Creating an Atomic Scale Technology is now a necessity for any uni-molecular device and machine in molecular electronics, molecular mechanics, molecular transducers and for laboratory scale experiments on one molecule.

For reference, Atomic Scale Technology recently arose from the very precision (better than 0.05 nm) required to interconnect a molecule and from the demonstration of a conformation change inside a single molecule with a precision better than 0.1 nm. Atomic scale technology is a bottom-bottom approach using the bottom-up one of nanotechnology to solve the nano to mesoscale nano-communication problem.

In Pico-Inside, 15 academic and industrial research institutes in Europe will work together on (1) new intramolecular architectures for integrating a complex digital logic function inside a single molecule, (2) understanding the electronic and mechanical behaviour of a single molecule on a surface with the best LT-UHV-STM and UHV-NC-AFM instruments in Europe , (3) the 5 stages of the interconnection problem from the atomic to the macroscopic scale: 50 pm to 1 nm (atomic wires), 1nm to 5 nm (mesa island), 5 nm to 50 nm (dynamic nanostencil), 50 nm to 5 um (static nanostencil), 5 um to 1 mm (micro-cantilever array), (4) organic chemistry for synthesising the supermolecule holding the intramolecular logic gate board and all the lateral chemical group equipping the final molecule to perform on a surface, (5) theory of large molecule surface science including molecular structure extraction for the experimental STM and NC-AFM images.

Pico-Inside integrates the necessary groups to explore new architecture concepts with Fujitsu Europe. LT-UHV-STM and NC-UHV AFM offer a complete and true access to the atomic scale for interconnects with Omicron. This includes nano-stencil contact experiments, the necessary chemistry labs task force and the required theoretical group to support the architecture, the molecular design and the analysis of Pico-Inside nanoscale experiments.

To prepare the future FPX (Framework Programme) of European Research with X = 7 and 8, Pico-Inside will create and diffuse to a broad community original roadmaps for interconnect and nano-communication, for chemistry of supermolecules and for intramolecular computing.

Many of the potential molecular electronic applications still require substantial work in order to be transformed into marketable technology. A concerted effort must be made at the European level to both understand and commercialise atomic scale technology in order to maintain a competitive advantage for Europe. The Pico-Inside Integrated Project and related “dissemination & training” activities will provide both, academic researchers and industry engineers access to the tools needed to keep Europe at the forefront of the next nanoelectronics revolution, a revolution beyond nanotechnology.

WEB site: www.picoinside.org

About the Phantoms Foundation:
The Phantoms Foundation was established on November 26, 2002 (Madrid, Spain) in order to provide high level Management profile to scientific projects. This association is now playing an important role in the 6th Framework Programme as a platform for European funded projects (NAPA & Pico-Inside) to spread excellence amongst a wider audience, and to help in forming new networks.

This non-profit Association is now a key actor in structuring and fostering European Excellence in Nanotechnology, having a world leading position in organising conferences, training and dissemination activities in this field.

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About EU/IST (Nano proactive initiative):
This initiative complements mainstream IC developments with advanced research in hybrid and molecular electronics, and prepares the bases for an extension of integrated circuit technology beyond the limits of CMOS scaling. This initiative covers a time horizon beyond 2009, corresponding to that covered in the "Emerging Research Devices" (ERD) section of the ITRS roadmap. The scope is however limited to a number of non-CMOS options listed in the ERD document.

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