• IPPT_TWINN: Reinforcing the scientific excellence and innovation capacity in polymer processing technologies of the Faculty of Polymer Technology

Partners

<strong>Project financing value:</strong> 1.188.125 € Project financing value: 1.188.125 €
<strong>Duration of project:</strong> January 2023 - December 2025 Duration of project: January 2023 - December 2025

FUNDING AND DURATION

The project conducted on the basis of the Grand Agreement for an Action with multiple beneficiaries within the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and the Twinning (HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-03) call, project number 101079051.

About

Global annual consumption of plastics is expected to increase from the current 368 million tons (2019) to 1.1 billion tons in 2050. However, this growth also poses some dangers, such as the increasing amount of plastic waste and a rise in CO2 emissions. One of the ways to tackle these problems is to produce more durable products and to use processing technologies that generate less waste. The IPPT_TWINN project addresses both methods, as more durable products can be manufactured through a better understanding of processing methods and waste can be reduced through the application of new technologies and better waste management.

The main objective of IPPT_TWINN is to increase the knowledge of polymer processing at FTPO. This will be achieved both through joint scientific work with 4 partners from 4 EU countries, covering several advanced processing techniques and through the organization of a series of events such as workshops, summer schools, expert visits, etc.

However, the project is organized in such a way that not only FTPO, but all four partner institutions will make progress in this area. Although partners knowledge largely overlaps, each is a specialist in a particular field, and together they represent a concentration of knowledge in the whole field of modern polymer processing.

The proposed joint research work will improve the research excellence and innovation capacity of researchers at FTPO that will result in more scientific publications in high-impact journals. This will make FTPO more attractive as a partner also for other educational and research institutions. Industry representatives will also be invited to the events to be organized, which will increase the visibility of all partners in the business sector and strengthen cooperation. Last, but not least, one of the main goals of the project is to train researchers, especially the young ones, how to find suitable calls, right partners and to prepare and manage excellent project proposals.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Overview

News

Succesfull 1ST IPPT_TWINN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: Challenges, trends and solutions in developing and processing recycled materials
/ Categories: News, Conferences

Succesfull 1ST IPPT_TWINN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: Challenges, trends and solutions in developing and processing recycled materials

On September 21 and 22, 2023, as part of the IPPT_TWINN project, the 1.st international conference on topic Challenges, trends and solutions in developing and processing recycled polymer materials was organized. The conference was organized and held at Faculty of Polymer Technology in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia.

The aim of the conference was to connect various stakeholders from industry and academia interested in the development and processing of recycled polymer materials, with an emphasis on challenges, trends and solutions in the use of recycled materials produced by mechanical recycling for injection molding. technologies for various types of industry (e.g. packaging, automotive, electrical, white goods, etc.).
The main goals of the conference were the exchange of knowledge, good practices, ideas and the establishment of new connections between research and development institutions and companies and between different companies in the value chain. With interesting presentations on the status and trends, new research findings and innovations, case studies from the real life of companies, expert panel discussions and B2B meetings, we contributed to the creation of new partnerships and value chains between participants from industry and the research sphere.
In parallel with the B2B meetings, we also offered the participants a 3-hour Open training on research funding opportunities of the Horizon Europe program, which was carried out by our partners from Spain - the AITIIP CENTRO TECHNOLOGICO. As part of the training, the participants received basic information about the Horizon Europe program and current tenders related to the topic of recycling polymer materials, and received answers to the questions: How to find the right tender and what are the essential characteristics of a good project proposal?


The second day of the conference was devoted to the presentation of current research findings and included three plenary speakers, four invited speakers and accepted scientific papers. All contributions are published in the Book of abstracts. You can read more about the conference program and speakers on the official website HERE.

The two-day conference was attended by more than 90 participants from 13 countries (live and online).


Some highlights from the conference:
• The key goal is to significantly reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.
• We have not made the progress we expected in the last 30 years.
• We all know that it is necessary to change linear thinking to circular thinking and that this means a radical change along the entire value chain.
• For a big step forward, we must not start thinking about collection and recycling technologies after the product becomes waste… this is a linear way of thinking.
• When we think circularly, we already think about it in the design of the product, the choice of material, the customer's opinion...
• Plastics has a very bad reputation... as a result, young people do not choose to study/career in this field... and to solve complex challenges, we urgently need experts from this field.
• We must give value to plastic - in this case it will not end up in a landfill or in nature.


And finally... "The only value that we can't recycle is wasted time".

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