Following a launch event on 3 September 2018, addressed by the Deputy Mayor of London for Business Rajesh Agrawal as well as speakers from all three institutions, the universities will now build on the work the Centre has already done to harness the power of materials 1000 times smaller than a width of human hair.

Innovations already developed by the Centre include a mobile phone-connected tool that can detect HIV in a fraction of the time it currently takes, and a new generation of systems designed to provide an early warning of disease outbreaks.

King’s will bring multi-disciplinary expertise and cutting-edge equipment to the partnership, especially in the areas of high-resolution optical imaging, nanobiology and nanophotonics.

Its world-leading scientists will complement UCL and Imperial’s existing expertise across medicine, materials, chemistry, physics, electrical and electronic engineering, and earth sciences.

King’s involvement will also increase the opportunities for the development of new areas of research, improve the opportunities for partnership working and accelerate the development of nano-based technologies.

Speaking about the partnership, Professor Anatoly Zayats from the Department of Physics at King’s said: ‘We are delighted to be adding the world-leading expertise of King’s College London to the LCN.

‘The combination of facilities and expertise in complimentary fields will allow the LCN to address a range of new challenges, which would not be possible for any one institution.‘King’s, UCL and Imperial will now be able to plan and develop new facilities and capabilities to promote multidisciplinary research and develop new partnerships with industry.‘This partnership will help ensure that London continues to set the pace in this incredibly exciting area of research.’

Professor Ivan Parkin, Dean of UCL Mathematical & Physical Sciences, said: ‘The LCN has been a real success story for UCL and Imperial College London, uniting researchers and encouraging multidisciplinary research.

‘The inclusion of King’s into the LCN will help it tackle some of the most pressing scientific challenges of our age from quantum computing to digital healthcare. We are excited by this opportunity to broaden and strengthen the LCN.’

Professor Milo Shaffer, co-Director of the London Centre for Nanotechnology from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome King’s to the LCN, expanding the critical mass of researchers, linked together in London.

‘The integration of nanoscience and nanotechnology into complete systems will contribute to many major challenges facing the world, ranging from accelerated computing, to clean energy, safe water, and targeted healthcare.’