Nano- and micro-technology in the North

Groningen was put in the global spotlight in 2016 when the University of Groningen’s organic chemist Ben Feringa won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the development of molecular machines.

Feringa created the world’s first light-driven molecular motor, presenting his “nano-car”, which features four wheel-like motors on a molecular scale. Feringa’s tiny car (just a few billionths of a metre in size) could even “drive” across a copper surface under special conditions.

In Friesland, industrial innovation took off after electronics giant Philips established a factory in Drachten in 1950. At that time, Drachten was a small town, but Philips’ arrival (starting with the production of electric shavers) rapidly transformed it into a regional tech hub. Within a decade, Philips Drachten grew to 2,000 employees and became one of Philips’ largest development and production centres in Europe.

Over the years, Philips Drachten has developed numerous consumer electronics and nurtured a skilled workforce, laying the groundwork for a cluster of precision manufacturing and micro-engineering companies in Friesland.

Crucially, the North of the Netherlands produces a steady stream of talent through its educational programs. The University of Groningen offers an elite Master’s degree in Nanoscience, which is taught in English. Students in this program work alongside leading researchers – indeed, part of the curriculum involves participating in advanced research projects like those that led to Feringa’s Nobel Prize. 

This gives graduates cutting-edge expertise in molecular nanotechnology, materials science and nano-device engineering. RUG also offers related PhD opportunities and has strengths in chemistry, physics, photonics and bio-nanotech, producing graduates and discoveries that feed the local high-tech ecosystem.

At the applied sciences level, Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Hanzehogeschool) focuses on turning knowledge into practical innovation. Hanze offers a sensors and smart tech full-time Bachelor’s degree (taught in English). This unique BSc program – originally called “Advanced Sensor Applications” – teaches students how to design and build intelligent sensor-based devices, which is the “heart of technological progress” in smart industry, cities and healthcare.

Thanks to its universities and labs, the Northern Netherlands boasts world-class research in nanoscience and microsystems. The University of Groningen (RUG) hosts specialised institutes such as the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, ranked among the top materials research centers globally. On its Zernike Campus in Groningen, the university operates the Zernike NanoLab, a state-of-the-art cleanroom facility open to researchers and companies. This lab offers cutting-edge equipment for nanofabrication – from semiconductor lithography and thin-film deposition to advanced microscopy and analysis tools.

For international job seekers, the Groningen-Friesland-Drenthe region offers a wide spectrum of career opportunities in nano and microtechnology. The sector here is broad, encompassing everything from nanomaterials and sensor systems to precision manufacturing and instrumentation. Accordingly, employers in the North hire a diverse range of professionals. On the scientific R&D side, there are positions for chemists, physicists, materials scientists and nano-engineers – for example, working on molecular design in university labs or developing new photonic chips at a company like Photonis. The University of Groningen and affiliated institutes regularly have openings for doctoral researchers, postdocs and lab technicians in fields like nanochemistry, quantum devices, and microfluidics. With the presence of NanoLabNL in Groningen, researchers (even those in industry) can engage in cutting-edge fabrication and characterisation work.