The innovative technologies we rely on daily—from high-tech devices to sustainable energy solutions—depend on novel functional materials, which have been pointed out as a strategic area for Europe. Tailored material properties require structural design at length scales ranging from the micron to the atomic level. Advanced electron microscopy has for decades been the default research tool in this domain.
Recent technological breakthroughs, such as aberration correctors and single-electron detectors, have dramatically advanced microscope capabilities, enabling significant methodological progress. However, the breadth and complexity of these developments make it increasingly difficult for individual institutions to maintain expertise across all methods, optical components and detectors.
To address this challenge, we propose NEMI—the Nordic Electron Microscopy Infrastructure—a collaborative network of Nordic universities focused on electron microscopy. NEMI aims to foster collaboration, enhance access to advanced instrumentation, optimize usage, and consolidate Nordic expertise in this critical field.
This initiative will support a broader user base, amplify scientific impact, drive innovation, and deliver industrial and societal value across the Nordic region. NEMI includes nine leading universities: Linköping University (LiU), Chalmers University of Technology (CTH), and Stockholm University (SU) in Sweden; the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of Oslo (UiO) in Norway; the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Aarhus University in Denmark; and Aalto University and Tampere University (TAU) in Finland.
All participating institutions have recently made significant investments in state-of-the-art electron microscopes. By uniting these resources and expertise, NEMI will strengthen Nordic leadership in materials science, physics, chemistry, and related disciplines. It will also enhance the region’s visibility and influence on the European and global stage—an increasingly important goal in today’s polarized world.
