Second annual MIT.nano conference highlights nanoscale research in materials, medicine, computing, and other hard technologies
MIT.nano Director Vladimir Bulović opened the 2024 Nano Summit with a question: “How do the technologies of MIT reach the world?”
What followed was a day-long series of presentations and discussions from MIT faculty, researchers, and industry partners diving into the development of new technologies across different disciplines and an examination of the challenges inherent in translating these innovations to the marketplace. “As an institution, we strive to make impact on the world through the demonstration of new technologies, new ideas, and by training the people that can affect the grand needs of the world,” said Bulović.
Over 400 attendees gathered on October 23 for the second annual MIT.nano conference, co-hosted by the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP). The event featured topical sessions in sustainable materials, nanomedicine, next-generation computing, AI and machine learning, and hard-technology transfer, along with a startup showcase in collaboration with the MIT Startup Exchange.
From materials to medicine
“There is a huge materials burden associated with the transition to a more sustainable economy and that brings major challenges that we’re poised to advance,” said session chair Desirée Plata, associate professor in the MIT Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Plata led a discussion with Bulović, working on carbon-based solar structures; Antoine Allanore, the Heather N. Lechtman Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, finding ways to more sustainably use materials already extracted from the Earth; and Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli, the Paul M. Cook Development Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, considering how artificial intelligence can help predict properties and performance of new materials.
While materials scientists and electrical engineers are using nanotechnology to solve challenges in the environment, chemists and biological engineers are working to bring new solutions to medicine.
“When you make materials this small, it can open up new areas of biology and medicine,” said Sangeeta Bhatia, the John J. and Dorothy Wilson Professor of Health Sciences and Technology and of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. “These materials are now right-sized to talk to biology, and there are emerging nanoscale biomedical properties as well as physical properties.”
In discussing shortwave infrared intravital microscopy to locate and study tumors, Nobel Prize laureate Moungi Bawendi, the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry, explained that “learning how to use nanoparticles is super important and how they interact with the body.” Angela Belcher, the James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering and Materials Science, exemplified this in her presentation on using nanoparticle probes and hyperspectral imaging to study ovarian cancer—making the invisible visible, she explained, by imaging with nanomaterials.
Once scientists and doctors can see the disease inside the body, they need to be able to treat it. “If you want to deliver genetic therapies, the biggest problem to solve would be delivery,” said Robert Langer, the David H. Koch (1962) Institute Professor. In his talk on nanoscale delivery of nucleic acids, he spoke about the study and development of polymers to deliver DNA, RNA, and genetically engineered proteins, including the use of nanoparticles to protect messenger RNA, a technique used in the COVID-19 vaccine.
From lab to fab to the world
Whether healing a sick patient or dematerializing energy production, a common thread across the Summit was the importance of moving discoveries out of the lab to real-world applications. In a session on transitioning hard tech from academia to industry, START.nano Program Manager Joyce Wu gathered speakers to offer advice from industry, regional, and national / global perspectives.
“If you wait until your product is perfect, you will have missed the market,” reflected Marina Hatsopoulos, co-founder of Z Corporation and Chairperson of Levitronix Technologies. She stressed the importance of customer feedback, being able to pivot, strong relationships between entrepreneurs and researchers, and of getting out of the lab comfort zone. These points all emphasize the importance of a strong startup ecosystem, which was echoed by other session speakers.
On a regional level, Mark Halfman, Director of the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition Hub (NEMC) at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, spoke about NEMC’s efforts to help bridge the lab-to-fab gap for chips-related technologies in the Northeast. NEMC is one of eight Microelectronics Commons Hubs to receiving funding from the CHIPS and Science Act to accelerate the transition of microelectronics technologies.
Associate Dean for Innovation and Inclusion Fiona Murray, the William Porter (1967) Professor of Entrepreneurship, spoke similarly of the importance of innovation ecosystems to minimize the risks of deep-tech innovation on a national and even global level. “How do we reduce the time and reduce the amount of capital required?” she asked attendees. By working in a geographically bound location, Murray answered, with a high concentration of resources to support innovators – human capital, funding, facilities – as well as a system of resources that are rapidly shared and exchanged by stakeholders.
The future of computing
Afternoon sessions at The Nano Summit focused on computing and imaging, with talks by Mark Gouker, Assistant Division Head of Advanced Technology and others from MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and a session on modeling and imaging matter led by MIT.nano Associate Director Brian Anthony. “Where does imaging physics and imaging data intersect with characterization; and how does AI allow us to physically interact with the world?” asked Anthony, who is a principal research scientist in Mechanical Engineering. Highlighting some of the work coming out of the MIT.nano Immersion Lab, Anthony presented on ultrasound tomography, real-time data acquisition, and using machine learning to process data.
In his closing remarks, Bulović reflected on how far MIT.nano has come in its six years of operation. “Our first users arrived in January of 2019 and, today, there are 1,500 individuals plus some who utilize the tools of MIT.nano.” Nearly 350 of those individuals are external users, representing over 100 different companies.
“Successes of MIT.nano are defined by our incredible community that continually delivers new, transformative impacts,” he said. “We are lucky to have the opportunity to serve and curate the needs of many.”
Scenes from The Nano Summit
Article by Amanda Stoll DiCristofaro
Photos by David Sella