UAB is one of the members of the Barcelona Nanocluster-Bellaterra, BNC-b, together with PRUAB, ICN2, two CSIC institutes (ICMAB and CNM) and the ALBA synchrotron.

UAB offers a wide range of characterization techniques at the micro- and nano-scale. The University participates in the NFFA-Europe project by providing access to several microscopy characterization techniques: SEM, HRSEM, TEM, HRTEM, Cryo-TEM, Confocal Microscopy and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy. A number of complimentary laboratories are also offered to the users for the preparation of the samples.