FOUR local institutes of nanotechnology have signed contracts of cooperation with counterparts in Germany, Australia and France, including one aiming to detect cancer at an early stage.

The contracts were signed during the Third Shanghai Nanotechnology Cooperation Symposium which ended its three-day session yesterday.

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Allrun Nano Science and Technology Company and the Germany-based Invitek agreed to work together to find new ways to diagnose cancer.

Their project, which may last for more than three years, aims to create minute magnetic particles that can be injected into the body to detect disease-causing genetic material.

"Hopefully, our project will transfer laboratory research into products that benefit people," Peter Bendzko, a representative from Invitek, told the Shanghai Daily.

He said the project will cost more than 5 million euros (US$7.4 million) over the next three years. Its eventual purpose was to develop a quick and precise diagnosis of life-threatening diseases.

Also yesterday, the Shanghai Nanotechnology Promotion Center - the city's government-backed research organization of nanotechnology - signed a contract with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.

The two sides agreed to work together to advance the research and application of nanotechnology - which deals with the use of materials on an atomic and molecular scale - particularly in the areas of pollution treatment, renewable energy and new drugs.

The Shanghai University and the France-based Essilor International are to set up a joint research center in Shanghai for research into nano materials for both optical and energy uses.

The Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics signed a contract with Germany's Saarland University to develop basic research into nano material.