Nanotechnology is among the fastest growing fields in STEM Sciences. The impact of Photonics in the various disciplines of Nanotechnology through the different applied photonic techniques is substantial. The impressive progress Nanotechnology has experienced could not be advanced without the knowledge and use of photonic-based tools & techniques. This means that a young scientist, independently of its scientific discipline, who would like to be involved in Nanotechnology should be familiar and well trained in the most common employed photonic based techniques in a Nanotechnology laboratory.

iPEN (Innovative Photonics Education in Nanotechnology) has as a primary objective to provide an education training program to young researchers (postgraduate, Research students) in the most common used photonic tools & techniques in a Nanotechnology Laboratory. iPEN project during its development will include the development of online & offline modules, the organization of intensive courses, that will foster the photonic learning skills and build the confidence of young researchers in the field of Nanotechnologies.

To increase the impact of the project secondary objectives are to (a) enhance the teaching abilities of the Academics in NanoEducation, (b) make them more familiar with the online educational tools and (c) provide training apart of technical, also of the most requested soft skills. It is believed that the equipment of our young scientists with the most requested technical and soft skills will enhance their future employability.

iPEN project consists from a multinational consortium, with partners from Greece, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and Israel. All the partners have demonstrated a strong record in the fields of education and research in photonics and in various fields of nanotechnology.

The Project Coordinator

Ass. Prof. Konstantinos Petridis

Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Applied Sciences, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Greece

Nanomaterials & Advanced Electronics Research Group (Prof. Kymakis), Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Crete, Greece

The project (586165-EPP-1-2017-1-EL-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP) is funded by the KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices Capacity Building in Higher Education. Its’ duration is three years, starting from the 15th of October 2017 and its activities should be completed by the 14th of October 2020