The main research and teaching activities of the chair are focused on concepts, quantitative methods and experiments for understanding and mastering truly nanoscale phenomena. Nanomechanics and nanoelectronics are the key issues of our fundamental investigations aiming at developing non conventional strategies for producing and exploiting new devices and materials with an intrinsic nanoscale complexity. Biological complexity suggests marvellous strategies on how to design bottom-up advanced materials. That is why a large part of our investigations involves biomaterials.