The ENSIGN consortium has been strengthened through a recently approved project amendment, expanding the project’s international expertise and collaboration network.

Three new Associated Partners have joined the project:

• National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST, China), led by Prof. Guangjun Nie, brings expertise in functional nanomaterials, nano–bio interactions, and advanced characterisation of biological nanomaterials. Their contribution will strengthen ENSIGN’s research on cell, protein and virus interactions.
• Korea University (Republic of Korea), led by Prof. Heemin Kang, contributes expertise in functional nanomaterials and self-assembled biomolecular systems, supporting the development of advanced nano–bio interfaces for single-entity studies.
• The University of Texas at Austin (USA), led by Prof. Fangzhou Xia, joins the consortium with expertise in MEMS-based AFM instrumentation, nanorobotics and precision nanopositioning, strengthening ENSIGN’s activities on next-generation scanning probe instrumentation and standardisation.

In addition, Politecnico di Torino (POLITO, Italy) has changed its status from Associated Partner to Beneficiary. This formalises POLITO’s active role in the project and enables the implementation of planned secondments and research activities through an allocation of dedicated person-months.

The amendment further enhances ENSIGN’s multidisciplinary expertise and international collaboration, supporting the project’s mission to develop advanced nanoscopy methods for the characterisation of individual nano-objects and complex nano–bio interfaces.