IPPT_TWINN
The IPPT_TWINN project aims to enhance FTPO’s expertise in polymer processing, strengthen cooperation with partner institutions, and boost research excellence in innovative polymer technologies. It seeks to improve FTPO’s success in securing national and international funding, increase research output through publications and active congress participation, and raise FTPO’s attractiveness for collaboration with industry and research institutions, fostering long-term innovation and development.
Project Partners
- Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL, Austria)
- Faculty of Polymer Technology (FTPO, Slovenia)
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME, Hungary)
- Institute for Plastic Processing and Material Technologies (IWK, Switzerland)
- AITIIP Technological Center (Spain)
Motivation and Goals
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. At 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.
Main Goals
- Increase the knowledge of polymer processing and strengthen the cooperation between FTPO and partner institutions.
- Improve/enhance the overall research excellence and innovation capacity on innovative polymer processing technologies at FTPO.
- Boost FTPO success rate in obtaining funding from national and international grants.
- Increase FTPO R&I output (publications, active congress participation etc.).
- Increase the attractiveness of FTPO for collaboration with the industrial sector and other research institutions.
Objectives and Approach
The project aims to enhance FTPO’s knowledge and expertise in polymer materials processing through collaborative research and various activities. These include 18 workshops covering key topics such as injection moulding, extrusion, 3D printing, mould design, composites, and simulations in polymer processing. Additionally, three summer schools will focus on composite technologies, advanced injection moulding, and compounding. The initiative also features expert visits and three international conferences addressing critical industry challenges: (1) developing and processing recycled materials, (2) biobased product innovations, and (3) metal replacement and lightweight composites. A key research objective is to develop a hybrid technology for manufacturing high-performance, recyclable composite structures with a thermoplastic matrix. This innovative approach integrates thermoplastic resin transfer moulding (T-RTM), injection moulding, and additive manufacturing into a single production process, advancing sustainable solutions in polymer processing.
„The IPPT_TWINN project is a collaborative initiative that allows intense knowledge sharing and networking among the partners. PCCL plays the pivotal role as an expert in polymer processing, covalent adaptable networks, and polymer science.“
Downloads & Links
Funding Body
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, Grant Agreement ID 101079051.
