Welcome to SPM 4.0

Autonomous Scanning Probe Microscopy for Life Sciences and Medicine powered by Artificial Intelligence (SPM4.0)

SPM4.0 is a Marie Curie Skłodowska Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) aiming to train a new generation of researchers in the science and technology of autonomous Scanning Probe Microscopes powered by Artificial Intelligence for applications in the Life Science and Medical fields. The researchers of the network will acquire a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary scientific training in advanced scanning probe microscopy and machine learning and in their biological and medical applications.

” The SPM4.0 microscopes and the SPM4.0 data analytics developed in the project will greatly overcome the performance of any existing commercial SPM system and processing software. They will radically extend the capabilities of the few autonomous SPMs and software tools currently under development in research labs ”

AI Driving the Industrial Revolution 4.0: Transforming Science, Technology, and Nanoscopy

Artificial Intelligence is pushing forward the Industrial Revolution 4.0, which is transforming many areas of Society, including Science and Technology. Nanoscopy, a recognized pillar of the research and manufacture of Nanotechnology-based products, is among the areas that more quickly is adopting Artificial Intelligence.

Machine learning algorithms are being developed and integrated in microscopes for its autonomous operation and in software toolboxes for the automatic analysis of large volumes of microscopy data. Scanning Probe Microscopy is particularly active in this integration with a special focus in the Life Sciences and Medical fields. Scanning probe microscopes powered by machine learning are expected to enable the autonomous and label-free nanoscale structural and functional (mechanical and electric) imaging of living cells and functional biomolecules in their native conditions, something never achieved in nanoscopic imaging.