Heinrich Rohrer, born in Switzerland in 1933, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986, because of his invention of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope, which is important for nanotechnology as the telescope is for astronomy. This instrument allows us to "see" atoms individually, offering the possibility of handling them one by one. Thus, it is considered the most precise instrument created for handling materials, allowing for the development of the nanotechnology industry.

In 1984 Rohrer collaborated on the development of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope to allow it do extend its resolution to study, amongst other things the forces of magnetism and friction.

From 1986, Rohrer was appointed director of the Physics Department of the IBM laboratories in Zurich, where he continued his research on antiferromagnetic materials.