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he Collaborative Innovation INSIDE VIEW: NANJING UNIVERSITY Center of Advanced Microstructures (CICAM) was formally authenticated by the MinistryT of Education of China in 2014. Here, we discuss CICAM’s mission and development with three CICAM directors: Dingyu Xing of Nanjing University, Fuchun Zhang of Zhejiang University and Xingao Gong of Fudan University.

Q: Who founded the centre? Nanjing University took the lead in founding CICAM in 2012, in partnership with Fudan Ding Yu Xing, Co-director, Fu Chun Zhang, Co-director, Xin Gao Gong, Co-director, University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Prof. of Nanjing University. Prof. of Zhejiang University. Prof. of Fudan University. (both in Shanghai), Zhejiang University (in Hangzhou), the University of Science and Q: What advantages do collaborative materials, novel superconducting materials Technology of China and the Hefei Institutes innovation centres offer? and unconventional mechanisms, of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy Collaborative innovation centres attract mesoscopic physics and devices, magnetic of Sciences (both in Hefei) and the company some of the most talented researchers. nanostructures and spintronics, and Huawei Technologies. The cities of Shanghai, They also promote interdisciplinary research functional microstructured devices and Hefei and Hangzhou are all connected to through bringing together researchers with system integration. Huawei participates in Nanjing by high-speed railway and lie in the expertise in different areas and sharing the construction of the last platform, which economically dynamic region of the Yangtze resources. CICAM will combine the research is dedicated to converting the scientific River Delta. The five universities are ranked in capabilities of the National Laboratory of achievements of CICAM into practical the top ten institutions for physics research in Solid State Microstructures and the State applications. China and are especially strong in the areas Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry of of condensed-matter physics and materials Nanjing University, the High Magnetic Field sciences. CICAM brings together many Laboratory at the Hefei Institutes of Physical “CICAM brings together many important leaders in the field of artificial Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, important leaders in the field of microstructures, including a Nobel laureate, the State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics artificial microstructures” a member of the American Academy of of Fudan University, the Key Laboratory of Engineering, 16 academicians of the Chinese Artificial Structures and Quantum Control Academy of Sciences, 34 Changjiang of Shanghai Jiaotong University, the Center Q: How does CICAM plan to attract endowed professors and 45 Distinguished of Correlated Matter at Zhejiang University talented researchers? Young Scholars of the Natural Science and Huawei Technologies’ Noah’s Ark Lab. In CICAM will follow international standards Foundation of China. addition, CICAM receives support from five for hiring, in line with the Association of provincial key laboratories and 17 national American Universities. The centre will Q: Why was CICAM established? researcher training centres. coordinate across its different institutions, but Research and development into artificial will establish an independent management microstructures lies at the forefront of Q: What are the main research focuses authority for establishing positions based modern physical science. As one of the most of CICAM? on its research progress. The principal important and promising research areas in Focusing on cutting-edge science, CICAM investigators will report directly to the the 21st century, microstructures research is chose artificial bandgap materials, correlated centre’s directors. Employment at the centre at the crossover of condensed-matter physics, electron systems and small quantum will be contract based for the duration of materials science and information science. systems as its three main innovation areas. the research projects and key researchers Designing and manufacturing artificial It established eight cross-institutional will receive international evaluation. CICAM microstructures at various scales can reveal innovation platforms: essential facilities for will also provide many incentives to attract novel quantum effects, help advance science microstructure research, artificial bandgap- talented researchers, especially active young and technology for quantum manipulation and meta-materials, micro/nano-photonics, researchers. Once hired, researchers will and lead to new generations of materials, quantum phase transitions and quantum receive generous non-competitive research information and energy technologies. manipulation for correlated electron funding from the centre.

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NANJING UNIVERSITY COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION CENTER OF ADVANCED MICROSTRUCTURES

WHERE MICROSTRUCTURES HAVE is also committed to training researchers superconducting materials and their MACRO IMPACT and drawing prominent scientists from mechanisms, quantum spin Hall systems, The Collaborative Innovation Center of across the country to become a world-class entangled edge states, nanophotovoltaics, Advanced Microstructures (CICAM), led scientific institution. all-solid-state laser microstructures and by Nanjing University, was established CICAM is the result of a partnership micro-nanofabrication technologies. For under the 2011 Plan, an initiative of between several universities, research example, CICAM researchers have designed the Chinese Ministry of Education and institutes and companies located in the a semiconductor laser array chip based on Ministry of Finance to develop the in- Yangtze River Delta region, a thriving area artificial microstructures, which entered into novation capacity of universities across for science and education in China with a Huawei Technologies’ industrial exploration the country. The plan was introduced as very active high-tech industry. The partner programme on photonic integrated devices an important strategic measure in China’s institutions have a long history of coop- in 2013. higher education system and through the eration in large research projects and are CICAM has attracted the attention of the establishment of Collaborative Innovation committed to sharing the responsibilities scientific community for the high quality of Centers has focused on four key categories: and benefits of CICAM. its research as well as its implementation of frontier science, industrial development, novel and innovative training solutions for regional development and cultural heri- THE STRENGTH OF COLLABORATIVE talented young scientists, such as personal- tage. In an evaluation by the Ministry of INNOVATION ized training for top students. An eight-year Education in early 2014, CICAM was rated CICAM’s collaborative approach takes full programme at the centre covering under- top of all the Collaborative Innovation advantage of the expertise cultivated in graduate-, masters- and PhD-level study has Centers considered. five established research platforms, includ- proved very successful. CICAM concentrates on conducting ing the National Laboratory of Solid State Overall, CICAM delivers some of the interdisciplinary research on advanced and Microstructures at Nanjing University, to best science conducted in China today. It artificial microstructure materials where create an environment conducive to in- is a dynamic centre for both research and micro- to nano-scale features give rise to in- novation on a par with that achieved by the researcher development, exploring novel teresting properties, which can be exploited international community. approaches to artificial microstructures and for a range of technological applications. CICAM is responsible for 60 major na- producing original research to meet the Researchers at CICAM conduct fundamental tional research projects with a total research country’s core technology needs. research on advanced and artificial micro- budget of RMB 380 million (approximately structures and also work to translate their USD 62 million). Its research on dielectric su- findings into relevant applications. Through perlattices and iron-based superconductors these efforts CICAM aims to establish itself is among the strongest in the world. It has as a leading centre in the field, producing also yielded numerous important advances research that catalyses Chinese industry and in the areas of optics, acoustic diodes, quan- meets their technology needs. The centre tum integrated chips, high-temperature NANJING UNIVERSITY

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