VINNOVA financing of VINN Excellence Centre FunMat Step 2
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Linköpings universitet - Institutionen för fysik, kemi och biologi |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 21 000 000 |
| Project duration | January 2009 - December 2011 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
FunMat explores high-impact surface engineering solutions for industry. It offers both problem-oriented research and application-inspired basic research on nanoscale functional materials and serves its partners with competitive competences and innovative solutions. We aim for a complete value chain with short lead time between research and market. The Center builds an internationally competitive environment of academic research groups, companies, and consulting research institutes that are all committed to active industry interaction. As a fundament for our research projects, FunMat is active in developing thin film deposition processes and generating IPR. FunMat focuses on three fields of application: 1. High-temperature-stable materials for coating cutting tools, chemical and biological sensors, and new nanoscale materials: 2. Electrical Contacts for electronics and power transmission, and for gas and chemical sensors: and 3. Low friction resilient surfaces
Expected results and effects
In a 5-years perspective, our goal is to advance to the top position as the most attractive environment in our field. FunMat should offer the most comprehensive and internationally competitive laboratory for materials science featuring: - Complete range of thin film deposition techniques from monolayer surface functionalization to wafer or template production - State-of-the-art analytical instrumentation - Leading theoretical modeling and simulation capabilities. - Rich academic and industrial networks and efficient research training - Extensive international collaboration for exchange. We see unsurpassed possibilities for functional materials and relevant nanotechnology. It is a reassuring fact that nanotechnology based products exist and that the product development process for new ones is both pulled by industry and pushed by the university groups. In fact, materials and processing is more strategic than ever.
Planned approach and implementation
Participating in this effort is a coordinated group of researchers skilled in materials science, engineering, condensed matter physics, inorganic and organic chemistry, solid-state electronics, nanotechnology, tribology, sensor science & technology, and computations. Their abilities in combination with our world-class laboratory facilities enables the development of new industrially significant multifunctional materials with tailored properties. Key operational elements: · Provide renewal of the Bio-and Chemical sensor area. · Encourage innovation and excellence in research. · Establish an active industrial collaboration. · To further cultivate a goal-oriented approach to collaborative projects. · Initiate projects only where there is an embryo or likelihood for value adding down the chain. · Individuals move between jobs in academia and industry, incl dual employments. · High-level research training among industry representatives, most are PhDs. · Industry project leaders and managers apply for Docentship or Adjunct Professorships. · All PhD students have industry mentors/co-supervisors · Spirit of entrepreneurship among the academics · Conduct feasibility tests and concept verification for each project. · Find new benefits and applications from our new niche area of nanostructured materials with new and unique properties. · Promote strong strategic and academic leadership. · A network is formed for each research project. It involves small-to-large companies and university groups with consulting institutes. · For each project, we identify at least one strong industrial partner with competencies and economical muscles that acts as a driver for results. · Industrial goals should be clearly defined and have commercial interest. · The scientists are open-minded to industrial needs and solutions. · All partners have clear roles, with defined and realistic goals · Dynamic financing within the project portfolio (pooling and concentration) · Partner companies are active in the planning, steering, and research work as well as in the industrialization of the results. · Work to promote and expand collaboration with other companies to further increase the market share of products based on these new technologies.