Nanometer-scale objects can be dramatically different in nature: semiconducting nanowires, metallic or superconducting, carbon nanotubes, magnetic clusters, organic nano-magnets, and a large class of organic molecules and biological assemblies (ADN, ARN, ATP..). Techniques to observe and characterize such objects are very often the same: this is one of the reason of the convergence of natural sciences at the nanometer scale. Differences are still present and should not minimized. Organic molecular architectures and living objects are assembled almost exclusively using "bottom-up" approaches, while to this day most nanocircuits are made by "top down" irrespective the final application is: electronics, nanophotonics and spintronics all use "top-down" fabrication whether it is for exploratory device research or industrial foundries. At the boundary between these two extremes one finds molecular electronics and nanomagnetism.

With this in mind, and because they are a driving force for nano-research, a classification in term of their future applicative areas is relevant. In Rhône-Alpes, the five dominant applicative fields are

The diagram below illustrates how these areas "plug themselves in platforms and tools which allow to make, assemble and study the nano-objects which are of interest for future applicative devices.

Five main nano-areas

and some of the tools used to make study and characterize them.

Nano-electronics is the most important activity around Grenoble and Lyon (the two largest scientific poles in Rhone-Alpes). It is driven by strong companies in electronics components (ST-Microelectronics, Freescale, Phillips, Atmel and Soitec which have large foundries around Grenoble) with more than 35000 direct emploies.

Nanomagnetism and spintronics constitute another strong activity around Grenoble, a culture herited fom Louis Néel who established a longstanding tradition since 1937. Several startups (Soitec, Memscap, Crocus) around Grenoble have emerged from research laboratories.

Nanophotonics is the core activity of the INL (Institut de Nanotechnologie de Lyon) and of TSI (Traitement du Signal et Ingénierie, St Etienne). Around Grenoble, this activity is more centered around II-VI semiconductors

Nanochemistry and nanobiosciences are more found in Lyon and Grenoble where a rapid evolution around the nanobio program is found.

Nanomechanics ans the study of weak forces at nanoscale distances is a growing area around the world and Rhône-Alpes is involed in the research advances at its. scale