The age of IoT, the internet of things, the age of extremely interconnected cyberphysical systems, can only be achieved by disruptively new ToI, things of Internet. Such ``things'' should be able to sense, act and decide depending on the particular environment they find embedded in: Modern nanofabrication and nanoimaging tools already allowed for discoveries of a huge number of new functional nanomaterials capable to sensitively change their conductance in the proximity of charged analytes. This would lead to highly personalized diseases diagnostics and ubiquitous environmental monitoring addressing a number of societal challenges ahead related to human life in a strongly globalized world. Nanoparticles, nanowires, 2D materials are dominated by quantum effects and employing them as active elements in transducers for novel devices opens up enormous perspectives for innovative molecular sensor systems. After an introduction of the fundamental sensing mechanisms of nanomaterials-based devices, I will present innovative design and fabrication strategies for our sensor elements. The close interaction of simulation and experiment allows us to elaborate tailored, but also transferable, technological functionalization strategies for different analytes to cover a wide range of application scenarios, the results of our research prove the vast potential of designing tools capable of multiplexed read-out towards unprecedented highly selective and picomolar sensitive molecular detection. In view of tightening our collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, I will also introduce TU Dresden and the DRESDEN concept (the alliance of top ranked TU Dresden and the rich pool of extra-mural renown research institutes present in Dresden) highlighting all possible chances and benefits for perspective exchange students and scholars.