Institute for NanoSystems Innovation

The Institute for NanoSystems Innovation at Northeastern University is a global hub focused on pioneering semiconductor research, learning, and innovation. It is helping researchers, government and industry strengthen the country’s semiconductor capacity by driving the discovery, pilot manufacturing, and transition of the new NanoSystems technologies.

The purpose of the institute is to:

  • Explore advanced technologies developed by an interdisciplinary research team specializing in micro/nano technology, quantum engineering, electronics, sensors, machine learning, artificial intelligence, photonics, terahertz and radio frequency systems, computing, and biotechnology.
  • Build new generations of smart devices and systems capable of addressing fundamental technology gaps in several fields including the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Quantum Engineering, Digital Agriculture, Robotics and Healthcare.
  • Bridge the gap by leveraging our university-wide innovation ecosystem and offering the complete value chain to prototype development and pilot manufacturing with the aim of reducing the time for innovation and technology transition to the private sector.

From electrical engineering to entrepreneurship—the Institute of NanoSystems Innovation is powered by a cross-disciplinary team of innovators and changemakers.

For more information contact:


Matteo Rinaldi
Professor,  Electrical and Computer Engineering
Director,  Institute for NanoSystems Innovation

Understanding and exploiting the fundamental properties of micro/nanomechanical structures and advanced nanomaterials to engineer new classes of micro and nanoelectromechanical systems (M/NEMS) with unique and enabling features applied to the areas of chemical, physical and biological sensing and low power reconfigurable radio communication systems


David Horsley
David Horsley
Professor,  Electrical and Computer Engineering
Deputy Director,  Institute for NanoSystems Innovation

Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS), design and manufacturing of microfabricated sensors and actuators, mechatronics and control systems.

Recent News

Advancing Northeastern’s Bicoastal Mission To Develop Next-Generation Silicon Chips

The Institute for NanoSystems Innovation, led by ECE Professors Matteo Rinaldi and David Horsley as director and deputy director, respectively, is growing its bicoastal initiative to pioneer advanced semiconductor design by collaborating with faculty, industry, and graduate students from the Boston and Oakland campuses.

David Horsley

Creating International Deep Tech Partnerships

ECE Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute for NanoSystems Innovation David Horsley, in collaboration with Innovation Impact International, was awarded a $299,898 NSF EAGER grant for “Catalyzing Deep Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship via International Partnerships.”