In this presentation I will introduce the main latest developments of my group activity at the Swiss Federal laboratories for materials science and technology. In the last years several breakthroughs have been reached in our labs in the fields of molecular and nano electronic transport, on-surface synthesis of graphene related nanostructures and enantioselective surface catalysis. After discussing the role of theory and simulations (from classical to beyond-dft) I will discuss the long -term challenges including the realization of quantum effects in controlled carbon-based nanostructures, and my ongoing projects in this constellation.