What are the most important fields in terms of technology studied at the UT?
The UT has different top institutes in the field of science and technology: Mesa+ Institutes for Nanotechnology; Center for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT); Institute for Biomedical Technology (BMTI); and, Institute of Mechanics, Processes and Control Twente (IMPACT). These consist of different research groups with a wide range of expertise but with the similar objectives.
Physics of bio- and nano-systems and its application has recently triggered a lot of interest. With one of the best centralized experimental facilities in the world, Mesa+ is on a mission to explore the possibilities of the application of biotechnology, nano-fluidics and nano-electronics in daily life. With its expertise on bio-nanotechnology, Mesa+ is all set to play an important role in the newly proposed chairs of `Biological Engineering' and `Medische Geneeskunde'. Recently Nanoelectronics in Mesa+ along with some Japanese laboratories succeeded in making a detector which can measure very small earthquakes, by use of the DUBBLE quantum dot, a very important finding in the sense that one can save thousands of lives in the earthquake affected areas.
In this era of information technology investing in education, research and innovation pays in a big way. CTIT's multi-disciplinary approach and wide knowledge base in communication networks, computer systems, software, e-commerce, and finance makes it a useful commodity for social and economic transformation of the Netherlands. One of the examples set in entrepreneurship by one of the spin-offs from the faculty 'Recore Systems' Innovative Business Plan and Feasibility Study, which won two prestigious entrepreneur's prizes, ING bank Startersprijs and from New Venture, for one of the ten best feasibility studies submitted.
An effort in the direction of improving the quality of human life is being made by BMTI by increasing the understanding of medical and biological problems and providing solutions to them. Apart from integration of concepts and skills from various technological disciplines, the institute also focuses on the development of clinical devices, medical products and procedure and their clinical applications. To provide researchers from both academia and industry a leading forum in the field of controlled drug delivery, where the latest developments in various disciplines can be discussed from the perspective of their applicability in innovative drug delivery systems, BMTI is organizing `9th European symposium on Controlled Drug Delivery, 2006.'
Research at IMPACT is more focused on mechanics of solids, fluids and soft materials, and their applicability and design, and manufacturing of the same. Various research groups from different backgrounds like applied mathematics, mechanical engineering, applied physics, civil engineering and chemical technology collaborate to achieve common goals. For PhD students in IMPACT, it even organizes courses on engineering mechanics, fluid mechanics and process technology.
These different centers of excellence promote a good collaboration and knowledge transfer and enhance the efficiency in scientific and technological advancements, putting the UT at a very competitive level with the top institutes in the world.
University of Twente boasts four top institutes in science and technology
