Great Northeast Nanofab to strengthen the region’s economy

Teesside University is helping to shape a major new facility to support advanced microfabrication activities across the North East England’s universities and high-tech industries.

The Great Northeast Nanofab (GNN) will leverage the cutting-edge expertise of the region’s universities and provide a focus for nanotechnology research in the northeast.

The centre is being established by Newcastle University, with spokes across Durham, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside universities. It will support teaching, training, and research in the region while also provide services to local high-tech companies developing a range of products, from quantum sensors to medical devices.

Opening in January 2027, the facility will provide a specialist ultra-clean environment where devices and components less than a millionth of a meter wide can be designed, fabricated and tested.

These technologies are essential to many areas of modern life such as our mobile phones along with medical devices, sensors, clean energy, communications, electric vehicles, computer and quantum technologies.

The centre is the result of investment from Newcastle University, matched by a £3M government grant, alongside support from 20 North East high-tech companies.

Professor David Hughes, Associate Dean of Research and Innovation in Teesside University’s School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, said: “Great Northeast Nanofab Centre represents a significant step forward for the region, in bringing together the complementary strengths of our universities to create a truly world-class capability.

“We are proud to contribute our expertise to this collaborative venture, which will not only accelerate cutting-edge research and development, but also support local businesses to innovate and grow. Importantly, it will also provide our students with access to advanced facilities and hands-on experience, helping to develop the highly skilled workforce needed for the technologies of the future.”

Professor Patrick Degenaar, Professor of Neuroprosthetics and project lead at Newcastle University, said: “Great Northeast Nanofab is the infrastructure which will allow local industry to prototype advanced products before scaling to manufacturing. In our fast-moving world, shortening development cycles support the region’s growth. The Centre will also support students and researchers achieve groundbreaking blue-sky research.”

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