EuroNanoForum 2009 has been organized by the Technology Centre ASCR with the support of the European Commission and the Czech Ministry for Education Youth and Sports as the fourth conference of a set of international nanotechnology conferences organized within the framework of national Presidencies of the European Union. The 4-day event, held from 2nd to 5th of June 2009 at the Prague Congress Centre, has gathered almost 800 participants from 36 countries. Focusing on "Nanotechnology for sustainable economy", EuroNanoForum 2009 has addressed the state-of-the art of key application areas of nanotechnologies as well as the challenges for nanotechnology research and innovation to contribute to a sustainable development of the European society, such as the need for reduction in carbon emissions and fossil fuels dependence, the substantial increase in energy demand, pollution control, clean water management and sustainable quality of life of the European citizens. Moreover, the Forum has created a unique opportunity for researchers and industrial experts coming from diverse fields of science and technology to meet, discuss and co-operate, and to contribute to the definition of a European nanotechnology strategy after 2009.
A large number of colleagues of the European Commission contributed to the success of EuroNanoForum 2009, with their suggestions, ideas and exchanges of views. In particular, special thanks go to the Members of the Interservice Group on Nanotechnology for positively supporting this event of high strategic importance for the Directorate for Industrial Technologies of Directorate-General for Research.
We would also like to express gratitude to the Members of the International Advisory Board of ENF2009, the Scientific Committee of ENF2009 and the Czech National Advisory Board of the event for all their positive support and inspiring ideas.
Thanks go also to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and to all the high-level speakers, poster authors, participants and exhibitors, from Europe and the world, for their valuable contribution and active participation in making EuroNanoForum 2009 a unique event.
The Editors
Dr. Sophia Fantechi, European Commission and Petra Perutková, M.E.S., Technology Centre ASCR