January 28 in Bern.