BNN QUARTERLY - 01/2025

ISSUE 01/2025

QUARTERLY Digital Magazine for Developments in Sustainable Technology

FOCUS TOPIC:

Collaborate to Innovate: Success Stories from Scientific Cooperation

Impressum: Owner and publisher: BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH Kaiser-Josef-Platz 9, 8010 Graz, Austria UID: ATU 63046279, FN 285326 y

Graphic Design & Layout: Barbara Ebner Cover: ATIMA Workshop and BNN Networking Event at TUtheSky in Vienna.

Photo by Barbara Ebner, BNN

I N N O VAT I O N I S T H E K E Y .

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y L E A D S T H E WA Y .

W W W . B N N . AT

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Editorial C O L L A B O R AT I O N A S THE KEY TO SUCCESS

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n today's rapidly evolving scientific land-scape, researchers explore the power of collaboration. Truly effective breakthroughs are happening when diverse minds come together to solve a problem. That’s why this QUARTERLY focuses on "Collaborate to Innovate: Success Stories from Scientific Collaboration". The BioNanoNet Association exemplifies this principle, uniting a complementary community to drive advancements in advanced/innovative materials (AdMa), biotechnology and related fields. Through synergistic partnerships and a commitment to excellence, BNN fosters science and research that address pressing global challenges.

BNN's strength lies in its collaborative network, encompassing esteemed institutions such as several universities, as well as dynamic startups and established clusters. These members bring a wealth of knowledge and resources, enabling multidisciplinary approaches to complex scientific questions. By facilitating seamless collaboration, BNN accelerates the translation of research into tangible solutions.

In this issue, we feature successful collaborations initiated through our network, from our members and partners, from projects providing impact in the microfluidics and nanopharmaceutical communities, to events that bring a range of stakeholders together, to technological developments enabled by cooperation.

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From academic-industry collaborations in the Open Innovation Test Beds (OITBs) to a networking assessing social sustainability to achievements in revolutionizing sensor technologies, we have plenty of evidence that we are, indeed, stronger together!

Interested in maximizing your impact? In this issue you can learn about our “GO Beyond” support area, where we initiate and develop thematic communities that feed into strategic development on regional, national and international leve and we link our members with an extensive network of partners to address any knowledge gaps with scientific work. With this we ensure steady progress towards maintaining societal and community values, and support our members to reach their goals.

We’re happy to be fulfilling our vision and mission together with such fantastic collaborators!

Enjoy,

Andreas & the BNN Team

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FOCUS TOPIC OF THIS ISSUE:

Collaborate to Innovate: Success Stories from Scientific Cooperation

Table of contents

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Collaborate to Innovate with BNN’s GO Beyond support

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Open Innovation Test Bed projects: Bringing Together Service Providers along the Value Chain to Accelerate Development

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Network for the Assessment of Social Sustainability founded: University of Graz and Wood K plus Initiate Knowledge Exchange in the Social LCA-Hub “InCharge”

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Collaborative Research Project “i3Sense” Revolutionizes Sensor Technology for Biobased Materials

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CHASE Success Stories

ISSUE 01/2025

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Editorial

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BNN News

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New BioNanoNet Association Members

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Publication on SSbD Application in Redox-Flow Batteries

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NSC – the Network for Safety and Sustainability of Chemicals and materials

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ATIMA Workshop and BNN Networking Event

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BNN discusses SSbD at Enhanced Sustainability in Pharma MiniSymposium

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CHASE Expert Days 2024 in Vienna

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Member Updates

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Member Presentation of Infinite Biotech d.o.o.

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Member Presentation of Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry

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Project Presentations & Updates

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Detecting, Identifying and Continuous Monitoring of Contamination in Industrial Processes and Research

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ATIMA: Driving Innovation in Austria in the field of Advanced/Innovative Materials for a Sustainable Future

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Infineon Releasing first Products based on 200 mm Silicon Carbide (SiC) Technology to Customers

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Joanneum Research MATERIALS Researches Artificial Hearts for Newborns

InnoMatSyn Connects the Advanced/ Innovative Materials Initiatives from regional, national level and across Europe

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Exploring the Safety of SWCNT Nanocomposites: Exposure Assessments in Epoxy Resins and LithiumIon Batteries

HARMLESS Releases Factsheets on the Agriculture Case Study and ToxFAIRy: The HARMLESS software solution for automated toxicity scoring and FAIRification of data

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Volumetric Bioprinting of the Osteoid Niche

NABIHEAL Interview with IMI’s Ivana Vinković Vrček

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Uncovering New Horizons in 2D/2D+ Hybrid Materials and Engineered Living Materials

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BNN Designs Website for PLANETS

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SAF€RA: Project SuESS

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Outlook

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BNN Events & Events Supported by BNN

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Finally

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Digital Light Processing of Photo- crosslinkable Gelatin to Create Biomimetic 3D Constructs Serving Small Intestinal Tissue Regeneration Microporous Crystals for Greater Food Safety – ERC Proof of Concept Grant for TU Graz Researcher Autonomous AI Assistant to Build Nanostructures

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BNN NEWS

New BioNanoNet Association Members Infinite Biotech d.o.o Extraordinary Member, Slovenia Infinite Biotech d.o.o. aims at developing beyond state-of-the art infinite platforms to predict long-term health benefit or hazard associated with materials, chemicals, drugs and other forms that can affect human beings by coupling in-vitro advanced sensorial devices and in-silico time propagators to replace animal-based testing and meet the future of personalized medicine.

Visit their website

Latvian State Institute for Wood Chemistry Extraordinary Member, Latvia The Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) balances fundamental and applied research with the aim to produce sustainable commodities and innovative value-added products from renewable resources.

Historically, wood has been the institute’s central research subject, both as a material in its own right, and also as a feedstock for extraction, mechanical processing, and thermochemical conversion. Nowadays, researchers at LSIWC investigate various types of plant and microbial biomass. The main fields of LSIWC research are: wood and wood materials, biorefinery to obtain value-added products from lignocellulosic biomass, green chemistry, polymer synthesis, and biotechnologies.

The scientific infrastructure of LSIWC covers up-to-date analytical tools, versatile laboratory equipment, and a recently established pilot-scale facility to up-scale technologies developed

by LSIWC and their partners.

Visit their website

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Publication on SSbD Application in Redox-Flow Batteries

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he BNN team is proud to announce a recent publication in the journal Energy, Sustainability and Society. "Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design Redox Active Molecules for Energy Storage Applications" explores the integration of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) principles in the development of redox active molecules for organic redox flow batteries. First author Clemens Wolf and BNN colleagues Julia Voglhuber-Höller, Matiss Reinfelds and Andreas Falk contributed to the publication through their work in the projects SABATLE and SuESS. They collaborated with partners from BioNanoNet Association members TU Graz and Uni Graz, as well as BBD BioPhenix S.L.U. (Biobide).

Read the full publication in open access: Wolf, C., Maier, J., Wenger, J. et al. Safe-andsustainable-by-design redox active molecules for energy storage applications. Energ Sustain Soc 15, 10 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/ s13705-024-00503-x

Contact Clemens Wolf clemens.wolf@bnn.at

The FFG is the central national funding organisation and strengthens Austria’s innovative power. This project is funded by the FFG, project n° FO999900873.

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BNN NEWS

NSC – the Network for Safety and Sustainability of Chemicals and materials

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n the year 2008, based on the initiative of the European Commission, an idealistic community was created, to enable efficient collaboration and thus synergies between EC-funded projects which tackle safety aspects of nanotechnologies. A community of projects was installed, which is growing continuously with new content and competences, as the NSC adds to the (time-limited) projects the “unlimited” continuation for their collaboration. Furthermore, the NSC with its huge community of approx. 1500 individuals has always been a reliable contributor of strategic input to e.g. consultations of the EC, OECD and partnerships (e.g. AMI2030/IAM4EU).

Hence, following the recent developments in the field, the name of our community has been updated and is from 2025 onwards:

Network for Safety and Sustainability of Chemicals and materials (NSC).

The key working groups of the NSC are: Education, Training & Communication: The Working Group (WG) on Education, Training & Communication focuses on cross-linking all currently active projects in the NSC. In addition, the WG endeavors to align all training offers in safety/ sustainability-related projects and beyond. This effort shall include the re-

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search fields of microplastics’, advanced/ innovative materials’, or nanomedicines’ safety assessment. Joint educational strategies are developed with representatives from currently running projects.

The main activity to facilitate this essential and fruitful cross-talk between the people that are actively involved in the work of the projects is executed by informative webinars and virtual training sessions. Due to this cross-linking initiative across different projects, secondments of early-stage researchers to other expert centers may be envisioned.

Research Output management, FAIRness & sharing: The Research Output management, FAIRness & sharing Working Group is the communication platform to discuss anything around (meta) data including but not limited to data reuse, data quality and completeness, data management solutions, (meta)data standards, FAIRness, ontologies, and knowledge graphs. In this function, the working group connects data management solution providers with users of these solutions across projects in the EU and globally. Requirements are collected, challenges are identified and potential solutions discussed to break up data

silos, avoid them in the future and, in this way, pave the road towards a global, harmonized and interoperable safety and sustainability competence ecosystem.

Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD), Innovation & Regulation: The objective of this WG is to provide a dynamic participatory space for experts from different disciplines related to safety, sustainability, innovation, and regulation to interact and exchange their views/findings and ideas on how to facilitate the implementation of the SSbD concept in the industrial innovation processes. The complexity of the area covered by this WG led the Chairs to suggest splitting the WG into three main topics to make the meetings more manageable, productive, and targeted: • •

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Supporting the implementation of SSbD in SMEs and industry

The NSC-community consists of more than 45 funded projects, which accounts to a funding volume of more than €200 million, and is open to include further interested projects.

For more information, please take a look at the NSC website and follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact Andreas Falk (NSC-Coordination Team) andreas.falk@bnn.at Beatriz Alfaro (NSC-Support Team) beatriz.alfaro@bnn.at nsc-community.eu

Methods, tools and technologies for SSbD purposes Demonstration of SSbD in Case Studies, and generalisation to SSbD scenarios

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ATIMA Workshop and BNN Networking Event

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n 3 March 2025 the ATIMA workshop and BNN Networking event took place at TUtheSky in Vienna. One day around the Advanced Materials Ecosystem!

During the morning session (in German only and limited to the ATIMA community), participants of the ATIMA workshop dove into emerging trends, thematic developments, and future directions in advanced/innovative materials (AdMa) as we work toward shaping a comprehensive roadmap for AdMa. Organized by BNN, the first ATIMA workshop was dedicated to the future of AdMa in Austria and beyond. Key players from industry, research, and policy explored trends, challenges, and collaborative opportunities within the AdMa ecosystem. The ATIMA community engaged in an exclusive, in-depth discussion on

10 Photos © Barbara Ebner, BNN

emerging trends, thematic developments, and strategic directions in AdMa. The workshop was the initial step towards shaping a comprehensive roadmap for advanced/innovative materials in Austria, ensuring their role in fostering sustainability and prosperity as well as to integrate the national community in the European ecosystem.

Representatives of each ATIMA platform, the so-called Rapporteurs, led their breakout groups getting feedback from the workshop’s participants on AdMA-related aspects and analyzing where we are “today” and what the audience expects for its “evolution in the future” in the different areas: Nanomaterials, by Rudi Heer (nanoNETAustria)

BNN NEWS

Lightweighting materials, by Wolfgang Bohmayer (Biz-up) Metal materials, by Gerhard Hackl (ASMET) Functional & smart textiles, by Benjamin Poredos (V-trion) Materials for additive manufacturing, by Michael Kitzmantel (AM-Austria) AdMa-overlapping aspects, by Clemens Wolf (BNN) This collaborative effort is a crucial step toward sustainability and prosperity, reinforcing Austria’s role in the future of advanced/innovative materials.

A big thank you to all participants for their valuable contributions!

After lunch overlooking the Vienna skyline, the afternoon continued with the BNN Networking Event, showcasing BNN’s key position in the European AdMa ecosystem. The event was dedicated to discussing the vision and the future

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activities to connect regional, national and European initiatives in this field (e.g. the InnoMatSyn project), overlapping aspects (e.g. SSbD) and how the implementation of those is supported by BNN. Participants got in touch with relevant national and European initiatives as well as key players to discuss national strengths and trends. The European Commission’s vision of the path towards a strong European AdMacommunity, which shall be supported by connecting regional, national and international activities and effort, was presented by Jürgen Tiedje (Head of Unit E.3 – Industrial Transformation, DG Research & Innovation, European Commission (EC)) in a keynote speech.

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The event closed with a round table discussion with the experts Falko Loher (Policy Officer, Austrian Federal Ministry on Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK)), who informed about the progress on the IPCEI “Circular Advanced Materials”; Roland Brandenburg (Coordinator, European research programme M-ERA.NET, Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)); Eva-Kathrin Schillinger (Managing Director, IAM-I Association) and Jürgen Tiedje. The round table was moderated by Andreas Falk (Coordinator of ATIMA & InnoMatSyn, CEO of BNN). The round table led to a better understanding of the ongoing initiatives in the field of AdMa and how they are interlinked. Additionally, the participants learned how to join, get involved in and contribute to these activities, and what will be the future cornerstones of the European AdMa ecosystem.

It was a full day dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and the future of AdMa!

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Contact Beatriz Alfaro Serrano beatriz.alfaro@bnn.at www.atima.at

The FFG is the central national funding organisation and strengthens Austria’s innovative power. This project is funded by the FFG, project n° FO999919580.

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Photos © Tanja Schärfl, acib

BNN discusses SSbD at Enhanced Sustainability in Pharma Mini-Symposium

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NN was invited to take part in member acib’s Mini-Symposium "Enhanced Sustainability in Pharma" held in Vienna on 13 January 2025 – both as discussion leader and representing the project PHOENIX-OITB. The mini-symposium brought together over 100 participants from leading pharma companies in Austria, academic experts, non-profits, SMEs and regulatory authorities to discuss sustainability measures, regulatory challenges and technical innovations.

The event provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing best practices from pharmaceutical companies and diverse research portfolios from leading scientific institutions (long-term collaboration

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partners of acib) in various Austrian regions.

The Graz-related overview given by Barbara Petschacher from acib included an introduction to PHOENIX-OITB. A particular highlight of the day was the panel discussion featuring esteemed speakers from acib/Boku (Peter Satzer), AGES (Manfred Schuster), AIT (Anton Beck), Pfizer (Michaela Eder), Sandoz (Stephan Bertel) and Takeda (Alessandro Cataldo). The panel addressed pressing questions about sustainability challenges and opportunities in pharmaceutical production, regulation, and innovation.

Later, participants engaged in further discussions at various topic tables. BNN's Susanne Resch co-led a discussion table on Safe-and-

BNN NEWS

Sustainable-by-Design with BioNanoNet member Florian Part from BOKU. Networking in the atmospheric "Kuppelsaal" on the top level of the TU Wien main building capped off an insightful event in which we could talk about the challenges and advances of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design and introduce PHOENIX's services to interested members of pharma companies and academia.

Contact Susanne Resch susanne.resch@bnn.at

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PHOENIX project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 953110.

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BNN NEWS

CHASE Expert Days 2024 in Vienna

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he Competence Center CHASE held its annual CHASE Xpert Days 19-20 November 2024 at TUtheSky above the rooftops of Vienna. Nearly 100 experts from business and science presented solutions for an even more sustainable development under the title “Go greener – Chemical process industry in dialog with research and management”.

P&G), Christian Barth (Festo), Julian Kager (DTU), Alexander Maier (Neveon), Ann Dierckx (essencia/SusChem-BE), Claudia Schickling (TU Wien Pilotfabrik Industrie 4.0), Edgar Ahn (BDI/SusChem-AT), Cornelia Haas, Martin Prantl (VTU Engineering), Karin Föttinger (TU Wien), Simon Rittmann (Universität Wien), Mihail Stanev (EIT Manufacturing) and others.

Christian Paulik (CHASE) and Andreas Falk (BNN) opened the event: the first part on “sustainability” was organized as the SusChemAT-Focusday, followed by the “technology” part of CHASE Xpert Days. The event brought together representatives of committed companies and renowned institutions, such as Thomas Jakl (BMK), Beate Edl (OMV), Andreas Leitner (OMV), Stephan Freyer (BASF), Bettina Mihalyi-Schneider (TU Wien/SusChem-AT), Julia Aichhorn (GIG Karasek), Leonhard Werner (LAT-Nitrogen), Horst Steinmüller (WIVA

The event in cooperation with SusChem-AT/ BNN and EIT-Manufacturing was a great success. At the closing ceremony, the guests toasted the 5th anniversary of CHASE.

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In just five years, CHASE has very successfully supported over 50 partners from industry and science, implemented more than 20 cooperative projects with a research volume of over 20 million euros, published over 270 scientific publications, supervised over 100 doctoral and diploma theses, registered 8 patents and

Photos © Competence Center CHASE GmbH

implemented sustainability through digitalization with more than 50 employees.

Thanks to them and thanks to all the dedicated partners, the Chemical Process Industry is on its path to become more energy-efficient, more resource-saving and more sustainable.

Contact Andreas Falk andreas.falk@bnn.at

For photos and more details click here.

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FOCUS TOPIC OF THIS ISSUE:

Collaborate to Innovate: Success Stories from Scientific Cooperation

Collaborate to Innovate with BNN’s GO Beyond support

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NN provides end-to-end solutions for innovation-driven product development combining science, technology, regulatory and business-related know-how. By balancing clients’ technical, regulatory and commercial interests using a sound science-based and

strategic approach, BNN supports your company along the entire innovation process. Unlock the full potential of your innovations with BNN’s five support areas: GO Compliant – GO Sustainable – GO Smarter – GO to Market – GO Beyond.

GO Compliant

GO Sustainable

GO Smarter

GO to Market

GO Beyond

Target Resilience and Regulatory Readiness

Develop safe & sustainable innovative materials, processes & products

Unleash potential through optimal training

Turn your idea into reality

Connect to partners & communicate your findings

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As this issue is themed “Collaborate to Innovate,” we want to specifically present to you the support area “GO Beyond”, where BNN is creating strategic content that supports science and research to find new disruptive ways to tackle societal challenges. Furthermore, BNN is actively connecting our members within and beyond our network of partners, ensuring seamless progress toward your objectives.

Our Support At BNN, we bridge knowledge gaps by initiating thematic collaboration within an extensive network of partners, facilitating steady advancement in your projects.

BNN offers comprehensive support through: Mapping and Initiative: Leveraging our deep understanding of the European ecosystem, we identify topics of interest and establish valuable connections.

Empowerment and Strength Building: We assemble relevant stakeholders, pooling resources and expertise to secure a competitive edge for a sustainable future.

Action-Oriented Engagement: Participate actively in our technology platforms and communities, influencing Europe's scientific and business landscapes.

We are also co-coordinating the Network for Safety and sustainability of Chemicals and materials (NSC), which maximises the synergies between European-level projects addressing the safety and sustainability of materials and technologies enabled by advanced innovative materials including nanomaterials.

Proven Expertise With experience in over 70 national and international R&D&I funded projects, BNN excels in: Consortium Building: Forming consortia of varying sizes to apply for funding programs like national and European (ERA.NETs, EC, INTERREG, MSCA, etc.) programs.

Communication and stakeholder engagement: Leading outreach and stakeholder engagement to enhance the visibility of your research through tailored strategies.

Dissemination and Branding: Creating unique project identities, including logos, presentations, and digital materials, to position your project prominently.

Partner with BNN's GO Beyond support to navigate the complexities of innovation, ensuring your projects not only succeed but also lead the way in sustainable development.

For more information, visit our website or contact us directly.

Our Technology Platforms BNN is well connected in the European and Austrian ecosystems. Take advantage of our strategic partnerships and communities, including SusChem-AT, NanoMedicine-Austria, Advanced Microfluidics Initiative and ATIMA, all coordinated by BNN, by getting involved in these platforms and joining their events.

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Contact Clemens Wolf clemens.wolf@bnn.at Beatriz Alfaro Serrano beatriz.alfaro@bnn.at

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FOCUS TOPIC

Open Innovation Test Bed projects: Bringing Together Service Providers along the Value Chain to Accelerate Development

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n Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) is developed during an EC-funded project, as a coordinated group of entities, providing from a single entry point common access to physical facilities, capabilities and services required for the development, testing and upscaling of nanotechnology and advanced materials in industrial environments.

BNN has been initiating, co-developing and then working as a beneficiary in two EC-funded OITB-projects. In NextGenMicrofluidics (NGM), services were provided for the development of nano-enabled surfaces and membranes, and the association Microfluidics Innovation Hub (MIH) was launched as the single entry point (SEP) to the microfluidic technologies offered by NGM project partners. In the project PHOENIX, services were developed, provided and tested in demo cases for the development of different types of nanopharmaceuticals, and the PHOENIX OITB gGmbH was launched as the SEP to access these services.

Before NGM, BNN had been collaborating with partners in the EC-funded project R2R Biofluidics, many of whom conceived the NGM idea together. Within NGM, BNN provided project management, quality management, Safe-byDesign and communication & dissemination.

In the PHOENIX project, BNN brought toge-

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ther the consortium to provide added value in nanopharmaceutical development and is responsible for communication & dissemination, business development and sustainability, as well as regulatory support for pharmaceutical development.

As both projects come to a close this year and their SEPs transition to full-time service provision, we sat down with their teams to talk about the process of bringing together diverse service providers into a one-stop-shop, the challenges and benefits, and the impact on their customers. From PHOENIX-OITB project we have Tommaso Serchi of Luxembourg Institute for Science and Technology as project coordinator and Nazende Günday-Türeli from MyBiotech GmbH, Germany, as project scientific coordinator and CEO of the SEP Phoenix OITB gGmbH. From NextGenMicrofluidics we have coordinator Martin Smolka of JOANNEUM RESEARCH - Materials and Ronald Tingl, General Manager of the SEP Microfluidics Innovation Hub (MIH) association, both based in Austria. BNN as the starting- and connecting-point in both projects, contributed one of its key competences: facilitating the collaboration of academia and industry, paving the way from fundamental research to the market.

Caitlin Ahern (BNN): Thank you all for joining us! Starting at the beginning of the PHOENIX project, Nazende, can you tell us what need you saw in the nanopharmaceutical community that you wanted to address with your proposal?

Nazende Günday-Türeli,

Martin Smolka,

Nazende Günday-Türeli: When it comes PHOENIX scientific coordinator NGM project coordinator to bringing nanopharmaceuticals to& CEO of PHOENIX SEP wards GMP – whether this is from characterization, from preclinical studies or most to make it to the market just because deveimportantly, GMP manufacturing – what we see lopers don’t know how to access the infrasas the biggest challenge for the really success- tructures and services and what possibilities ful, innovative products is the scalability or the are out there. We wanted to create a seamless challenges to make them regulatory compli- pipeline for everyone, independent of the naant to enter clinics. Sometimes the developing nopharmaceutical that you are developing, parties don't even know how to deal with diffe- whether you’re an academic or coming from a rent parts of the supply chain. They don't know spin-off or maybe even large pharma. We want where to go to find the right partner or they to offer the consolidated set of expertise, fadon’t have access to these facilities with state- cilities, equipment, knowledge, etc. delivered of-the-art characterization or manufacturing from a central contact in a cost- and time-efpossibilities. And this was our motivation when fective manner, so that we not only help move we started creating the idea of the PHOENIX- these products towards the higher maturity OITB for GMP manufacturing of nanopharma- but also make it simpler and less risky from ceuticals. We want to create the ecosystem to their side in terms of both cost and moving toboost innovation all around nanopharmaceuti- wards higher developmental phase. cals. The OITB should be an enabler, actually, Turning to NextGenMicrofluidics, Martin, did to access a Single Entry Point that can unite you have similar motivations in the propofragmented services across Europe, even glosal phase? Was there a need in the microfbally. An environment where the developers luidics community that you really wanted to and innovators can find the right services and address? the right roadmap for them to bring their products towards the GMP – and, of course, from Martin Smolka: The main need which we saw this point on, to the clinics and market. in the microfluidics community was very much technology-related, very microfluidic-speWhat did you think would be achieved by cific. It all started with a previous EU-funded bringing together multiple service providers? research project, and in this project, the core NGT: From my side, the most important thing concepts did already work together as we deis saving time and money, but also saving veloped technology for a new approach for many successful products that are still unable manufacturing microfluidic chips.

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FOCUS TOPIC

The main story was about how we produce microfluidic chips. We wanted to move away from processing single chips, for example with plastic pieces which can fall out of injection-molding machines. Typically you have such single plastic pieces and you run several processes required for a functional microfluidic device on them. We wanted to move away from processing of these single chips towards large-area processing.

they came to us and had very straightforward ideas like, “We have first prototypes out of the lab. Basically what we have works, but now we want to scale up.” ScaTommaso Serchi, ling up means that they PHOENIX project coordinator don't know which technology to choose. They don't know what to do We worked on implewhen it comes to design mentation of processes With the OITB funding, for manufacturability, on large-area polymer we needed to develop a so they came to us, clefilm substrates – that arly stating, “We don't customer-oriented and was our core technoloservice-oriented mentality. have sufficient knowgy which we had devehow, we don't have the loped before. resources, we don't have time. We don't have One of the main goals of this development is enough money to talk to all the potential supalways reduction of prices per chip, i.e. reduc- pliers in this market. That's why we’re coming tion of process cost per chip, because we move to you. And we expect that whoever you pick away from processing a few chips in parallel to for us can work together smoothly to serve hundreds of chips in meter-long substrates. us.” As a matter of fact, in most of our client projects we have at least 2-3 companies which Ronald, from the business side, what did have to cooperate in order to come up with a you think could be achieved by bringing tofinal product. gether these multiple service providers along Tommaso, in both projects we had acadethe value chain? mic partners working alongside companies both large and small. From your perspective Ronald Tingl: Esas project coordinator of PHOENIX-OITB, sentially it's very what could the academic partners learn similar to what from the companies?

Nazende said. As a single entry point, Tommaso Serchi: That's a very good question. we received a lot of in- From a scientific point of view, we are always quiries especially from ready to support and to help, and we were alRonald Tingl, smaller companies, ready doing research which we considered to MIH General Manager startups and SMEs. be at an excellent level, so we didn't need to These people are not learn much about the technical part. But in exactly super familiar with the supplier uni- the management of the projects – how to deal verse, which is very large and fragmented. So with the customer, how to do services – I can’t 22

speak for all academic partners, but at least for some who are in PHOENIX, we definitely learned a lot. We offer services every now and then, but not so much with pharma.

We had to adapt our processes, our reporting, supply chain, level of precision, quality that these required, especially for pharma, and this is something that academia is not typically ready for.

So working in PHOENIX helped us a lot to refine what we do scientifically.

Martin, did the academic partners in NextGen have a similar experience?

MS: Yes, it was definitely similar. As a technology and research partner, we can offer new insights and new technology trends, new processes. But on the other hand, with the Open Innovation Test Bed funding, we needed to develop a customer-oriented and serviceoriented mentality, and that was definitely a learning experience. We moved away from pure publicly funded research towards customer projects where we needed to deliver with more concrete timelines and also more concrete specifications.

Nazende, did companies in the PHOENIXOITB also benefit from working with academic partners?

NGT: That's the idea of Open Innovation Test Beds between academia and industry. We have the industry-backed best practice. We do understand how and what to bring to the customer, how to communicate with them, how to attract people so that they stay with you...

Click here to read the full interview!

QUARTERLY ISSUE 01/2025

nextgenmicrofluidics.eu microfluidicshub.eu 26 March 2025 – Final Dissemination Event at HTH Styria, Graz

phoenix-oitb.eu phoenix-sep.com 30 May 2025 – Satellite Event planned at NanoMedEurope, Barcelona – save the date!

Role of BNN in NextGenMicrofluidics: Safety-by-Design, Quality management, Project management, Graphic Design, Communication & Dissemination

Role of BNN in PHOENIX: Business Development and overall sustainability of the OITB, Graphic Design, Communication & Dissemination BNN offers support to academic partners, research organizations and companies in regulatory affairs, sustainability and innovation, to bring their innovations to market.

These projects have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 862092 (NextGenMicrofluidics) and n° 953110 (PHOENIX-OITB).

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FOCUS TOPIC

CONTRIBUTION FROM UNIVERSITY OF GRAZ & WOOD K PLUS

Network for the Assessment of Social Sustainability founded: University of Graz and Wood K plus Initiate Knowledge Exchange in the Social LCA-Hub “InCharge”

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he Wood K plus Team “Sustainable Innovation and Impact Assessment” (SIIA) and the Department of Environmental Systems Sciences at the University of Graz have initiated a knowledge network for professional exchange in the field of Social Sustainability.

In a time where sustainable business practices and social responsibility are gaining importance, Wood K plus and the University of Graz are taking a major step towards the future. Together, they have launched the knowledge network SLCA-Hub “In Charge”, where members can exchange ideas on social sustainability topics with a focus on its assessment. Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is a method for evaluating social impacts along the entire value chain. The application of this method is associated with many challenges and uncertainties. The “InCharge” network provides space and opportunities to discuss these issues and advance the methodological development of SLCA. Compared to the well-established Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), SLCA is still relatively young, making the further development of methods and standards crucial. In this area,

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experts are setting new impulses to ensure a solid foundation for the assessment of social impacts in both research and application.

In addition to regular meetings where professional challenges and approaches are discussed, participation in the 26th SETAC LCA Symposium in Gothenburg, Sweden, was a particular highlight of last year. Claudia MairBauernfeind and Martina Zimek (University of Graz) organized the session “Social Life Cycle Assessment: Prioritization, Disaggregation, and Contextualization of Subcategories and Impacts”, which was very well received by conference participants. Several presentations and poster contributions with innovative approaches and solutions in the field of SLCA were presented by the SLCA-Hub at the renowned conference with approximately 500 participants.

In the context of increasingly stringent regulatory requirements such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), the assessment of social sustainability is gaining importance. Companies of a certain size are required to transparently and comprehensibly document social aspects in addition to

SLCA-Hub participants visiting the SETAC conference in Gothenburg (from left to right: Julius Ott, Daniela Groiß-Fürtner, Claudia Mair-Bauernfeind, Martina Zimek)

ecological sustainability and governance topics along their value chains.

The SLCA-Hub “InCharge” is a leading platform for exchange in the field of social sustainability. The name “InCharge” is derived from projects related to battery technologies and underscores our commitment to being pioneers in the field of SLCA. We take responsibility for driving the advancement of assessment methods as well as supporting the development of products and processes to increase their social sustainability. The focus lies in the question, “How can social sustainability be measured?” We want to shape a sustainable future by making both the negative and positive social impacts along value chains visible and supporting research and industry in effectively integrating social aspects into their decision-making processes. Also, this year SLCA-Hub members can look forward to

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exciting tasks and events. The SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting in Vienna and the 12th International Conference on Life Cycle Management (LCM) are two high-profile conferences on the agenda.

Are you interested in the topic and want to learn more about this forward-looking initiative? Then take the opportunity and get in touch!

Contact Daniela Groiß-Fürtner Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH (Wood K plus) d.groiss-fuertner@wood-kplus.at

Claudia Mair-Bauernfeind University of Graz claudia.mair@uni-graz.at

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Capacitive moisture sensor produced by a special laser engraving technique © ETH

CONTRIBUTION FROM WOOD K PLUS

Collaborative Research Project “i3Sense” Revolutionizes Sensor Technology for Biobased Materials

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he FFG funded project i3Sense stands for “Intelligent, integrated and impregnated cellulose-based sensor for reliable biobased structures”. In collaborative research with company partners and universities, the consortium develops sustainable sensor technologies that monitor humidity, strain, crack propagation for biobased, hygroscopic loadbearing materials and the curing behavior of adhesives and thermosets.

Wood as intelligent moisture sensor Traditional methods for measuring moisture and temperature in wood use sensor systems that are attached externally to the ma-

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terial surface. The actual moisture content is then determined indirectly by unsustainable materials and processing methods. There is a need for precise, efficient and environmentally friendly sensor technology. This can be solved with laser-induced graphitization (LIG) to transform wood into an active sensor material by making it electrically conductive. Subsequent laser ablation allows scalable and complex sensor designs, such as interdigital electrodes, to be embedded directly into the wood surface. These electrodes, with a size of only 250-300 µm, enable capacitive cyclic moisture measurements with sufficient accuracy.

FOCUS TOPIC

A simple method that nevertheless allows tailor-made solutions is key for industrial application. A low-cost CO2 laser is used to apply different sensor designs on to the wood surface. This allows manufacturers to seamlessly integrate smart sensor technologies into loadbearing components in construction, automotive and sports equipment industries. As a result, they can substitute external sensor systems, leading to fewer waste materials and more sustainable End-of-Life solutions of the material. The vision of the i³Sense project is becoming a reality: wood is no longer just a passive building material, but an active component in monitoring its own condition. This innovative approach paves the way for a new generation of sustainable and intelligent materials.

Thin and flexible paper sensors Digital linkable printing technologies allow freedom in the geometrical design of an electrode structure and are commonly used in aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and consumer goods. However, current solutions are based on polymer-based sensor substrates.

Instead, thin and porous cellulosic papers are very suitable as sensor substrates. For the successful embedding of sensors into composite products, it is required to develop thin and flexible sensors on materials, which are ideally made of a similar raw material as the final product. Screen printing, physical vapor deposition, and 3D printing have been developed to apply conductive sensor structures on paper or wooden surfaces. A challenge that has been mastered was the development of electrically conductive thermoplastics with sufficient chemical stability against epoxy resins, so that the final formulation could with-

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stand harsh processing conditions during a lamination process. These new fabrication techniques enable conductive structures on biodegradable sensor substrates. These sensors support structural health monitoring, ensuring composite durability and safety.

Market needs and sustainability performance The user needs in the application fields wood construction, automotive, aerospace, and sport equipment are currently surveyed. By evaluating the importance and performance of different sensor attributes, market needs in the different application fields are identified.

Furthermore, the developed sensor technology will be also investigated regarding its sustainability performance using Life Cycle Assessment. Both the sustainability assessment and the market survey will guide the technical development of the sensors.

About the project The i3Sense project, “Intelligent, integrated and impregnated cellulose-based sensor for reliable biobased structures structures” aims to revolutionize the realm of biobased, hygroscopic load-bearing materials. In a collaborative research setting with company partners and universities, the consortium develops biobased sensors that monitor humidity, strain, crack propagation, and the curing behavior of adhesives and thermosets. The developed sensors are made from paper, wood, and other natural fibers and can be used in wood and composite structures in construction, automotive, and sports equipment.

The innovative approach of the project is to use intrinsic material properties inherent in wood and developing cellulose-based sen-

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FOCUS TOPIC

sors that can be integrated into engineered wood products and composite materials. The sensor technology available reaches from screen printing on paper, laser-induced graphitization on wooden veneers, 3D printing and scribing. The project further investigates the usability of acoustic emissions and impedance spectroscopy measurements to detect moisture in wooden structures as well as the electric conductivity and permittivity of wood glue through simulations derived from paperbased sensor signals. The project duration is from 01/2022 till 12/2025.

Industry partners: Audi AG, Delfort Papierfabrik Wattens GmbH & Co. KG, FACC Operations GmbH, FunderMax GmbH, Hendrickson Commercial Vehicles Europe GmbH, Kästle GmbH, KremsChem Austria GmbH, RAC GmbH, Stora Enso Wood Products GmbH

Scientific Partners: ETH Zürich, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Mendel Universität Brno, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Universität Bremen

Contact Project Leader: Priv.-Doz. DI Dr. Arunjunai Raj Mahendran Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH (Wood K plus) a.mahendran@wood-kplus.at

Funding Information: Funding Programme: COMET – Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies The project receives funding from: FFG, KWF, Land NÖ, Land OÖ, BMK, BMAW

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3D printed paper-based sensor samples laminated on a fiberboard © Wood K plus

CONTRIBUTION FROM CHASE

CHASE Success Stories Adjustment of component color in the injection molding of recycled plastics

Multiphysics simulation framework for pyrolysis optimization

Assistance system with inline color measurement and model-based masterbatch control

A comprehensive simulation framework to accurately capture key physical phenomena in industrial pyrolysis

Project partners: JKU Linz, Austria + ENGEL Austria We developed a method to achieve consistent component color in injection molding through targeted coloring of the material. The newly developed method enables automated control of the component color even for fluctuating input streams without operator intervention.

Through flexible and optimal adjustment of the material composition, a consistent component color can be ensured while also reducing rejects and saving material. In collaboration with our project partners, the control system has already been successfully tested on various material streams, such as postindustrial and post-consumer waste, on an industrial scale.

Read more

Project partners: Next Generation Elements GmbH, Austria + TU Wien, Austria We established a comprehensive, sophisticated multi-physical simulation framework integrating various physical and chemical effects of relevance for industrial pyrolysis, in particular of biomass. Based on the opensource CFD software OpenFOAM®, in line with CHASE’s open science strategy, this advanced framework allows eliminating most simplifications traditionally made in conventional modelling approaches. For instance, the framework incorporates complex reaction kinetics, multi-species transport and combustion modeling to simulate the combustion of pyrolysis gases, while a kinetic model for biomass pyrolysis was seamlessly integrated to capture the

The functionality and robustness of the control system were tested in injection molding trials using multiple material streams.

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FOCUS TOPIC

Temperature distribution in the combustion zone in Kelvin

influence of the combustion zone on the pyrolysis process. Additionally, a multi-region simulation approach was applied to account for heat transfer between different reactor zones and physical processes.

The framework is now being applied to a commonly used system for biomass pyrolysis, an auger reactor, which utilizes a rotating screw to transport biomass through a heated chamber. In contrast to traditional modeling approaches, which often involve significant simplifications of the complex and interconnected physical and chemical phenomena in pyrolysis processes, the new framework facilitates detailed modeling of the interdependent processes within the auger reactor, significantly improving the precision of simulations and

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overcoming traditional limitations associated with pyrolysis process modeling. As an advanced and robust simulation tool, it enables accurate simulations of coupled phenomena, providing comprehensive insights into the system's overall behavior and performance.

Read more All CHASE Success Stories

Contact Kerstin Pum-Gstöttenmayr Competence Center CHASE GmbH kerstin.pum-gstoettenmayr@chasecenter.at www.chasecenter.at

M E M B E R U P D AT E S MEMBER INTERVIEW

Member Presentation Infinite Biotech d.o.o.

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anez Štrancar is CEO and co-founder of Infinite Biotech d.o.o., a new member of the BioNanoNet Association. Read on to learn about the creation of this spin-out and their aims for a better society.

BNN: Why did you decide to become a BioNanoNet member and what do you expect from the membership?

The BioNanoNet Association provides us perfect networking opportunities in the field of nanosciences. Exchanging ideas, developing solutions and breaking paradigms is what we are looking for in this exciting community.

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Sustainability is a core value of BNN. What strategies have you implemented to improve your organization’s sustainability?

Infinite’s core business is development of long-term hazard assessment technologies that aim to reduce or replace animal testing, which directly aims at making our society better and healthier. What we really want is to merge scientific concepts from physics and biology, where they have not yet been merged, to address problems that are considered unsolvable today. One of the most unsustainable aspects of our society today is how back-ori-

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M E M B E R U P D AT E S

What we really want is to merge scientific concepts from physics and biology to address problems that are considered unsolvable today.

ented hazard assessment is: we make regulatory frameworks based on sad stories from the past, instead of preventing sad stories from ever happening in the first place. We could say that we, as a society, are currently failing to invest our resources in a sustainable way. This is what Infinite wants to shift.

Our Focus Topic of this issue is “Collaborate to innovate: Success stories from scientific cooperation”. Does your organization address this topic? If so, please describe.

Infinite has stemmed from broad scientific collaborations between various research institutions. Although it has officially spun out from a research group at Jozef Stefan Institute, its basic concepts have been conceptualized in discussion within the European SmartNanoTox consortium. Thus, we could say, Infinite is a child born from scientific cooperation, and maintains this as its very core mode-of-action.

What led you to your profession?

scientific and technology development in several groups, always superimposed by numerous management-related issues. It is a constant battle between urgent and longterm-oriented issues.

What’s the best aspect of your job?

I can be creative and can show my coworkers how to break problems, where they seem unbreakable.

What would you advise a young person considering working in your field?

Define your goals, dreams, wishes. Start following them. But at every step, don’t be afraid to redefine them. Be yourself and never be what others want you to be.

Who are people in your field that inspire you?

Elon Musk, because he is constantly pushing the perception of what is (technologically and scientifically) possible.

When I had to decide what to study, the crucial moment was identifying what I was really good at and what I could and should develop even more. That is problem solving. From this moment, all the decisions were simple and straightforward for me.

Want to learn more? Infinite Biotech recently held a webinar on “Chronic inflammation assessment for an unknown (organic/inorganic) cocktail of poorly soluble materials”.

What does your typical workday look like?

Watch it here

Lots of hardworking and failure-included

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5-second answers

What was your dream job when you were a kid?

Mathematician, to solve one of the 7 unsolved problems. So naive!

If you could study anything (new) right now, what would it be?

Physics. I would have always studied physics.

Office, home office or hybrid?

Always lab with the team. The unplanned and unscheduled communication among the team members is the engine that drives breakthroughs. Being isolated, for example at home, is a complete dead-end street in our business.

Which book have you most enjoyed reading lately?

Janez Štrancar, CEO Infinite d.o.o.

Water Margin, also called Outlaws of the Marsh or All Men Are Brothers, a Chinese novel from the Ming dynasty that is one of the preeminent classic Chinese novels. It is so complex and inspiring story, although sad at the end.

If you could make any activity an Olympic discipline, in which would you win a medal?

Contact Janez Štrancar Infinite d.o.o. and Jožef Stefan Institute janez.strancar@infinite-biotech.com infinite-biotech.com

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Improvisation.

What is your motto?

Listen but never allow to be told, otherwise you will lose the joy of creation.

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M E M B E R U P D AT E S

MEMBER INTERVIEW

Member Presentation Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry

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ristīne Meile is a leading researcher in the Biorefinery laboratory at one of our new member organizations, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry in Riga. Read on to learn about their inspiring work and how she feels connected to nature by working with biomass.

BNN: Why did you decide to become a BioNanoNet member and what do you expect from the membership?

BioNanoNet Association’s message about innovation and sustainability perfectly fits with the aims and scope of LSIWC, and the membership is an opportunity for us to connect with other like-minded organizations. Our institute’s research topics are versatile – from building materials to cosmetics, from biofertilizers to hydrogen technologies, so I am very optimistic about interesting new collaborations within BioNanoNet! Sustainability is a core value of BNN. What strategies have you implemented to improve your organization’s sustainability?

Sustainability is always on our mind, because we are a research institute specifically devoted to the development of competitive products from biomass with knowledge-based low waste technologies. On a day-to-day le-

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vel, of course, LSIWC also works on practical issues, like recycling, and making our building energy efficient. We re-evaluate the technologies which we use and develop, for example, by switching to less hazardous solvents in sample preparation and analysis methods.

Our Focus Topic of this issue is “Collaborate to innovate: Success stories from scientific cooperation”. Does your organization address this topic?

Indeed, collaboration is key to success. We see it in most of our projects, when scientists from different fields complement each other’s skills and expertise to bring about innovative solutions. Collaborative activities by default have more visibility and thus impact. We promote cooperation with other research organizations, universities, schools, and the industry, and it is very rewarding to see how new technologies get validated and up-scaled as a result of the joint efforts of several partners.

What led you to your profession?

When I got to learning about chemical equations in high school, they just made so much sense, I was absolutely smitten with the “central science”. And it didn’t even take dramatic experiments to get me hooked – I was simply happy to imagine the interactions between

atoms and molecules. As to working at the to-day experiments to long-term research diLatvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, rection strategies, there is a ubiquitous comthere was definitely the sentimental aspect ponent of inspiration and passion. of connecting with naWhat would you adture through research Forests are an important vise a young person of plant biomass repart of the Latvian identity, considering working sources. Forests are in your field? and it is very gratifying to an important part of work towards a sustainable the Latvian identity, To be open and perand it is very gratifyceptive about the bioeconomy. ing to work towards a world around you, besustainable bioeconomy. cause for a chemist, biologist or engineer to develop a new product or solution, they have What does your typical workday look like? to be aware of the real-life issues that need to Each day brings a different combination of va- be solved. rious activities – brainstorming with colleaguWho are people in your field that inspire es, supervision of students, writing research you? papers / project proposals / communication materials, but above all I am eager to get in Globally, I am awestruck by John C. Warner, the lab and do hands-on experiments and the author of the book Green Chemistry, and tests. My scientific field is analytical chemis- an incredible innovator. But I feel that it is try with a focus on chromatography, which is very important to have supportive people cloa charming discipline, if you like paying atten- se by, who I can look up to. And I can name at tion to little details. least two colleagues, Janis Rizikovs and Inese Filipova, who are role models of how I would What’s the best aspect of your job? like to see myself develop as a leading scienAmong all the rigorous and exact technologies, tist and a good colleague. there is a lot of creativity. From planning day-

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M E M B E R U P D AT E S

5-second answers What was your dream job when you were a kid?

I honestly don’t remember. I guess I was just enjoying being a kid!

If you could study anything (new) right now, what would it be?

Engineering.

Office, home office or hybrid?

Hybrid, but most often on-site.

Which book have you most enjoyed reading lately?

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

If you could make any activity an Olympic discipline, in which would you win a medal?

Washing laboratory glassware…

What is your motto?

Do no harm!

Kristīne Meile, leading researcher at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry

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Contact Kristīne Meile Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry kristine.meile@kki.lv www.kki.lv

B R AV E A N A L Y T I C S

Detecting, Identifying and Continuous Monitoring of Contamination in Industrial Processes and Research

B

RAVE Analytics recently held a webinar on the subject of "Detecting contamination and visible particles in liquids in the nano- and microparticle regime" and interest was great.

Whether in the production of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or biotech formulations, it is important to detect contamination and large particles to safeguard product quality. The appearance of unexpected and unwanted large particles might ruin a whole batch or production run, wasting time and resources and causing financial losses.

The BRAVE technologies discover large particles in real time so it is possible to respond in good time to adjust the product specification. As the devices can run continuously, this enables in-flow, large-volume scans with single-particle sensitivity, so even low concentrations of contaminants are found. The webinar focused on detecting and identifying contamination using particle sizing sensors.

This is one frame image from a full video of a measurement taken by BRAVE B-Phat large particle detector. The image shows how each passing (large) particle is detected and given an ID tag. The software simultaneously evaluates the size of each detected particle and creates continuously updated histograms in a size range from 2 mµ to 80 µm.

Read the whole article here.

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A technician in the clean room at Infineon Technologies in Villach, Austria, holds a 200 mm silicon carbide wafer. © Infineon Austria

INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG

Infineon Releasing First Products based on 200 mm Silicon Carbide (SiC) Technology to Customers

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nfineon Technologies AG has made significant progress on its 200 mm silicon carbide (SiC) roadmap. The company will already release the first products based on the advanced 200 mm SiC technology to customers in Q1 2025. The products, manufactured in Villach, Austria, provide first-class SiC power technology for high-voltage applications, including renewable energies, trains, and elec-

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tric vehicles. Additionally, the transition of Infineon's manufacturing site in Kulim, Malaysia, from 150-millimeter wafers to the larger and more efficient 200-millimeter diameter wafers is fully on track. The newly built Module 3 is poised to commence high-volume production aligned with market demand.

Read the whole article here.

M E M B E R U P D AT E S

JOANNEUM RESEARCH

Joanneum Research MATERIALS Researches Artificial Hearts for Newborns

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ardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Western countries, accounting for approximately 45 percent of all fatalities. Artificial hearts have the potential to save lives — provided they function reliably and over the long term. A research team from Joanneum Research MATERIALS (Niklasdorf) is utilizing advanced Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating technology to further develop the POLVAD artificial heart system. Their goal: a life-saving solution for newborns.

High-Tech Coating for Improved Compatibility

boration with industrial partners. It supports patients with severe heart failure by temporarily taking over or even completely replacing the heart's function. The system's pulsating chambers mimic the heart's natural pumping function. One chamber contains the blood to be pumped, while a second chamber, separated by a membrane, is filled with pressurised air to trigger the pumping mechanism.

Watch a short TV segment from the Austrian public channel ORF until 28 March 2025 in German here.

Read the whole article here.

The POLVAD artificial heart was developed by the Polish research organisation FRK in colla-

Key Researcher Jürgen Lackner leads the research on artificial hearts for babies and small children. © JOANNEUM RESEARCH/Raiser

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OCSIAL EUROPE S.A.R.L.

Exploring the Safety of SWCNT Nanocomposites: Exposure Assessments in Epoxy Resins and Lithium-Ion Batteries

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arbon nanotubes (CNTs) have revolutionized material science, offering exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Among them, singlewall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) hold great promise for enhancing polymer nanocomposites, conductive inks, and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, concerns persist about potential airborne exposure throughout their life cycle, especially during product use and recycling. To address this, Gunther van Kerckhove of BioNanoNet Association member OCSiAl Europe S.a.r.l. investigated SWCNT (brand name TUBALL™) release in two key applications: epoxy resin floor coatings and LIB materials, emphasizing the importance of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) approaches.

Read the whole article here.

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STAT PEEL Identifier C2 system

P O L Y M E R C H E M I S T R Y A N D B I O M AT E R I A L S GROUP OF GHENT UNIVERSITY

Volumetric Bioprinting of the Osteoid Niche

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iven the drawbacks associated with clinically available grafts, 'bottom-up' bone tissue engineering emerges as a viable alternative for guided tissue regeneration for osseous defects where physiological bone remodeling capacity is not sufficient to restore the defect, resulting in delayed or non-union of the bone tissue.

Osteogenic constructs can be developed as replacements for injured or diseased osseous defects using extrusion-based and light-based additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, including digital light processing (DLP), stereolithography (SLA) and 2-photon polymerization (2PP). However, the potential usage of those AM techniques in clinical practice is limited due to the layer-by-layer printing approach. Since the printing time therefore increases with increasing geometry, the throughput, scalability and cell viability/functionality could potentially be hampered. Additionally, extrusion- and light-based AM techniques are associated with challenges directly related to their respective printing processes.

In case of extrusion-based AM, a force is exerted to protrude the ink through the nozzle onto the print bed. The nozzle has the potential to clog depending on the material viscosity, printing speed, and nozzle size. Moreover, the shear stresses exerted during the printing process onto the encapsulated cells potentially lead to cell damage, altered proliferation or cell death. Finally, support structures are needed when overhangs or through holes are printed, requiring dedicated post-processing strategies. Light-based AM techniques create a construct by exposing focused light onto the photo-responsive resin. The techniques are characterized by a superior resolution (<100 µm) compared to their extrusion-based techniques; nevertheless, the printing process remains slow (1–106 mm3 h−1). Moreover, the creation of multi-material constructs is more challenging as compared to extrusion-based AM, for which multiple printheads can be exploited.

Read the whole article here.

Proof of concept perfusion of a 5 w/v% GelNBNBSH (DS 176/72) (0.025 w/v% Li-TPO-L) construct (scale bar: 1 mm).

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P O L Y M E R C H E M I S T R Y A N D B I O M AT E R I A L S GROUP OF GHENT UNIVERSITY

Digital Light Processing of Photo-crosslinkable Gelatin to Create Biomimetic 3D Constructs serving Small Intestinal Tissue Regeneration

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nflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for a group of disorders hallmarked by chronic and relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The incidence of IBD is increasing globally, thereby turning it into a major global public health problem. One subtype of IBD, Crohn’s disease (CD), is characterised by a patchy, transmural inflammation, usually occurring at the terminal ileum and/or colon, although the whole GIT can be involved. Despite improving therapies, surgical intervention remains common in CD management due to loss of response to therapy or complications such as strictures and fistulae. Approximately half of the CD

patients will require a surgical resection of a bowel segment within their lifetime, and many of them will relapse. With the recent developments in intestinal organoid culture and tissue engineering, there is an increasing interest in using biomaterials and patient derived intestinal epithelial cells for the regeneration of damaged intestinal tissue. Exploiting this approach, mucosal healing can be enhanced and the complete removal of bowel parts can be avoided.

Read the whole article here.

Workflow towards digital light processing (DLP) of gel-MA-AEMA and gel-MA-NB constructs with cryo-scanning electron microscopy (SEM) top and side view images. White arrows point at the crypts. The scale bars represent 1 mm in white and 100 µm in blue.

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Electron microscope image of a MOF. Image source: PTC - TU Graz

GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Microporous Crystals for Greater Food Safety – ERC Proof of Concept Grant for TU Graz Researcher

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research team led by Paolo Falcaro has developed a microporous crystal compound that signals whether protein-rich foods are spoilt. The ERC grant is now being used to explore practical applications.

It is a result of his ERC Consolidator Grantfunded project POPCRYSTAL, with which Paolo Falcaro from the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry at TU Graz has now acquired an ERC Proof of Concept Grant (PoC).

The new project called FRESCO, which is being funded to the tune of 150,000 euros over a period of 18 months, aims to increase food safety and reduce food waste. This is made possible by a microporous crystalline composite developed as part of the POPCRYSTAL project,

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which detects toxic chemical compounds that are produced when protein-rich foods such as fish, meat or cheese spoil.

Composite ink recognises toxic compounds A class of microporous crystals, also known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are considered to have great potential in the field of materials science, as they have a very large surface area despite their small size. Depending on the arrangement of their pores, they can have a wide variety of properties. Paolo Falcaro succeeded in controlling the pore orientation in the POPCRYSTAL project.

Read the whole article here.

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The “Molecule arrangement through artificial intelligence” research group is receiving funding totalling 1.19 million euros from the Austrian Science Fund. Image source: Bernhard Ramsauer - TU Graz

GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Autonomous AI Assistant to Build Nanostructures

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n interdisciplinary research group at TU Graz is working on constructing logic circuits through the targeted arrangement of individual molecules. Artificial intelligence should speed up the process enormously.

The chemical composition of a material alone sometimes reveals little about its properties.

The decisive factor is often the arrangement of the molecules in the atomic lattice structure or on the surface of the material. Materials science utilises this factor to create certain properties by applying individual atoms and molecules to surfaces with the aid of highperformance microscopes. This is still extremely time-consuming and the constructed nanostructures are comparatively simple. Using

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artificial intelligence, a new research group at TU Graz now wants to take the construction of nanostructures to a new level: “We want to develop a self-learning AI system that positions individual molecules quickly, specifically and in the right orientation, and all this completely autonomously,” says Oliver Hofmann from the Institute of Solid State Physics, who heads the research group. This should make it possible to build highly complex molecular structures, including logic circuits in the nanometre range. The “Molecule arrangement through artificial intelligence” research group is receiving funding totalling 1.19 million euros from the Austrian Science Fund.

Read the whole article here.

Project Presentations & Updates ATIMA: Driving Innovation in

Austria in the field of Advanced/ Innovative Materials for a Sustainable Future

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ustria stands as a global leader in sustainable social and economic prosperity. To maintain and enhance this status, the country must remain internationally competitive, particularly in the realm of high-tech products and services. Achieving this requires the integration of future-relevant materials and technologies, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across scientific, economic, and public sectors. This is where the ATIMA project comes into play.

Strenghten the Community

What is ATIMA? ATIMA (Advanced and Innovative Materials) is a pioneering initiative designed to bring together key stakeholders in the field of advanced materials. By leveraging existing platforms and fostering collaboration, ATIMA aims to optimize resource utilization, stimulate innovation, and enhance Austria's leadership in materials science and technology.

Share Knowledge

ATIMA’s core goals

Initiate Innovation

We unite Austria’s leading experts and organizations in advanced materials.

We facilitate knowledge exchange within the ATIMA community as well as nationally & internationally.

Together with our partners, we drive forward new innovation projects.

Identify Trends

Enhance Visibility

Support Emerging Talent

ATIMA tracks key developments and derives actionable recommendations for research policy.

Through targeted initiatives, we elevate Austria’s presence in the global advanced materials community.

Programs like scientific conferences & early-career researcher sessions help nurture future field leaders.

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P R O J E C T U P D AT E S

The ATIMA network

ATIMA unites some of Austria’s most established and influential platforms in key technological areas, including Nanotechnology (BNN, nanoNET-Austria), Lightweight Construction (A2LT), Additive Manufacturing (AMAustria), Metallurgy (ASMET), and Smart Textiles. Through this network, ATIMA enables cross-platform collaboration and reinforces Austria’s research expertise nationally and internationally, working with European technology platforms and global standardization organizations.

This multidisciplinary approach ensures that sector-specific expertise contributes to a broader, cross-platform vision, directly influencing Austrian and European research policies. Through partnerships with institutions such as the European Technology Platforms, the European Commission, OECD, ISO, CEN, and ECHA, ATIMA strengthens Austria’s presence in international scientific and industrial discussions.

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ATIMA actively promotes Austria’s innovative strength through: Online presence via dedicated websites and LinkedIn activities Strategy development contributions for national and European policy bodies (e.g., BMK, European Commission) Networking opportunities through workshops, conferences, and industry fairs Integration of young researchers in international forums to ensure long-term talent development One of ATIMA’s greatest strengths is the enduring commitment of its partners. By strengthening the identity of Austria’s advanced/innovative materials (AdMa) community, ATIMA lays the foundation for sustainable, long-term collaboration that will benefit Austrian industry and research for years to come.

Through its visionary approach, ATIMA is not just a project — it is a movement towards a more connected, innovative, and internationally recognized Austrian advanced/innovative materials sector.

Since the beginning of the project in November 2024, ATIMA and its partners have been very active in raising awareness on the project and its goals, engaging with different stakeholder groups, strengthening the identity of Austria’s AdMa community. Join us in shaping the future of materials science and technology.

Recap of activities: ELA-Conference: "Lightweight Materials Summit: The Future of Mobility" 13-14.11.2024, Helmond, Netherlands (Business Upper Austria) The focus of the event was on the key technology of lightweight construction, which is of immense importance for climate protection and resource conservation.

XPERT DAYS 2024 and SusChem-ATFocusday 19-20.11.2024, Vienna, Austria (BNN) The XPERT DAYS 2024 and SusChem-ATFocusday at TUtheSky in Vienna, gathered nearly 100 experts from business and science.

Under the theme “Go greener – Chemical process industry in dialog with research and management”, participants presented solutions for sustainable chemical processes, connected with AdMa along several levels (science, research, innovation). The event was held as

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a collaborative effort with CHASE in the lead, and SusChem-AT/BNN as well as EIT Manufacturing supporting with specific sessions.

It also marked CHASE’s 5th anniversary. The event highlighted the collaborative efforts driving energy efficiency, resource conservation, and sustainability in the chemical process industry.

9th INISS-nano web-meeting 18.12.2024, online (BNN) The international network initiative on safe and sustainable nanotechnology (INISS-nano) is part of the NSC-Community as its international collaboration part and organized the 9th online meeting on 18 December 2024. This time more than 30 participants could get insights from the great presentations: Pushplata Singh (TERI, India) talked about “Commercialization of nanofertilizers in India, exporting to other countries, and challenges”.

Eeva Leinala & Mar Gonzalez (both OECD) presented “The OECD concept and experiences of the Mutual acceptance of data (MAD)-system”.

Furthermore, the INISS-nano pillar chairs and contributing colleagues showed the progress on the activities (e.g., application for an UNESCO UNITWIN, COST-action, ERASMUS+) as well as a recap of the 7th EU-Asia Dialogue which was held in Thailand in October 2024.

If you are interested to get active in this global collaboration initiative, please contact us at: info@nsc-community.eu.

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nanotech 2025

Circular economy and production technologies 2025 17.01.2025, online In January 2025, AM-Austria held an online workshop focused on research topics related to innovative material and component properties, new data-driven models and applications.

Verwertungsworkshop GreenLight-Tec Schulungen 23.01.2025, online (Business Upper Austria) As the final part of the GreenLight-Tec project, a utilization workshop was held involving both training organizers and participants. The insights gained from this workshop support the ATIMA initiative in future knowledge transfer and the establishment of a PhD network within the lightweight construction community.

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nanotech 2025 29-31.01.2025, Tokio, Japan (nanoNET) Nanotech2025, the world’s largest nanotechnology event, took place in Tokyo from January 29–31, 2025, attracting over 42,000 visitors.

ATIMA participated through nanoNET-Austria, which hosted an Austrian exhibitor booth with support from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection. The booth featured research organizations like Material Center Leoben and Silicon Austria Labs, along with companies Stratec and C-sense. Dr. Rudolf Heer presented on cleanroom nano-fabrication services, while Prof. Anton Köck discussed chemical nanosensors. The event was a major success, reinforcing its global relevance, and is set to return in 2026. Read more about it here.

Workshop on textile technology 30.01.2025, Lustenau, Austria (V-trion) On January 30, 2025, apprentice textile technologists from the Landesberufsschule Dornbirn attended a specialized workshop at the Smart Textiles Platform. The event aimed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of smart textile technologies, their functionalities, and the various production processes involved.

During the workshop, the apprentices were introduced to the fundamental principles of smart textiles, including the integration of electronic and functional components into fabrics. They explored different applications, such as sensor-equipped textiles and heatregulating materials, offering valuable insights into future-oriented textile production.

In addition to smart textiles, the workshop covered other advanced textile manufacturing technologies, particularly non-woven fabric production. The apprentices learned about the entire process, from the selection of raw materials to the various manufacturing techniques used to produce non-woven materials.

The session also highlighted the diverse applications of non-woven textiles, such as in filtration systems, medical products, and technical textiles.

This hands-on workshop significantly contributed to the education and skill development of future textile professionals. By gaining practical knowledge about emerging technologies, the apprentices expanded their expertise and strengthened their ability to contribute to innovation within the textile industry.

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Workshop on textile technology

Information event on the IPCEI Circular Advanced Materials (IPCEI CAM) 24.02.2024, online (BNN) On February 24th, 2025, the Austrian Federal Ministry on Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) organized a hybrid meeting to inform Austrian stakeholders about the initiative to prepare an “Important Project of Common European Interest” (IPCEI) on “circular advanced materials for clean technologies” (CAM).

The ATIMA community as a key group in this field contributed from the beginning to this initiative and participated in this meeting with several colleagues. Actually, the IPCEI CAM is now in the design phase, Austria has the role as interim coordinator, and is focusing on the scoping and preparation to maximize the collaboration potential of the 15 interested member states. Next steps towards applying for projects are expected already this summer.

More information can be found here.

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View of the EU Parliament conference room

FemtoMat 2025 24-27.02.2024, Mauterndorf, Austria (BNN) The Austrian association “ESG-Nano” organized the FemtoMat 2025, a topical conference devoted exclusively to the present status and application of femtosecond lasers in materials science: basic aspects and manufacturing, electronic, sensor, optoelectronic and biomedical applications, nanoscience, etc. In the 2025 edition, a specific session was dedicated to “advanced and innovative materials”, broadening the scope of the event to more application-oriented aspects. Two lectures initiated the discussions around this topic: Alexander Pogany (BMK) presented the “Austrian R&D-Policy in Advanced Materials”, followed

by Andreas Falk (BNN) speaking about “The Advanced Materials ecosystem – enabling synergies with cross-sectorial collaboration”, highlighting SSbD-implementation as a crosssectorial connection with examples from EUfunded projects e.g. HARMLESS. The book of abstracts is available here.

vative materials in Austria, ensuring their role in fostering sustainability and prosperity as well as to integrate the national community in the European ecosystem. Read more about the event here.

CECIMO meeting 04.03.2025, Brussels, Belgium (AM-Austria) Proposal of an EU Additive Manufacturing agenda (AM) in the EU Parliament and the European Commission. President of AM Dr. Johannes Gartner took part as Austria's representative.

ATIMA workshop

Training

03.03.2025, Vienna, Austria (BNN, all)

06.03.2025

BNN organized the first ATIMA-workshop on March 3rd, 2025, dedicated to the future of advanced/innovative materials (AdMa) in Austria and beyond. Key players from industry, research, and policy explored trends, challenges, and collaborative opportunities within the AdMa ecosystem. The ATIMA community engaged in an exclusive, in-depth discussion on emerging trends, thematic developments, and strategic directions in AdMa. The workshop was the initial step towards shaping a comprehensive roadmap for advanced inno-

On 6th March 2025 a training/continuing education block took place for AM-Austria members and network meeting at member Schoeller Bleckmann Oilfield Technologies (Austria).

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KC-Fachtagung Materials - Faserverbundwerkstoffe im Fokus 13.03.2025, Linz, Austria (Business Upper Austria) At the Materials Conference of the Plastics Cluster Upper Austria the ATIMA project was

Mobilisation and connection of national stakeholders on the topic of ‘Advanced & Innovative Materials’ in Austria

presented by the coordinator Andreas Falk (BNN) as an initiative connecting industry and research to drive innovation in AdMa.

to prepare the Werkstoffforum took place on 28th February 2025 at the FH-Joanneum in Graz (Austria).

Future activities

Role of BNN in ATIMA:

Preparations for a strategy workshop, stakeholder interviews, and a learning journey have begun. Collaboration with the European initiatives ELN and ELCA is further strengthening the community around advanced materials, with a special focus on lightweight materials.

(Business Upper Austria)

Coordination, Roadmap development, AdMacommunity building, international representation, Communication & Dissemination

Preparations for the Werkstoffforum Alpbach (Materials Forum) have begun. The Werkstoffforum will take place on 20th August 2025 in Alpbach (Austria) and will focus on ”AI-applications in the development of metal materials AI4Materialdevelopment”. It will be organized by the Austrian Society for Metallurgy and Materials (ASMET), Materials Center Leoben (MCL), JOANNEUM Research, and the Austrian Federal Ministry on Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). A high-level meeting

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Contact Clemens Wolf BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH info@atima.at www.atima.at The FFG is the central national funding organisation and strengthens Austria’s innovative power. This project is funded by the FFG, project n° FO999919580.

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The InnoMatSyn consortium in Vienna

InnoMatSyn Connects the Advanced/Innovative Materials Initiatives from regional, national level and across Europe

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new project, bringing together experts in advanced/innovative materials (AdMa) across Europe, held its kick-off meeting in Vienna, Austria, from 4-5 March 2025.

InnoMatSyn, an EU-funded project coordinated by BNN with 14 beneficiaries, seeks to create synergies of regional, national and European initiatives for AdMa to boost their impact, in support of development of safe and sustainable materials. The consortium receives 4 million Euros in EC-funding to execute the project within the next 3 years.

The project will provide an interconnected materials ecosystem, AI-based knowledge repository, technology leakage risk assessment, and support for joint funding calls. As of the launch of the project, InnoMatSyn had received a great deal of support from stakeholders from all over Europe.

Follow us on LinkedIn to become part of the community and stay up-to-date about Inno-

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MatSyn activities and achievements for the AdMa-ecosystem in Europe!

Role of BNN in InnoMatSyn: Project coordination, Key connector to Austrian AdMa related NTPs, Communication & Dissemination, Stakeholder Engagement, SSbD & standardization

Contact Andreas Falk, Johanna K. Scheper, Christine Halbedel Coordination team of InnoMatSyn BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH info@innomatsyn.eu

InnoMatSyn project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 101204218. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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HARMLESS Releases Factsheets on the Agriculture Case Study and ToxFAIRy: The HARMLESS software solution for automated toxicity scoring and FAIRification of data

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he EU H2020 project HARMLESS develops a novel, multifaceted Safe Innovation Approach to complex multi-component nanomaterials and High Aspect Ratio Nanoparticles (MCNM & HARNs) by integrating a toolbox of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), which can test key properties according to latest scientific insights into MCNM & HARNs. To ensure that industries operating at differing scale, including SMEs, pick up HARMLESS’ approach, the project has created a user-friendly decision support system which is validated iteratively at scale in different case studies, which allows the testing, verification and improvement of the HARMLESS’ Safe-by-Design and Safe Innovation Approaches in different industrial sectors.

Factsheet Imogolites This factsheet briefly summarizes the key facts of the case study on imogolites for agriculture and environmental plant protections (Material: modified Imogolites), including an explanation of the material, its functionality and application, the objectives of the case study, how the case study was implemented, its benefits and impacts on the SDGs, outcomes of the case study, as well as the partners involved in the case study.

major economic losses and minimal public health and environmental risks. In this context, aluminosilicate clays materials in the form of tubular structure (named imogolites) are developed to be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to pesticide or treatment against fungi, in particular downy mildew. The typical nanostructure of the imogolites and their particular redox properties and surface reactivity properties offer an original new approach for environmentally friendly alternatives to pesticides.

More information on the project website.

This work has been coordinated by the partner CEA, with contributions of all other HARMLESS partners. The factsheet has been created by BNN as the Communication & Dissemination Manager of HARMLESS C&D. Read the factsheet here (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14976837).

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Factsheet ToxFAIRy ToxFAIRy is developed as a tool supporting the Safe Innovation Approach (SIA) by automating and enhancing the efficiency of toxicity assessment and material prioritization, while following FAIR principles.

This factsheet summarises the ToxFAIRy software developed in HARMLESS. It is a new data analysis and management solution that automates high throughput in vitro screening data to increase the efficiency of clustering, ranking, prioritizing, and reading across nanomaterials and advanced materials. ToxFAIRy uses a novel approach for in vitro high-throughput screening (HTS)-based toxicity assessment, which is used for efficient clustering, ranking, prioritization, and read across of nanomaterials and advanced materials.

This work has been coordinated by the partners IDEA, MISVIK, with contributions of all other

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HARMLESS partners. The factsheet has been created by HARMLESS C&D manager, BNN. Read the factsheet here (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14609285).

Role of BNN in HARMLESS Safe Innovation Approach, Stakeholder engagement, Graphic Design, Communication & Dissemination

Contact Beatriz Alfaro Serrano beatriz.alfaro@bnn.at www.harmless-project.eu

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 953183.

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sea, precipitation, and water quality, including the monitoring of radiation protection.

Due to their strong expertise in safety and toxicology assessment of advanced materials, the team behind Prof. Dr. Ivana Vinković Vrček at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMI) leads NABIHEAL's work in Biocompatibility and Safety Evaluation.

NABIHEAL Interview with IMI’s Ivana Vinković Vrček

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ioNanoNet Association member Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMI) is the leading Croatian institution in R&D&I activities related to the physical and biological aspects of occupational health, environmental hygiene and human health, as well as to spreading knowledge regarding industrial hygiene.

Nowadays, activities of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health are based on international, European, and domestic projects and contracts that cover multifaceted experimental, and in particular medical, research in the field of basic medical sciences and various general environmental topics such as air, QUARTERLY ISSUE 01/2025

Within NABIHEAL, IMI is in charge of the toxicological evaluation and safety profiling of the materials to advance the proposed products to an advanced stage of preclinical development (regulatory preclinical phase) of the biomaterials selected.

BNN visited IMI's Prof. Dr. Ivana Vinković Vrček at her office in Zagreb to learn more about her work with NABIHEAL. Watch the interview on YouTube.

Contact Prof. Dr. Ivana Vinković Vrček Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMI) ivinkovic@imi.hr nanobiofaces.imi.hr nabiheal.eu

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 101092269. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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Uncovering New Horizons in 2D/2D+ Hybrid Materials and Engineered Living Materials

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NN’s scientific team is excited to start a new research service that aims to comprehensively map the current international research landscape concerning 2D/2D+ hybrid materials and engineered living materials (ELMs). During the coming twelve months, the project PEARL-Mat will address various aspects related to these advanced/innovative materials, including synthesis methods, unique properties, modifiable functionalities, potential safety aspects (such as toxicity and environmental impact), proven or potential applications in various fields and scalability for industrial processes.

The project's methodology integrates bibliographic analyses with semantic tools to classify and identify different ontologies. Beyond literature reviews, the project partners will conduct expert interviews and organize a stakeholder workshop to uncover challenges not documented in existing literature. The consortium consists of AC2T research GmbH and BNN, both bringing expertise in advanced materials, environmental health and safety,

and experience from similar projects. These partners are embedded in extensive and often complementary expert networks, which will support the realization of PEARL-Mat. The project also aims to validate selected findings by estimating their feasibility using appropriate AI techniques, such as machine learning.

By identifying knowledge gaps and focusing on potentials and opportunities for the Austrian scientific community and industry, PEARL-Mat aspires to provide a comprehensive understanding of 2D/2D+ hybrid materials and ELMs, thereby guiding future research and development in these promising material domains.

On March 4, 2025, PEARL-Mat was officially kicked-off in sunny Vienna. PEARL-Mat is funded by the Austrian Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (BMK) and processed through the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

Contact Susanne Resch susanne.resch@bnn.at

The FFG is the central national funding organisation and strengthens Austria’s innovative power. This project is funded by the FFG, project n° 58025459.

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BNN Designs Website for PLANETS

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NN is proud to present the website for PLANETS! With the slogan “Sustainable chemistry for a safer tomorrow,” the PLANETS (Plasticizers, fLame–retardants and surfactANts: new alternatives validating the safE and susTainable by deSign approach) website offers an overview of the 4-year EU-funded project. It allows you to learn about the expertise and contributions of our partners, and offers background information about SSbD and its relevance for the chemicals industry. The Applications pages walk you through our 3 case studies on surfactants, flame retardants and plasticizers. Finally, the news and contact pages allow readers to stay up-to-date and get in touch.

BNN was responsible for the design, implementation and content creation of the website, with support from PLANETS coordinator CEA and key partners in the project.

Visit the website here.

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Role of BNN in PLANETS: SSbD, Communication & Dissemination, Stakeholder Engagement, Graphic Design and Training

Contact Caitlin Ahern caitlin.ahern@bnn.at www.project-planets.eu

PLANETS project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 101177608. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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SAF€RA: Project SuESS

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he SuESS (Safe- and Sustainability-byDesign Approaches for Energy Storage Systems in a Green and Circular Economy) project focuses on integrating safety and sustainability aspects into the development of energy storage technologies. This initiative aligns with the EU Green Deal, providing structured guidance for developers and decision-makers.

The project's main objectives include analyzing life cycle inventory (LCI) data to assess critical raw materials and potential emissions, evaluating environmental and social risks across the battery technology value chain, and developing a life cycle management approach to enhance operation and end-of-life processes. Additionally, it focuses on implementing the Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework for stationary energy storage systems by involving stakeholders in setting new guidelines and standards. Finally, the consortium aims to provide recommendations for the ongoing development of sustainable energy storage solutions.

SuESS Consortium Meeting at partner Biobide The latest SuESS consortium meeting took place at Biobide facilities in San Sebastián, Spain, bringing the consortium together to discuss the project’s progress and future steps.

The meeting served as an opportunity to exchange results and align strategies for the next phases of the SuESS project.

During the meeting, participants discussed

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multicriteria decision making to address the complexity of energy storage systems. Given that various indicators are involved in assessing different components and use phases, this framework aims to provide a systematic method for evaluating safety, efficiency, and sustainability aspects. Future updates will provide insights into significant progress and ongoing collaborations in this area.

Role of BNN in SuESS: SSbD Implementation and consolidation, Communication & Dissemination

Contact Claudia Mair-Bauernfeind University of Graz claudia.mair@uni-graz.at projekte.ffg.at/projekt/4726027

The FFG is the central national funding organisation and strengthens Austria’s innovative power. This project is funded by the FFG, project n° FO999900873.

Outlook BNN EVENTS & EVENTS SUPPORTED BY BNN

Accelerating the transition with SSbD materials, products and processes 25 March 2025 | online The IRISS SSbD Community is holding a webinar on the 25th of March exploring how Safeand-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) can drive innovation and competitiveness in European industry. During the webinar insights and key findings of the EU-funded project IRISS will be presented. Furthermore, challenges and future opportunities with implementation of SSbD, together with researchers and experts from industry and policy will be explored.

IRISS, organizer of this exciting event, welcomes you to register and join us there. IRISS aims to connect, synergize and transform the SSbD community in Europe and globally towards a lifecycle approach.

The webinar will start the 25th of March 2025, at 14:00 with a welcome speech of the EU-funded project IRISS coordinator, followed by a presentation including key results about case studies, publications and SSbD roadmaps developed during the project runtime. The core of the event will be focused on two exiting pa-

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nels. First, the Industry panel will focus the discussion around the role of SSbD in driving an innovative and competitive European Industry, where Industry representatives will share insights on opportunities and challenges with SSbD. This panel will be then followed by a Policy panel focused on how to shape SSbD policies to strengthen Europe’s industrial leadership. The event will count with policy experts sharing insights about the future of the SSbD concept.

We hope to see you all there!

More information

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OUTLOOK

The Next Generation of Microfluidics: linking expertise across Europe, coordinated in Austria 26 March 2025 Medical University of Graz, Austria As the NextGenMicrofluidics OITB project comes to a close, we invite you to a final event as a satellite of the Health Tech Hub (HTH) Styria at the MedUniGraz. The event in the afternoon of March 26th, 2025, will showcase techno-

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logical breakthroughs from the NGM project and bring together experts from the field of microfluidics. A hands-on demonstrator showcase and networking event “MicroFluids and MicroBites” will allow participants ample time to learn about this dynamic community.

Register here and contact info@bnn.at for a registration code – BioNanoNet members and NGM partners get free access to the entire event!

Webinar Announcement: Fostering International Collaboration in Nanomedicine – Spotlights from the Spanish and Austrian Nanomedicine Platforms 25 April 2025 | 10:00-11:30 CEST | Online NanoMedicine-Austria and NANOMED SPAIN invite you to participate in their first joint webinar.

The advancement of nanomedicine relies on strong international collaboration. This webinar will bring together experts from NanoMedicine-Austria and NANOMED SPAIN to

SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting 11-15 May 2025 | Vienna, Austria Innovation for Tomorrow: Progress in Safe and Sustainable Concepts This conference theme emphasizes the need for integration of cutting-edge innovations with safety and sustainability considerations,

Pint of Science 19-21 May 2025 | Graz, Austria and across Europe Pint of Science is an international science festival in which researchers bring their work straight to the people – at the pub! BNN is moderating the session “Tech Me Out” on 21 May

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highlight the capabilities, expertise, and success stories of their respective platforms. Participants will gain insights into cutting-edge research and have the opportunity to engage in discussions on the future of nanomedicine.

More information

through implementation and expansion of the Safe and Sustainable (by Design) thinking. It should foster concepts of essential transition to Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) through innovation. The BNN team and several BioNanoNet members will be present - join us!

More information

with speakers from our members Medical University of Graz and SimVantage. More members from Uni Graz, TU Graz and Joanneum Research will be in the spotlight, as well!

More information

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OUTLOOK

Get Ready for NanoMed Europe 2025 & celebrate the 20th Anniversary of ETPN! 27-30 May 2025 | Barcelona, Spain Join leading experts at NanoMed Europe 2025, taking place from May 27-30 in Barcelona, Spain! The conference brings together international experts in nanomedicine and emerging medical technologies. With a dynamic mix of scientific presentations, industry insights, and networking opportunities, NME 2025 is the place to be for anyone passionate about nanomedicine and the future of healthcare. It offers a rich program of scientific lectures and sessions focused on translating innovations to the clinic. Join us for unparalleled networking, collaboration, and discussions shaping the future of nanomedicine in Europe.

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The event will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ETPN and NANOMED SPAIN – a milestone of two decades of research collaboration in the field of nanomedicine!

BNN will be on site to represent the Austrian nanomedicine community in the “National Platform Village” and ensure that NanoMedicine-Austria is well positioned in the European ecosystem.

More information

Contact: Susanne Resch, NanoMedicine-Austria platform coordinator

13th Venice Training School “Innovating with Purpose: A Hands-on Journey into Functional, Safe and Sustainable Advanced Materials” 9 – 13 June 2025 | Venice, Italy Be part of the 13th Venice Training School, "Innovating with Purpose: A Hands-on Explo-

ration of Functional, Safe, and Sustainable Advanced Materials". This event, co-organized by several EU-funded projects, provides a valuable platform to dive into Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design principles and their practical applications. Registration coming soon!

More information

BioNanoNet Annual Forum: Efficient and Sustainable Industries and Production – Transferring Know-How to the Life Sciences Sector 7 October 2025 | Linz, Austria Save the date for our Annual Forum, this year taking place in Linz with tours to co-hosts RECENDT, Wood K plus and CHASE. It will in-

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clude a life science session, SSbD session and networking pitches. More information coming soon!

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Finally W

e hope you enjoyed reading our BNN QUARTERLY! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any suggestions or feedback!

Our next BNN QUARTERLY will be published in June 2025 and will focus on the topic “Digital Transition for Innovative Technologies”.

BioNanoNet members are welcome to send their contributions regarding this focus topic and also articles about their scientific research by 28 May 2025! Articles on other topics can be published any time on the BNN website.

Contact info@bnn.at

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author or publisher. To request permission, contact info@bnn.at.

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The BNN team from left to right: Barbara, Matiss, Caitlin, Clemens, Beatriz, Daniel, Christine, Susanne, Johanna and Andreas

Connect with us!

QUARTERLY ISSUE 01/2025

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I N N O VAT I O N I S T H E K E Y .

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y L E A D S T H E WA Y .

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