Fundación Argentina de Nanotecnología

What Fundación Argentina de Nanotecnología does

Fundación Argentina de Nanotecnología (FAN) is an Argentine non-profit foundation established in 2005, headquartered on the UNSAM campus in San Martín, Buenos Aires, with a secondary site in General Pico, La Pampa. It operates as the country's primary intermediary for the nanotechnology ecosystem, linking public research institutes (CONICET, CNEA, INTI, INTA), universities, startups, and federal science agencies. The foundation holds formal recognition as a Unidad de Vinculación Tecnológica (UVT) and an Entidad Especialmente Aptitada (EEAE) under Argentine science-and-economy law, and is the institutional channel for the half-sanctioned Bio and Nanotechnology Promotion Law that extends regulatory and fiscal benefits through 2034.

FAN's core product surface is a vertically integrated stack of physical and digital services. At the physical layer sits the Nanofab Laboratory — a cleanroom fabrication facility supporting prototyping and process services — and the Espacio de Innovación incubator, currently hosting eight installed ventures. The digital and program layer includes Nano U (an online education platform with more than 12,000 registered users), Mapa Nano (a registry covering 2,808 professionals, 335 research groups, 91 institutes, and 73 companies), Nano País (a federal-provincial outreach initiative extending the foundation's footprint beyond its two anchor cities), and the recurring Nano Impact competition (second edition launched as Nano Impact 2026). Communications products such as + Nanotecnología and ComunicaNano support ecosystem visibility and policy advocacy.

The business model is a hybrid of public-sector funding and earned revenue. Grants and subsidies from MinCyT and the Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo anchor the budget, supplemented by fee income from Nanofab lab services, incubator tenant leases, Nano U course fees, and competition/program sponsorship. International co-funding channels (notably EU instruments in the Nanopymes lineage) add a third layer. The customer base spans government agencies as anchor funders, incubated startups and SMEs as fee-paying users, researchers and students as education/competition participants, and partner institutes as co-execution entities — a diversified end-customer profile sitting atop a concentrated funding-customer base.

Name

Fundación Argentina de Nanotecnología

Legal name

Fundación Argentina de Nanotecnología

Website

https://fan.org.ar

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Argentine non-profit foundation founded in 2005 that operates the country's main nanotechnology ecosystem hub, providing Nanofab lab services, startup incubation (Espacio de Innovación), online education (Nano U), ecosystem mapping (Mapa Nano), and federal outreach (Nano País) to researchers, startups, and public science agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Martin

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Services and Technology Consulting: Revenue generated from providing laboratory services (characterization, printed electronics, polymer extrusion), technical advising, and prototyping services to research groups, entrepreneurs, and companies.
2. Incubation Space Rental: Rental income from private laboratories, clean rooms, coworking spaces, and shared desks at the innovation hub. Pricing: Private lab 27.5m2 from $275,000/month; ISO Class 7 clean room 51m2 from $510,000/month.
3. Government Subsidies and Grants: Primary funding from Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MinCyT) subsidies for maintaining infrastructure and financing programs. FAN also benefits from the Ministry of Productive Development's Institutional Strengthening Program.
4. Education and Training Programs: Revenue from online courses and training programs through the Nano U platform, with over 12,000 users. Programs include Nanotechnology for Educators, Nanomedicine, and Nanomaterials courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fundación Argentina de Nanotecnología (FAN) is a non-profit foundation that operates Argentina's most comprehensive nanotechnology ecosystem. It provides specialized laboratory services through its Nanofab facility (materials characterization, printed electronics, polymer extrusion, prototyping), incubates nanotechnology startups via its Innovation Space (private labs, ISO Class 7 clean rooms, coworking), delivers online nanotechnology education through Nano U, manages Mapa Nano ecosystem mapping, and runs the Nano Impact innovation competition.

Product overview

FAN operates a comprehensive nanotechnology ecosystem platform consisting of eight integrated products and services: (1) Nanofab Laboratory - a shared facility providing characterization, printed electronics, polymer processing, and prototyping services; (2) Espacio de Innovación - an incubator with private labs, clean rooms, and coworking spaces; (3) Nano U - an online education platform with 12,000+ users; (4) Nano Impact - an innovation competition with prize awards and mentoring; (5) Mapa Nano - a collaborative mapping tool of Argentina's nano ecosystem; (6) + Nanotecnología outreach programs; (7) Nano País - a federal provincial integration initiative; and (8) ComunicaNano - a science communication program for schools. These services work together to support entrepreneurs, researchers, and companies throughout the nanotechnology innovation lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nanofab Laboratory A shared nanotechnology laboratory providing technological services including materials characterization (UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, atomic force microscopy), printed electronics (inkjet printing with nanostructured functional inks), polymer processing (extrusion and thin film production), and 3D prototyping. Serves researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies needing access to specialized nanotechnology equipment.
• Espacio de Innovación (Innovation Space) A technology incubator offering adapted spaces for innovative nanotechnology startups, including private laboratories (27.5m2), ISO Class 7 clean rooms (51m2), CoworkingLab spaces (26.7m2), and shared desks. Currently houses 8 incubated companies and provides high-level equipment for nanotechnology-based ventures.
• Nano U Online nanotechnology education platform with over 12,000 registered users worldwide, offering self-service courses in nanotechnology, nanomedicine, and nanomaterials developed in collaboration with specialists from Argentina's National Scientific System.
• Nano Impact An innovation competition program that identifies, promotes, and accompanies innovative projects in bio, micro, and nanotechnology. Provides economic awards, laboratory services access, mentoring, and institutional visibility to selected projects; 15 finalists were selected in the 2026 edition.
• Mapa Nano A collaborative tool mapping Argentina's nanotechnology ecosystem, identifying 335 research groups, 91 institutes, and 73 companies. Hosted on Kumu platform and showcases companies, institutes, research groups, and public/private actors related to nanotechnology development.
• Nano País A federal initiative to strengthen and visualize collaborative work with organizations, institutes, companies, universities, and nanotechnology stakeholders from all Argentine provinces, bringing FAN's services beyond Buenos Aires.
• ComunicaNano Public communication program for nanotechnology that reaches secondary schools nationwide, promoting science and technology communication with local specialists and supporting activities that increase public appreciation of nanotechnology.
• + Nanotecnología (Nano por un día) Outreach and education initiative featuring online Nano Disclosure Cycle talks, interactive activities, workshops, and science communication programs for secondary school students and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 users trained through Nano U online platform
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación de la Nación (MinCyT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Primary strategic partner providing subsidies for infrastructure maintenance and program financing. FAN activities are aligned with ministry objectives. MinCyT also provides funding through various programs and initiatives.
• Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo de la NacióncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014FAN is a member of the National Incubator Network and beneficiary of the Institutional Strengthening Program. FAN serves as EEAE (Specialized Entity for Entrepreneurial Support) providing assistance to entrepreneurs and companies.
• Agencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (I+D+i)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2014FAN serves as UVT (Technology Transfer Unit) under this agency, providing project formulation assistance and technology transfer between science institutions and private sector.
• Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAN is located on UNSAM campus. The Instituto de Nanosistemas (INS) of UNSAM is a key ecosystem partner conducting advanced research alongside FAN's Nanofab laboratory.
• CONICETminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Omar Azzaroni represents CONICET on FAN's advisory council. Multiple companies like Inmunova develop technologies in collaboration with CONICET researchers.
• Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Diego Rubi represents CNEA on FAN's advisory council. Dr. Adriana Serquis, former FAN board member, became CNEA president.
• Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Juan Sebastián Pappalardo represents INTA on FAN's advisory council. Strategic partner in agricultural nanotechnology applications.
• Unión Europea / Nanopymes ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring 2014-2016, FAN administered Integrated Regional Projects of the Nanopymes program (EU-MinCyT), creating consortia between SMEs, universities, and technology centers of Argentina and Europe to promote nanotechnology innovation.
• Instituto de Nanosistemas (INS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINS is part of UNSAM and operates within FAN's campus, generating original high-quality knowledge and developing technology alongside FAN's Nanofab laboratory.
• Centro Argentino-Brasileño de Nanotecnología (CABN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBinational nanotechnology center integrating research groups, networks, and companies from Argentina and Brazil for collaborative research and human resource development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• INVAP: Argentine state-owned high-technology company providing applied R&D, technology transfer, and complex systems engineering. Most comparable domestic peer to FAN, sharing Argentine government ownership, applied science mandate, and incubation-style programs, though INVAP focuses more on nuclear/space systems than nanotechnology.
• Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano / CNPEM): Brazil's primary open-access nanotechnology user facility operated under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations. Directly comparable to FAN as a Latin American national laboratory offering characterization, microfabrication, and pilot services to researchers, startups, and industry, with similar federal mandate and funding model.
• EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology): Swiss federal materials science and technology research institute conducting applied R&D, materials characterization, and technology transfer for industry. Directly comparable to FAN's Nanofab laboratory in materials characterization, polymer processing, and pilot-scale prototyping mandate, though Empa operates at much higher funding and capability levels.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied research center, state-owned, conducting contract R&D for industry and providing pilot-scale facilities, technology transfer, and incubation support. Closely mirrors FAN's model of government-backed applied R&D with industry services, though VTT operates at significantly larger scale.

Others

• CONICET: Argentina's national scientific and technical research council, the country's largest research organization and key FAN institutional partner (with CONICET representatives on FAN's advisory council). Functions as an upstream research generator whose outputs feed FAN's technology transfer and incubation activities.
• INTI (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial): Argentina's national industrial technology institute providing laboratory services, technical assistance, and technology transfer to Argentine industry. Closely related to FAN with overlapping advisory council representation, serving complementary roles in the Argentine applied R&D ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organization with 76 institutes covering technology transfer from public research to industry. Comparable to FAN as a national, government-backed applied R&D and incubation network, though Fraunhofer operates at vastly greater scale and across many disciplines beyond nanotechnology.
• National Research Council Canada (NRC): Canada's primary federal R&D organization operating research facilities and providing technology commercialization services. Comparable to FAN in its government-backed applied research and technology transfer mandate, though NRC operates at much larger scale and covers many technology domains.
• CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas): Spain's largest public research institution, conducting multidisciplinary research and operating as the country's primary vehicle for science-to-industry technology transfer. Analogous role to FAN within the Spanish R&D ecosystem, though at vastly larger scale and broader scope.

Regional players

• CINVESTAV (Mexico): Mexican public research institution under CONAHCYT conducting scientific research and graduate training with applied technology transfer mandate. Comparable to FAN as a Latin American national R&D organization, though with broader scope and larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLDzc5ysymbNwcI6UMkDWS52o76hkCicY6
• Xx.com/nano_fan
• Facebookfacebook.com/FundacionArgentinadeNanotecnologia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanotecnologia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fundación Argentina de Nanotecnología