NanoMat, located with its managing office at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), was founded in 1997 as one of the first nano competence centers in Germany. Our members are noted partners from industry and academia that focus their efforts on a variety of application-oriented projects in nanotechnology and materials research. NanoMat acts as a virtual enterprise, fostering and executing application-oriented R&D projects, as well as organizing dedicated workshops and symposia that encourage information exchange between and within subject areas. Our network also contributes to an active political dialogue on nanotechnology and nanomaterials, and we prepare and present relevant topics in nanotechnology to the public.