Swiss Nanoscience Institute: The interdisciplinary center of excellence for nanosciences in Northwestern Switzerland The Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI) was founded in 2006 by the Canton of Aargau and the University of Basel and brings together researchers from lead- ing scientific institutions from Northwestern Swit- zerland that are dedicated to questions of both ba- 24% sic and applied science. At the same time, the SNI plays an active role in training young scientists in or 24% of SNI members - are women. der to ensure that the experts of the future are ide- ally prepared to tackle interdisciplinary challenges. Key to this intensive commitment is Switzerland’s only nanoscience degree program, which leads students to a bachelor’s and master’s degree in 11+13+7 nanosciences at the University of Basel. The SNI also operates an international PhD School, which In 2024, eleven students successfully attracts talented early career researchers from completed their bachelor’s program, thirteen completed the master’s pro- across the world. gram. Seven doctoral students success- fully defended their PhD theses. Research and teaching are supported by the Nano Technology Center, which provides academic and industrial partners with expertise in the areas of imaging, analysis and micro and nanofabrication through the two service units — the Nano Imaging Lab and the Nano Fabrication Lab. In the future, the SNI will increasingly orient its re- search activities toward the areas of nanoimaging 40 and nanofabrication. Through close collaboration within the network, the SNI will help to tackle In 2024, 40 doctoral students were enrolled in the SNI PhD School. pressing challenges in the life sciences, medicine, and quantum, materials and environmental science . 8 SNI Annual Report 2024