Trying to figure out what we already have in order to figure out what gaps need to be funded is a common starting point in nanotechnology policy. The European Commission is conducting an infrastructure survey, and about time too.
Having conducted a number of surveys, which are not as easy to design as one may think, we know some of the pitfalls from fisrt hand experience. We will be very surprised to learn if there are any negative answers to question 20 – Will this Research Infrastructure be of top-level relevance for the scientific community in Europe?”
More background on the study can be found here.