Nanotechnology has been a relentless driving force behind countless advances in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and electrical and computer engineering, among others. Wireless communications and networking are no exception to this trend and have been deeply impacted by the constant push of nanotechnology, which has led to smaller, faster, and more efficient communication systems. So much so, that wireless networks can now reach unprecedented locations and operate in extreme conditions: inside the body, within a single chip, under the water, or inside a quantum computer operating at cryogenic temperatures. The concept of nanonetworking, where the dimension of at least one element of the communication is in the nanoscale, thus becomes pertinent.

In this context, the Nanonetworking Center in Catalonia (N3Cat) was created in 2008 at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) as an initiative of Prof. Ian F. Akyildiz and Prof. Josep Solé-Pareta with the main goals of carrying fundamental research on nanonetworks and educating and training the new generation of students. During 15 years, the N3cat team has worked to advance in the emerging field of nanonetworking with a multidisciplinary approach, pushing the boundaries of biology, physics, and computer science in the pursuit of new promising applications.

The center has changed a lot in the past decade in response to the evolution of the nanonetworking field itself. Nanonetworks are no longer just the interconnection of nanomachines, understanding nanomachines as basic functional units at the nanoscale; but have become tiny networks in larger systems and, most likely, in extreme environments in terms of resources, mobility, or environmental conditions. As a result, the application pool has expanded to the quantum computing or the computer architecture domains.

In 2024, N3Cat is renewed to continue pushing the limits in the ever-changing field of nanonetworking. The internal structure, the website, and the research have changed, but the spirit of the center remains intact. With an international, collaborative, and educational character, as well as a comprehensive research approach across the communications and computing stacks and reaching beyond adjacent disciplines, we aim to continue being a reference in the field of nanonetworking.