Getting the measure of micro, nano

London -- The Department of Trade and Industry has launched a five-year project to help bridge the gap between the UK’s strengths in metrology and its emerging micro and nano technology business and science base.

The Centre of Excellence in Metrology for Micro and Nano Technologies(CEMMNT) brings together five globally suppliers of micro and nano metrology and characterisation services -- National Physical Laboratories, QinetiQ, Taylor Hobson, Coventor and BAE Systems.

CEMMNT will be based at Loughborough’s Systems Engineering Innovation Centre (SEIC) -- a jointly funded initiative by the University, BAE Systems and the East Midland Development Agency.

CEMMNT aims to help accelerate the integration of micro and nano technologies into products and processes, said a 12 April DTI press statement. The initiative, it noted, is being backed by £4.3million in funding under the DTI¹s MNT Capital Facilities Programme -- a £90-million fund to exploit the commercial potential of micro and nano technologies.