Kick-Off meeting of new EU Horizon 2020 Project in Slovakia
Five European institutions joined the effort to establish a new research centre for functional and surface-functionalized glasses (acronym FunGLASS) in Trenčín, Slovakia, specialized on cutting edge research in the area of glasses with special functional properties and on functionalization of conventional glasses with the aim of modification of their properties and adding new functionalities. The research topics include also materials for personalized health care and energy-related issues, utilization of waste materials for production of glasses and glass ceramics with high added value and application of glass-based coatings in automotive and machinery industry. The project of the Centre coordinated by the Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín, Slovakia, (D. Galusek) in cooperation with Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen–Nuremberg, Germany (A. R. Boccaccini), Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany (L. Wondraczek), Institute of Ceramics and Glass of Spanish National Research Council in Madrid, Spain (A. Duran) and University of Padova, Italy (E. Bernardo) as the European technology leaders in the field of glass, has gained financial support under the H2020-WIDESPREAD-2014-1 – „Spreading excellence and widening participation“ scheme of the EU programme Horizon 2020. The kick-off meeting was held in Trenčín on 5th June 2015. More information is available here. A recent press release in Ceramic-Tech-Today is available.