In the Internet of Things (IoT), all types of real-world physical elements (sensors, actuators, personal electronic devices, or home appliances, amongst others) are able to autonomously interact with each other. The IoT defines a truly Cyber Physical System which enables many advanced applications in the fields of domotics, e-health, real time monitoring of industrial processes, or intelligent transportation of people and goods. Two main enabling technologies for the IoT are currently being considered, namely, RFID tags and Wireless Sensor Networks. However, several limitations in these two alternatives require a new communication technology for the IoT.

Nowadays, nanotechnology is providing the engineering community with a new set of tools to control matter at an atomic and molecular level. These tools enable the development of much more advanced nano-devices. The interconnection of future nano-devices with classical wireless networks and ultimately the Internet defines a novel communication paradigm, which is further referred to as the Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT). Nevertheless, there are several research challenges in the realization of the IoNT that require innovative solutions and even to rethink some well-established concepts in communication and network theory. These challenges range from the characterization of the frequency band of operation of nano-devices, to the development of the protocol stack for the IoNT.

The targeted breakthrough of the project is to establish the communication and networking foundations of the IoNT. The proposed work will have an outstanding scientific impact on research in Nanotechnology and Information Technology, as it defines a new converging discipline that spans Electrical and Computer Engineering, Nanotechnologies, Material Science and Biology. Many new business opportunities will stem from this novel research domain. In terms of social impact, this new networking paradigm will have a great impact in almost every field of our society, ranging from healthcare to homeland security or environmental protection.