The leaders of Portugal and Spain officially opened the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) hoping to turn the new research facility into one of the world´s leading laboratories in Nanotechnology.

At the presentation ceremony celebrated last Friday, July 19th, the main representatives of Spain and Portugal hailed the opening of INL as the dawning of a new age of discovery for the two countries.

Spain´s King Juan Carlos, who attended the ceremony, said: "Especially during the serious economic crisis, it is important to assure our institutions and societies that our progress and well-being depend on more innovation and education.

Portugal’s President Cavaço Silva underlined: " I am certain that this partnership may bring, in the near future, not just a significant increase in the competences and achievements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, but also a greater involvement of society in general and the entrepreneurial community in particular"

Also Zapatero and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates were among dignitaries who attended the ceremony. "In the age of discovery, we had a lot of success. With this project, Portugal and Spain will chart a new atlas of innovation and will make new discoveries, Zapatero said. "We aim to compete on the frontier of technological development, in one of the most promising and demanding fields of science and knowledge," Socrates said at the televised ceremony.

With this announcement the laboratory will open a worldwide recruiting campaign to attract research leaders and Postdoctoral scientists with experience in the four main research areas of the new Laboratory.