History

At present, the broad fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology have expanded into various subfields of study such as: nano-electronics, nano-optics, nano-fluids, nano-magnetism, spintronics, bio-nanotechnology, nano-medicine, nano-chemistry, quantum transport, nanomaterials and nanoparticles, just to mention a few. Despite the great progress done in the last decades, there are still limitations that hinder the production of nanodevices useful for specific applications in both engineering and industry. This is mainly due to difficulties encountered when dealing with the physical properties at the nanoscale. Nonetheless, the interdisciplinarity nature of nanoscience and nanotechnology enables the interaction among different fields of study. Consequently, their development not only requires the use of advanced manufacturing methodologies and characterization techniques, but also of multidisciplinary approaches which brings together physicists, mathematicians, chemists, physicians, biologists, technologists, etc .; all of them using a common language.

Under this premise, Mexican researchers undertook the task of organizing a national meeting with the aim of promoting and consolidating lines of research and development of technology in these fields, as well as encouraging interaction among research groups. Thus, the first "International Topical Meeting on Nanostructured Materials and Nanotechnology (Nanotech)"  took place in 2004 at the Center for Research in Optics (Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica, CIO) located in the state of Guanajuato. Subsequently, an annual meeting is held at different venues across Mexico, making this event one the oldest of its kind in the country. Moreover, Nanotech has served as a forum for discussion and a platform for the creation of collaborations with other organizations. For instance, Nanotech helped to organize the annual meeting of the División of Nanoscience of the Mexican Physics Society (DINANO-MPS), the "International and Interdisciplinary Meeting on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NANOMEX)", and, in join collaboration with the Brazilian-Mexican Virtual Center of Nanotechnology, the "International Symposium on Advanced Materials and Nanostructures (ISAMN)".

These events had a remarkable impact on the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology in several research institutions throughout the country for they have catalyzed the creation of academic programs that nowadays serve as links between the generation of scientific knowledge and its subsequent application in the development of novel technologies. Some of these results have already been applied in the fields of public health, biomaterials, biotechnology, bioconservation, wastewater treatment, storage, production and energy conservation, food processing, electronics and photonics automation and control, smart materials; nano-tools and robotics as well as basic science.