Lead-project "Porous Materials @ Work"

The lead project „Porous Materials @ Work” aims at establishing a technology platform within the Graz University of Technology’s research portfolio by connecting existing skills and by developing expertise in nanoporous materials as a new and exciting state of matter. Porous Materials @ Work aims at excellence in science, research, and training to create a beacon that attracts scientists and industry alike to work with TU Graz faculty and to draw from their considerable expertise. Organizatorial work and networking commenced in beginning of 2017. On September 26^th the scientific part of the lead project was granted with 1.5 million Euro. In parallel several other projects on porous materials have been planned and some proposals have been submitted in order to grow Porpos Materials @ Work even bigger. Actually, a CD-laboratory headed by K. Zojer dedicated to transport phenomena in porous materials and an ERC Consolidator Grant for Paolo Falcaro have been funded recently, so that the technology platform is already starting to grow. The scientific part of the lead-project will start in July 2018. It focuses on developing an in-depth understanding of nanoporous materials and on applying them in sensing and biotechnology. In this way, we will strengthen areas, where Graz University of Technology is an international leader. The lead project will generate outstanding scientific insights and crucial innovation with the far reaching goal of translating them into final products together with industrial partners. Beyond that, we see the lead project as a nucleus for further research activities that will emerge from joining forces between three Fields of Expertise, four faculties and nine institutes. The consortium is lead by Profs. Paolo Falcaro (head), Egbert Zojer and Christian Slugovc and comprises the following key researchers: Heinz Amenitsch, Alexander Bergmann, Sergey Borisov, Anna Maria Coclite, Paolo Falcaro, Ingo Klimant, Bernd Nidetzky, Roland Resel, Robert Schennach, Christian Slugovc, Bernhard Sonderegger, Gregor Trimmel, Roland Würschum and Egbert Zojer. Beyond the key researchers the lead project also involves a number of associate researchers (the initiative is open for including more). A salient aspect of their role is to support sub-projects with their outstanding specific scientific expertise. Additionally, being part of the overall consortium, ARs will actively participate in different activities of the lead project including sharing information and disseminating results. It is envisaged that AR will eventually become part of follow-up project proposals. The distinction between KRs and ARs was based on eligibility criteria of the lead project call for key researchers and in the level of involvement in the proposed sub-projects. ARs are: Markus Aichhorn, Mohammad R. Ahmadi, Brigitte Bitschnau, Natalia Bedoya Martinez, Juan M. Bolivar, Rolf Breinbauer, Alexander Dening, Stefan Freunberger, Georg Gescheidt, Peter Hadley, Andreas Hauser, Ulrich Hirn, Ferdinand Hofer, Oliver Hofmann, Peter Macheroux, Benedetta Marmiroli, Alberto Perrotta, Thomas Rath, Raffaele Ricco, Wolfgang Sprengel, Eva-Maria Steyskal, Manfred H. Ulz, Martin Wilkening and Karin Zojer.