Istituto Officina dei Materiali (IOM) is an interdisciplinary research Institute of the National Research Council of Italy (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR) that carries out research in the fields of condensed matter physics, nanoscience, and biophysics.
The mission of IOM is twofold: to gain fundamental knowledge at the nano and micro scale that enables novel technologies; to develop advanced methods for the synthesis, characterisation and modelling of functional materials and biosystems.
The Institute operates laboratories and analytical infrastructures that allow to cover the idea-material-device supply chain
By integrating theory&simulation, design&synthesis, advanced characterization and nanofabrication, IOM study and develop advanced materials, nanostructures, biosystems, sensors and devices with control at the micro- and nano-scale. The IOM research infrastructures and laboratories allow to identify and characterise the fundamental processes that underpin the functionalities of physical, chemical and biological systems.
The core activity of the Institute lays in the domains of nanoscience and nanotechnologies that cross the Horizon Europe pillars as well as the national key areas for research and innovation, with particular reference to Climate, Energy and Mobility; Quantum Technologies; Health and nanomedicine; Digital Industry and Nanoelectronics.
Most of IOM infrastructures and laboratories are open for access to the scientific community through dedicated access portals
At the national and international level, IOM manages and develops strategic infrastructures for the scientific communities at the Italian Synchrotron and free-electron laser light sources (Elettra and Fermi in Trieste), at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and at the Institut Laue–Langevin (ILL) neutron scattering facility in Grenoble.
IOM is the main hub and coordinator of the Nano Foundry ad Fine Analysis (NFFA) family of projects. NFFA aims at creating an open-access research infrastructure for experimental & theoretical nanoscience that integrates laboratories and analytical research infrastructures distributed across Europe.
At the regional and macro-regional levels, IOM coordinates the Nano-Region project and participates in the Open Lab project. Both initiatives aim at creating a network of open laboratories connecting existing infrastructures in the field of nanotechnology with the goal of promoting technology transfer and improve competitiveness of SMEs.
