Frank Dirne

Frank Dirne is director of the NanoLab@TU/e, a facility that offers nanofabrication and analysis to the highest standards to enable world-class fundamental nanoscience research.

Dirne has extensive experience leading complex technical service organizations such as the NanoLab@TU/e. He was previously the managing director of the Kavli Nanolab at Delft University of Technology. In his 27-year career with Philips, Dirne worked as research scientist, project leader, group leader and eventually department head. One of his strengths is making groups of specialists work as one coherent team.

Dirne has a background in thin film technology, with a decade of research into thin film magnetic heads for digital recording. From magnetic heads he moved into thin film passive components (capacitors and resistors), and from there into micro- and nanodevice research. Under Dirne’s leadership, the Philips MiPlaza Thin Film Facilities group developed into a world-class industrial R&D infrastructure with a solid external orientation.

The most important motivator in my work is my constant drive for innovation, delivering results and stimulating people.”