A Week Dedicated to Quantum Dots at BCMaterials

From June 30th to July 2nd, BCMaterials hosted the second workshop of the MSCA doctoral network "Track the Twin," of which our center is a member. This European project aims to enhance the performance and durability of quantum dots through the development of digital twins.

The event, titled "Quantum Dot Computation," brought together over 60 experts and students in both in-person and online formats. The workshop provided an opportunity to review recent advances in quantum dot technology, led by researchers from the University of California (USA), the University of Toronto (Canada), the University of Jaume I (Spain), research institutes such as IEMN (France), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), and BCMaterials itself, represented by Ikerbasque Research Professor Ivan Infante.

Senior presentations took place on the mornings of June 30th and July 1st. In the afternoon of July 1st, predoctoral researchers from the network shared their research progress in areas such as synthesis, spectroscopy, electron diffraction, and computational modeling. These presentations culminated in a meeting of the "Track the Twin" consortium members to review the progress made so far and discuss upcoming milestones for the work packages.

The event concluded with a practical session led by the doctoral students of the network, followed by a talk from Raquel González, Projects and Technology Transfer Manager at BCMaterials. She discussed topics including project management, the European research framework, technology transfer (patents and spin-offs), and soft skills—aimed at supporting the students' professional development.

Quantum dots are nanomaterials commonly used in electronic devices to improve their efficiency and performance. Examples of their applications include consumer electronics (such as televisions), renewable energy devices, and potential uses in biotechnology. These applications subject quantum dots to constant stress, such as continuous lighting, high temperatures, and environmental exposure.