FlexFunction2Sustain in M36: what has been done?

Three years after the start of the project, FlexFunction2Sustain published an overview highlighting the achievements of its implementation. Within this EU funded initiative, the partners have committed themselves to create a network for innovative solutions for sustainable and smart products powered by nano-functionalized paper and plastic in order to support SMEs, start-ups and industries in the development and market launch of pioneering products. To reach this goal, the technical facilities of consortium members have been upgraded to enable processing of biopolymers; increase process reliability and productivity; complete process chain. Among our achievements is the upgrade of REMIX Pilot line and its accreditation for PP flexible film recyclability evaluation as well as the upgrade of BIODEGRADIX Pilot line (certified for TUV Austria audit).

All facilities and technological solutions developed within FlexFunction2Sustain are being verified in six industrial use case scenarios that cover food and non-food packaging, biodegradable security labels, switchable water filter membranes and innovative multi-functional electronic surfaces in automotive applications. At Month-36 of the project, the partners successfully demonstrated roll-to-roll processing of bio-degradable micro-structured surfaces for security labels; roll-to-roll manufacturing of conductive PET based membranes for filter applications; demonstrators of fully recyclable drink pouches and operational organic solar cells that were deposited on recycled PET films.

The individual services available through the FlexFunction2Sustain facilities are presented in the released Catalogues :

• Catalogue of physiochemical and functional characterization services
• Catalogue of services for performance verification in application
• Catalogue of services for safety and regulatory compliance testing

Furthermore, the project was dedicated to set up both business model and legal structure of the Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB). As a step in the establishment of the Ecosystem, ESNA – European Sustainable Nanotechnology Solutions Association has been registered. The association is designed as an open network of excellence for nanotechnology for sustainable and smart plastic and paper products. Created as non-profit association according the French 1901 law of association with a place of business in Paris, France, the association will closely interact with for-profit independent companie(s) who will commercialise the results created in the framework of the OITB activities. The Single Entry Point (SEP) will provide an easy access point to the services of the OITB partners for the customers worldwide, with a main focus on the European Union market. SEP will be selected through a tender procedure which will be launched in the upcoming days.

In order to accelerate the uptake of the ecosystem services, an Open Call  was launched in September 2021 with three cut-offs dates for applications. Targeted to the interested external companies, the objective of the Open Call is to select the most promising projects and help them to develop a prototype, component, part or product demonstrator making use of sustainable and smart nano-functionalized plastic or paper membrane or surfaces. Following a competitive selection process, 17 pre-commercial business cases (pilot cases projects) were selected. The winners for each deadline are announced at our website (please refer to: first, second, third cut-off results).

Discover more about the main advancements by Month-36 by downloading the overview presentation HERE.

Let us start the final year of the FlexFunction2Sustain funded project period! We will keep you posted on the further results!

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