After the earlier March announced partnership between Nokia and Cambridge University, the Finnish telecommunication giant, decided to keep the pace on the nanotechnology research and made publicly a new agreement - with the Helsinki University of Technology, Finland.

The two organisations will work together on selecting and progressing research into the nanotechnology area. Further more, Nokia Research Center (NRC) will base a number of its researchers at the university's premises in Otaniemi, Espoo, for the duration of these projects. The collaboration is also part of The Finnish national FinNano program of TEKES (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation).

The joint research activities are expected to focus on areas including: new computing and information storage methods; functional nanomaterials for mobile and ambient intelligence devices; carbon based nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes and graphene).

Commenting on the announcement, Professor Risto Nieminen of the Helsinki University of Technology, said: "Working with an acknowledged world-leader in research, such as Nokia, will help the university to extend its international reputation in science and technology. Nanotechnology offers huge potential for organisations in areas as diverse as energy, environment - for example, low energy manufacturing and recyclability - and new materials."

The collaboration with Helsinki University of Technology was announced at the 2007 Nanotechnology Northern Europe (NTNE) conference by Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, who heads global research into nanotechnology for Nokia Research Center. Speaking at the conference, Tapani Ryhanen said that developments in nano materials and related fields have a wide range of potential applicability for the future in areas as diverse as lower energy manufacture and low cost materials.