FP6 - 500375 POLYSACCHARIDES - The European Polysaccharide Network

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Type of Project	Network of Excellence
Contract No	FP6 - 500375
Total Cost	8,200 KEuro
EC Contribution	5,000 KEuro
Start Date	13-4-2005
Duration	48 Months

Abstract

EPNOE ( European Polysaccharide Network Of Excellence) associates 17 European laboratories from 9 countries, focussing on research in polysaccharide science. The main aim of EPNOE is to promote the use of polysaccharide renewable raw materials as industry feedstock for the development of advanced multifunctional materials.

Polysaccharides (such as cellulose or starch) are the most commonl polymers found in nature. Fully biodegradable, they are the sustainable polymeric materials of the future as synthetic polymers coming from oil become expensive and rare. They represent an almost inexhaustible resource of making a reality of the possibility tof replacing oil-derived materials by biodegradable and biocompatible (compatible with living tissues) products. Therefore, the great potential of polysaccharides has been attracting a lot of interests from numerous industrial sectors, such as the paper industry, the textile industry, packaging, health, hygiene, the building industry and the transport sector. The project should help these industries to gain new perspectives and develop innovative products.

The project meets the objectives of the Knowledge-Based Multifunctional Materials part, focussing on sub-topic 3.4.2.3 , addressing several objectives of Priority 3 and of Priority 6, its research plans are ambitious. Already established and extensive connections with the industrial community ensure a valuable contribution from the network that composed of 16 research groups from 9 countries, covering all a wide range of expertise (polysaccharide types and scientific disciplines).

To allow a full integration and give the sense of a real "super-laboratory", an independent, non-profit, private, single administrative and legal entity will run all the activities developed in common and interact directly through the partner's organisations. This structure has a very clear advantages of bringing a collective and efficient management of activities and of allowing research groups to join or leave without administrative complexities.

Other aims of the network are to train scientists in academia and industry, to spread knowledge, results and excellence and to attract the interest of citizens in science. All this is organised through 29 Integrating Activities within 8 Work Packages, carried out by groups with expertise and state-of-the-art technologies in many polysaccharide-related disciplines, including chemistry, chemical engineering, enzymology, modelling, physics, processing, material science, life cycle analysis and economics.

Objectives The main objectives of EPNOE are:

• To build a new type of organisation for Research and Education on polysaccharides at the European level, integrating resources and expertise (common equipment policy, common research topics, common research road map)
• To create the most complete, efficient and innovative research network in polysaccharides world wide
• To spread knowledge and promote education on polysaccharides.

Activities The various activities planned for the 18 first months are as follows:

Integration activities

• Concept, design and implementation of an independant organisation representing EPNOE
• Inventory and reoganisation of the partners ressources and expertise
• Strengthening e-Communication between the partners
• Managing IPR Issues
• Exchanging permanent staff and PhD student
• Promoting good working conditions and gender equality

Research actvities

• Defining a research roadmap
• Building a project portfolio
• Planning the EPNOE research
• Follow-up of the EPNOE research
• Worldwide scientific watch
• Establishment of internal protocols, methods and standards
• Life Cycle Analysis and Assessment

Coordinator

CEMEF, Sophia Antipolis, France

Partners

• Universitaet Fuer Bodenkultur, Austria
• Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany
• The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
• Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, France
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland
• University of Maribor, Slovenia
• Aabo Akademi Universit, Finland
• Utrecht University, Netherlands
• Bundesforschungsanstalt Für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft, Germany
• "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Romania
• Instytut Wlokien Chemicznych (Institute of Chemical Fibres), Poland
• University Innsbruck, Austria
• Thueringisches Institut Fuer Textil- Und Kunststoff-Forschung EV, Germany
• Universität Graz, Austria
• Agrotechnology and Food Innovations B.V., Netherlands
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung EV, Germany

Contacts

Contact

• Patrick NAVARD / Centre for Material Forming (CEMF) Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris / FRANCE