ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA EN NANOCIENCIAS CIC NANOGUNE

Their core work

CIC nanoGUNE is a nanoscience research center in San Sebastián (Basque Country, Spain) that investigates the fundamental physics and engineering of materials at the nanoscale. Their core work spans spintronics, nanophotonics, graphene-based technologies, and advanced materials characterization using scanning probe microscopy and near-field optical techniques. They translate fundamental discoveries in spin-charge phenomena and 2D materials into potential applications in computing, energy harvesting, and biomedical microrobotics. The center is a key node in the EU Graphene Flagship and actively trains early-career researchers through Marie Skłodowska-Curie networks.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2018), nanoGUNE focused on graphene plasmonics, ultrafast magnetism, molecular magnetism, and near-field optical microscopy — largely fundamental condensed matter physics with strong materials characterization. From 2019 onward, a clear shift toward spin-orbit phenomena emerged: spin Hall effect, Edelstein effect, and spin-charge conversion became dominant keywords, signaling a move toward spintronic device concepts. Simultaneously, they branched into an unexpected biomedical direction with the Micro-GIFT microrobotics project, suggesting a willingness to apply their nanofabrication expertise to life sciences.

nanoGUNE is converging on spintronic device physics (post-CMOS computing concepts) while beginning to diversify into biomedical applications of their nanofabrication capabilities.

How they like to work

nanoGUNE operates as both a project leader and a specialist partner in roughly equal measure (18 coordinated vs 19 participations), which is unusual for a research center of this size — it signals strong project management capacity alongside deep technical contribution. Their 347 unique partners across 35 countries indicate a broad, hub-like network rather than a closed group of repeat collaborators. They are comfortable in large flagships (Graphene Flagship with hundreds of partners) and small MSCA fellowships (2-3 partners), making them adaptable to different consortium formats.

With 347 unique consortium partners across 35 countries, nanoGUNE maintains one of the broadest collaboration networks among Spanish nanoscience centers. Their geographic reach is pan-European with no single dominant partner country, reflecting their participation in large flagships and diverse MSCA networks.

What sets them apart

nanoGUNE combines world-class expertise in both spintronics and nanophotonics within a single institute — a rare overlap that enables them to work at the intersection of light and magnetism (magnetoplasmonics, spinoptics). Their high coordinator-to-participant ratio (nearly 1:1) for a non-university research center demonstrates both scientific leadership and administrative maturity that consortium builders can rely on. Their Basque Country location also provides access to regional industrial funding and technology transfer infrastructure that complements EU project work.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Micro-GIFT
  A surprising pivot: this EUR 447K coordinated project applies nanoGUNE's microfabrication skills to build magnetic microrobots for assisted fertilization — their first major biomedical project.
• SPRING
  Their largest coordinated ERC-scale project (EUR 668K, 2019-2024) on spin research in graphene nanoribbons, combining their two core strengths of spintronics and graphene.
• ENSEMBLE3
  Long-running Centre of Excellence (2019-2026, EUR 846K — their largest single grant) for nanophotonics and advanced materials, positioning nanoGUNE in a European infrastructure role.