The InCIMa4 project final results presented at the 2nd Conference for Smart Materials in Salzburg
Trieste, 21 September 2022 – Shortening the distance between companies and cutting-edge scientific facilities is not only possible, but it also generates solutions that tangibly improve production processes and products. An example of that is the InCIMa4 project, funded by the Italy-Austria cross-border cooperation programme, which created an Italian-Austrian network for the multi-technical characterisation of smart materials. In the first phase, focused on basic research and later made available to the business world for applied research projects, the network consists of research facilities and laboratories of excellence specialising in the synthesis and characterisation of materials, such as Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, the Salzburg University of Applied Science (FHS) and the Paris-Lodron Universitat Salzburg.
Through the InCIMa4 project, 13 Italian and Austrian small and medium-sized enterprises have had free access to the cross-border research infrastructure, following evaluation of their projects and the innovative potential of the materials by a panel comprising external experts. Thanks to laboratories specialising in X-ray imaging and vibrational spectroscopy, measurements were made on different types of materials adopted in multiple sectors, such as agro-food, green building, marble processing, food packaging, polymer coatings, new wood-based derived materials, for applications ranging from outdoor furniture to new composites, with particular attention to the principles of sustainability and circularity. Indeed, through the multitechnical and multi-scale characterisation of materials it is possible to grasp their functional properties and give them new life, through the creation of innovative and more ecologically sustainable products.
It was possible, for example, to understand the potential applications of graphite as a new building material, studying its flame retardant qualities, or test the possibility of applying carbonised wood in interior decoration and even study its resistance to atmospheric agents to safeguard its aesthetic value.
“The project saw the involvement of the world of small and medium-sized enterprises – stressed Lisa Vaccari from Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, InCIMa Principal Investigator – and such enterprises have had access to the cross-border research infrastructure, thanks to the knowledge of the business fabric of the territories admitted by the funding programme, the work of intermediation between the world of research and enterprises as well as the promotion and communication activities carried out by project partners Area Science Park, t2i and Innovation Salzburg.”
The experience of the SMEs that joined the InCIMa4 project was illustrated during the 2nd Conference for Smart Materials that was held in Salzburg from 12 to 15 September 2022 with the aim of expanding access to research facilities to other industrial companies even after the conclusion of the project.
On Saturday 24 September in the afternoon, the InCIMa4 project will also be featured at the Trieste Next scientific research festival in a dedicated stand, while on Friday 30 September in the afternoon local SMEs will be offered the opportunity to visit the InCIMa4 Italian research facility at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste.
For information: openlab@areasciencepark.it
InCIMa4 is a project funded by the Interreg V-A Italy-Austria Programme 2014-2020 with a partnership comprising three major research facilities such as Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, the Salzburg University of Applied Science (FHS) and the Paris-Lodron Universitat Salzburg as well as three intermediate bodies, namely ITG-Innovation Salzburg, Area Science Park, t2i – technology transfer and innovation.