The 2026 Nano Summit—Oct. 29

2026 Nano Summit: Discovery Processes of Tomorrow

Impact of the Nano Summit, MIT.nano's flagship conference, is delivered through the insights of leaders from academia, industry, government, and startups, who provide first looks into the science and technologies that will shape the next decade of innovation. The 2026 Nano Summit will focus on the convergence of nanoscience and engineering, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Given MIT.nano’s central role in broadly enabling research, one session is dedicated to the role of shared research facilities in enabling progress that can scale.

The summit provides early insight into the research and capabilities needed to sustain technological leadership and competitiveness

It is designed for researchers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and students engaged in advancing next-generation science and engineering.

SAVE THE DATE:
Thursday, October 29
Schwarzman College of Computing, Building 45, Floor 8

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Preliminary Agenda

Time

Session

8:30 AM

Registration & Breakfast 

9:00 AM

Welcome
Vladimir Bulović, Fariborz Maseeh (1990) Professor of Emerging Technologies and Director, MIT.nano

9:05 AM

Opening keynote
Richard Gottscho, President, SemiSan, LLC; Former EVP and CTO, Lam Research

9:50 AM

AI for materials discovery
Chaired by Heather Kulick, Lammot du Pont Professor of Chemical Engineering, MIT

Session speakers:
Markus Buehler, Jerry McAfee (1940) Professor in Engineering, MIT 
Mingda Li, Associate Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering

10:50 AM

Break

11:15 AM

Transformative Technologies Upon Us
Chaired by Livia Racz, Associate Head of the Advanced Technology Division, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

12:15 PM

Lunch & Startup Showcase

1:15 PM

Accelerating Innovation through Shared Facilities
Chaired by Vladimir Bulović, Fariborz Maseeh (1990) Professor of Emerging Technologies and Director, MIT.nano

2:00 PM

Afternoon Keynote
Darío Gil, Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy

in conversation with Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT Provost; Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT

2:30 PM

Break

3:00 PM

Picotalks about nano: A glimpse of ecosystems inside the lab
Chaired by Anna Osherov, Associate Director, Characterization.nano, and Jorg Scholvin, Associate Director, Fab.nano

4:00 PM

Closing remarks

4:30 PM

The Nano Summit reception at MIT.nano

 

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