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Words from the Editors

Dear Colleagues,

The first four years of the NCCR Nanoscale Science are over and we have successfully started the second phase – the right moment to look back. With this special issue of nanonews we want to present some of the scientific highlights of the last four years. We start with topics from medicine and biology, cover some chemical highlights, and discuss some achievements in the area of molecular electronics, atomic and molecular nanosystems and quantum computing and quantum coherence.

For the first phase of our NCCR we had structured our research activities into ten projects. For the second phase we have optimized and simplified the structure into six modules. On the last pages of this special issue we will present this new structure. Detailed information can be found on our website www.nccr-nano.org.

In 2001, we established the NCCR Nanoscale Science. After more than four years it is obvious: we have created a centre of excellence in nanoscale science that is nationally and internationally very well recognized. We have published numerous papers in important journals like Nature, Science, Physical Review Letters; our researchers are invited to international congresses to present their work and numerous delegations from all over the world who want to profit from our experience have been visited us. We have achieved a lot and we can be proud of our work and our centre. We should like to thank everyone who has contributed with engagement and enthusiasm to this successful first phase of the NCCR, and we are looking forward to a stimulating and exciting future.