Nokia and the University of Cambridge have announced a long-term research partnership which will focus on the field of nanotechnology. It's pretty clear that Nokia has accepted the challenge from Samsung which has the slimmest handsets on the market at the moment (Samsung U100 5.9 mm and several others between 7-9mm thick).

The Finnish giant decided to send out its scientists in search for new technologies that will allow the manufacture of smaller and slimmer handsets. The scientists will concentrate on nanotechnology in the beginning, a science branch that studies the "smallness" of electronic devices. Nokia Research Center will establish a research facility at the University's West Cambridge site and will initially base around ten scientists that will closely collaborate with several departments such as, Nanoscience Centre and Electrical Division of the Engineering Department.

Cambridge is already seen as one of the leaders in the nanotechnology research field with important breakthroughs in nanoelectronics, novel materials and coatings, biologically inspired nanostructures and advanced characterization tools.

Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Bob Iannucci, Nokia Senior Vice President and Head of Nokia Research Center, said: "This is the third partnership with a world-leading research institution Nokia Research Center has announced in the last eighteen months. Such open collaboration is central to NRC's strategy, because it enables us to bring together some of the leading researchers in our fields of interest and to benefit from each other's different backgrounds and perspective."

Let's stay tuned to this as the announcement promises new techs embedded into Nokia devices.