The National Centre for Research and Development

Project Acronym: AGaStor
Project Promoter: AGH University of Science and Technology
Polish Partners: 
Norwegian Partners: University of Stavanger
Project cost (EUR): 2080030,8
Grant amount (EUR): 2080030,8
Duration: 01.10.2020-2024-04-30
www: https://www.agastor.agh.edu.pl/index.php?id=6717&L=1
Project summary: Carbon geological storage (CGS) as an element of the CCUS/CCS process is considered to be the most viable option for the storage of the large CO2 quantities needed to reduce global warming and related climate change effectively. Storage of natural gas and partially decarbonized gas (with addition H2) will play a vital role in the stability of energy supply in the EU. The innovative, guiding concept of the AGaStor project is based on synergy between natural gas storage and CO2 storage process in a location near captured CO2 emission sources (e.g. in NW Poland). The main objective of the project is to facilitate the implementation of advanced Underground Gas Storage (UGS) using dynamic support of Carbon Dioxide Cushion (CDC) in saline aquifers. The location of this storage will be selected in the proximity of industrial CO2 source, LNG receiving terminal and “Baltic Pipe” gas interconnector NO-PL. The fundamental advantage of the CO2 gas cushion is an environmental and economic benefit. A key innovation will be development of new & safe technology for CO2 storage as a cushion (or part of cushion) in energy gas storage build in aquifers. The project will produce practical guidelines and solutions for characterization of possible storage sites of UNGS with CDC (3D architecture of the storage complex, trapping mechanisms, reactive flow, CO2/NG mixing process, risk assessment and sensitivity analysis) in selected regions of future deployment, improved monitoring and potential mitigation of CO2 leakage. Combining CO2 storage with UGS can bring economic and technological advantages to the industry and allow it to reduce the amount of anthropogenic emissions of CO2. This new CCUS element may be an element of pro-climate action. A key issue of the AGaStor project will be knowledge exchange and enhanced cooperation between the Polish & Norwegian partners to determine the best technologies & application in the energy systems of partner countries. 

Project Acronym: CCMS-P
Project Promoter: AGH University of Science and Technology
Polish Partners: 
Norwegian Partners: Norwegian University of Life Sciences  
Project cost (EUR): 835235,05
Grant amount (EUR): 835235,05
Duration: 01.10.2020-2024-04-30
www: www.ccmsp.eu
Project summary: Carbon Capture in Molten Salts is being explored as a novel method for extracting carbon dioxide from diluted flue gases. Preliminary studies obtained by the Norwegian researchers have revealed that the method does indeed constitute novel and potentially highly efficient technology for capturing CO2 from a diversity of flue gases related to industry and power generation. The project aims at performing, testing and operating the prototype of a two-chamber reactor for carbon capture in molten salts. The hypothesis that CO2 can be captured and released by a molten salt-based liquid sorbent was proved and tested in a single-chamber reactor at NMBU laboratories. Prior to the construction of a two-chamber reactor, in order to test the assumptions of mass flow between low- and high-temperature chambers, a simulation based on the computer will be performed. At the same time, based on the simulation results as well as the knowledge and experience of scientists from AGH and NMBU, a prototype of the reactor will be designed. Finally, based on the results of the design and simulation, the two-chamber reactor will be constructed. The construction and testing of the prototype in a laboratory environment is the last stage before the commercialization of this technology. Based on the current knowledge of the project partners and tests conducted previously on a single-chamber reactor, this project will complement the last laboratory step and also the first – in the way of scaling up to enable full industrial application. The project sets itself an ambitious goal, which is the transition from fundamental research to the prototype scale allowing the development of a new product in the form of a device to reduce the CO2 emissions. This is especially important because of rapidly growing problems with global warming.

Project Acronym: InnCapPlant
Project Promoter: Cracow University of Technology CUT
Polish Partners: 
Norwegian Partners: Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU; SINTEF Industry 
Project cost (EUR): 2127090,85
Grant amount (EUR): 2127090,85
Duration: 01.01.2021-2024-04-30
www: https://ke.pk.edu.pl/projekt-inncapplant/
Project summary: The aim of the project is to conduct research on an innovative CO2 capture(CC) method from flue gases generated during combustion process in of hard pulverized coal-fired power boiler. The basis of the method was developed by the Norwegian project partner (SINTEF Industry). The method is based on the use of activated carbon in a moving bed temperature swing adsorption process.Preliminary results allow to conclude that the energy intensity of the method is lower than the energy intensity of the methods based on chemical absorption process or on fixed bed capture process. The project is to demonstrate the usefulness of the method for rapid changes in the load of a power unit, with particular emphasis on rapid power growth. The project was divided into 5 working pakages(WPs). In WP1, the participants will carry out computational work aimed at developing mathematical models that will simulate the operation of selected boilers under transient operating conditions. A program for analyses and simulations of a moving bed temperature swing adsorption process suited to the laboratory stand will be developed. The method energy consumption and its(dynamics)flexibility will also be computationally estimated. The dynamics of the proposed CC method should aligned with the dynamics of power unit.In the WP2 Partners will design and build a research stan for CC from flue gases.
Within WP3, the test stand will be installed in one of the Polish power plant. Measurements will be carried out during its operation in steady and transient conditions. On the base of measurements, will be estimated:-performance,-CO2 capture rate,-energy consumption.The model of a moving bed temperature swing adsorption process developed in WP1 will be validated and tuned.
Based on the results from previous WPs, partners will undertake efforts to scale up the research model to industrial conditions.The last stage(WP5) is dedicated to efficient communication and dissemination issues.

Project Acronym: MOLCAR
Project Promoter: Warsaw University of Technology
Polish Partners: Fuell Cell Polska
Norwegian Partners: SINTEF AS
Project cost (EUR): 1474202,43
Grant amount (EUR): 1408696,96
Duration: 01.10.2021-2024-03-31
www: https://www.eng.itc.pw.edu.pl/Projekty/MOLCAR
Project summary: The proposed project is focused on research and development oriented at constructing a Carbon Capture and Storage/Utilization (CCS) system based on molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) operating at flue gas stream, producing electricity and gas “Sabatier ready” for power-to-gas applications. Such a unit can be the key component of energy storage systems which realize the power-to-gas concept. In such systems the excess electricity from intermittent sources (wind and solar) is used to generate synthetic fuels. Additionally, MCFC aid in increasing the flexibility of operation of conventional power units, especially in the light of the expected frequent shutdowns as centally disposed units. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells offer several advantages over amine installations which has an established position in the market. Project focuses on the concept development, design, construction and experimental studies of a prototype 10 kW-class system with MCFC stack, which exhibits carbon capture in excess of 90% for coal fired power in MCFC (with negative energy penalty –4 MW/kg), resulting in the additional power of approximately 30%. The MCFC stack has a modular design which makes it possible to integrate several of such units to built larger CCS systems. Carbon Dioxide can be later re-use for production of synthetic fuels using excess electricity from intermittent sources allows integration of the electrical and gas grids (sector coupling) which results in higher flexibility and security of supply of energy. Thanks to that the gas grid becomes energy storage systems. Importance of this aspect has to be noted with respect to large scale CCS. MCFC-based systems are built, contrary to other fuel cells which operated only in sub-kW scale.

Project Acronym: NEGATIVE-CO2-PP
Project Promoter: Gdańsk University of Technology
Polish Partners: Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences; Wrocław University of Science and Technology; AGH University of Science and Technology; Instytut Automatyki Systemów Energetycznych Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością; BROS CONTROL SPÓŁKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA SPÓŁKA KOMANDYTOWA
Norwegian Partners: NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET; SINTEF Energi AS
Project cost (EUR): 4164510,94
Grant amount (EUR): 4055321,03
Duration: 01.11.2020-2024-04-30
www: https://nco2pp.mech.pg.gda.pl
Project summary: One of the main goals of the project is the development of an innovative technology along with the construction of a demonstration installation, allowing the use of sewage sludge for the production of electricity with a positive impact on the natural environment. The power plant proposed in this project focuses on a new type of CCS / CCU system and concerns the installation of gasification of sewage sludge and its utilization in a gas power plant with carbon dioxide capture. The synergy between the CCS / CCU installation and the proposed use of sewage sludge (considered a renewable energy source) allows the installation to achieve an overall negative CO2 emissions. As a result of the project implementation, two demonstration installations will be designed and built for: 1) gasification of sewage sludge; 2) combustion of the created fuel, energy production and CO2 capture. In summary, the project will result in the development of syngas management technologies resulting from the gasification of sewage sludge and a dedicated installation of a wet combustion chamber with the use of oxygen combustion for the developed type of fuel. It will be possible to capture CO2 from a waste (commonly considered as problematic) and achieve a positive environmental effect, while generating electricity and heat. 

Project Acronym: PhotoRed
Project Promoter: West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin
Polish Partners: 
Norwegian Partners: University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), SINTEF AS Industry, SINTEF AS Ocean
Project cost (EUR): 1961775,44
Grant amount (EUR): 1961775,44
Duration: 01.09.2020-2024-04-30
www: www.photored.zut.edu.pl
Project summary: The project deals with an innovative solution for post-combustion CO2 capture and utilisation. The existing post-combustion carbon capture (PCCC) technologies (as amine solutions and geological storage) are energy demanding and not enough environmentally viable. The capture of carbon dioxide is a good idea, but there are much more prospective CCU (carbon capture and utilisation) technologies, being a real breakthrough enabling to transform carbon dioxide into useful products (fuels or other chemicals). These technologies are still at the very initial technology readiness level and their efficiency is low, but an effort to develop them is necessary to close the carbon cycle, tomoderate climate change and to decrease the exploitation of fossil fuels. In the precedent Polish-Norwegian “SolSorb” project (2014-2017) we determined carbon spheres as an excellent sorbent for CO2 capture, enabling to adsorb above 6 mmol of CO2/g/h at ambient conditions. In the present proposal the project consortium is proposing the same sorbent as a basic component for a hybrid composite, adding titania known for its photocatalytic properties. The composite will be additionally chemically modified and tested in a photocatalytic and in a photoelectrochemical process. The goal of the project is to convert at least 10 least 10 micromol of CO2/g/h at ambient conditions under UV and to maintain the activity at the same level for at least 200 hrs. The processes will be carried out at first in the quartz laboratory reactors and during the project a scale-upgrade will be performed and the prototype stainless steel reactors will be designed and manufactured. A combined literature and experimental environmental impact assessment of the photocatalyst materials produced within the project will be performed. In addition to the technical aspects of the project, particular attention will be dedicated to raising social awareness of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) issues.

Project Acronym: Co-Adapt
Project Promoter: Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW 
Polish Partners: University of Warsaw
Norwegian Partners: Western Norway Research Institute (Vestlandsforsking), OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University 
Project cost (EUR): 1492388,4
Grant amount (EUR): 1492388,4
Duration: 01.10.2021-30.04.2024
www:
Project summary: We live in an era of climate change, and the threats to city dwellers are real: heat waves, floods, and loss of biodiversity. Actions on a global scale are beyond the reach of each of us. The CoAdapt project responds to the challenge of ‘thinking globally, acting locally’ in adapting to climate change. The project included the design and implementation of a simulation game, "Neighborhood with Climate," which helps in making decisions on how to adapt a housing estate to climate change. This serious game motivates residents to change the development of their surroundings and gives a real chance to improve the environment in their place of residence to minimize the negative effects of climate change, from solutions to improve the microclimate to rainwater management. Residents learn about nature-based solutions, and the game, through detailed parameterization of individual solutions, such as a large tree or a rain garden, enables verification of the effectiveness of these solutions in a specific place. It allows you to check whether you have reduced the temperature, improved air quality, and how much rainwater has been captured. We tested the game in five housing estates in Warsaw, where the residents not only proposed solutions to improve environmental conditions but also implemented them. The game "Neighborhood with Climate," available at www.coadapt.pl, is offered in both board and computer versions, including a phone application, with the playing field being a housing estate indicated by the player. This makes it unique compared to other pro-climate games. A board game allows residents to initiate discussions, while a computer game allows for verification of the solutions used, clearly visible on a 3D model of their own housing estate. The game is available in Polish and English and can be played throughout Poland. We hope that this well-designed tool—the game—will contribute to increasing environmental awareness and, consequently, improve the quality of life for residents not only in their estate but also in the entire city. Tests among various user groups, including students, local community leaders, and officials, indicate great educational potential. The game was tested not only in Poland but also in Norway and the USA, where it was received with great interest. Currently, there are plans to use the game as part of the participatory budget in Warsaw, as well as to introduce the game to a streaming platform.

Project Acronym: CoMobility
Project Promoter: University of Warsaw
Polish Partners: SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw University of Technology, On-site Foundation, City of Lublin
Norwegian Partners: Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The Fridtjof Nansen Foundation at Polhøgda
Project cost (EUR): 2190644,43
Grant amount (EUR): 2190644,43
Duration: 01.03.2021-2024-04-30
www: https://comobility.edu.pl/
Project summary: Air pollution and private car use in Poland are among the highest in Europe, significantly impacting school commutes and morning traffic. The project conducted City Labs in three Warsaw primary schools, focusing on creating neighborhood interventions through co-creation with second and third-grade pupils and various stakeholders. This process began with mapping relevant stakeholders and inviting external experts. Collaboration with City of Warsaw and Institute for Environmental Protection enhanced data acquisition and analysis. The project collected rich qualitative and quantitative data using participatory GIS methods, discrete choice analysis, and a carefully prepared survey and questionnaire. Additionally, air quality data were gathered over two years using a sensor network deployed in the project. Importantly, the project developed a system of models integrating traffic modelling at micro and aggregated levels, machine learning models of transport mode choice, discrete choice analyses of stated preferences, and emission and environmental models of air quality in greater Warsaw. The emission model identified idling and congestion as major NO2 contributors. Findings were presented at key conferences, emphasizing the need for human-centered measures to shift mobility habits. We highlighted pervasive attitudes toward car usage, showing the necessity of soft measures to gradually induce a shift in mobility; and developed a software platform for travel mode choice modelling, leveraging Big Data to align public transport with citizen needs. The project expanded academic skills and expertise through international and transdisciplinary cooperation, promising future research benefits for the team. The short-term results are: the tools and methods developed were widely shared and can be implemented in Warsaw and other communities; interventions during the project improved safety and awareness of air pollution consequences in the three local communities participating in city labs; co-creation gathered various stakeholders and provided them with new experience of innovative problem-solving tools. Project significantly contributed to ongoing discussions on school safety, sustainable urban mobility, and public responsibility for air quality. The project advanced the debate, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of sustainable transitions and setting benchmarks for assessing transport mode choice and air quality interventions at both aggregated and local scales.

Project Acronym: GC
Project Promoter: Politechnika Gdańska
Polish Partners: Stowarzyszenie Inicjatywa Miasto, Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie, Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. M. Grzegorzewskiej 
Norwegian Partners: University of Stavanger, Oslo Metropolitan University
Project cost (EUR): 2047997,08
Grant amount (EUR): 2047997,08
Duration: 01.03.2021-2024-04-30
www: http://greencoin.pl/
Project summary:  The Greencoin project was initiated to promote sustainable behaviors by developing a local digital currency, incentivizing eco-friendly practices among the community. This initiative emerged from the need to address environmental challenges and encourage a shift towards sustainability at a local level. To achieve its goals, the project implemented several key activities: development of the PULA Application, creating methods of valuating actions and rewards, building partnership, community engagement and promotion, developing model of valuing actions and rewards. These activities enabled testing the concept in real conditions in Gdańsk, Poland. The the PULA app, was designed to facilitate the use of the digital currency. It allowed users to earn virtual coins by engaging in sustainable activities, which could then be spent at participating local businesses. The project established a network of strategic and local partners, including universities, businesses, and NGOs. The project yielded significant insights into the effectiveness of digital currencies in promoting sustainable behaviors. The PULA app engaged users, demonstrating the potential of digital incentives to motivate eco-friendly actions. Strategic and local partners enhanced the project’s reach and impact, indicating the importance of collaborative efforts in sustainability initiatives. The PULA app was well-received, with users actively participating and earning rewards for sustainable actions. A strong network of partners contributed to the project’s success, exceeding initial expectations in terms of engagement and contributions. The project raised awareness and encouraged sustainable behaviors within the community, supporting local green businesses and services. Looking ahead, the Greencoin project presents numerous opportunities for future development. There is potential to expand the use of the digital currency to broader communities and additional sustainable activities. Building on the success of local events, future initiatives can further integrate educational and practical sustainability programs. The model established by the Greencoin project can be scaled and replicated, promoting global sustainability efforts. Using the engine of the PULA App, the applicability of new technologies can be further explored (e.g. blochain technology, AI and ML, IoT devices, big data analytics).

Project Acronym: GREENHEAT
Project Promoter: Instytut Maszyn Przepływowych im. Roberta Szewalskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Polish Partners: Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego, Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej, CASE – Centrum Analiz Społeczno-Ekonomicznych, Fundacja KEZO przy Centrum Badawczym Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Norwegian Partners: Norwegian Institute for Air Research, University of Bergen 
Project cost (EUR): 1408795,17
Grant amount (EUR): 1408795,17
Duration: 01.02.2021-2024-04-30
www: https://greenheat.kezo.pl/en/
Project summary: The Greenheat project was launched in response to the pressing need to decarbonize residential heating systems in Poland, by replacing individual fossil-fueled boilers with low-carbon alternatives. Conducting the pilot in Legionowo was crucial due to the city's reliance on outdated heating technologies contributing to local air pollution and carbon emissions. To achieve its objectives, the project employed an iterative and locally embedded process of social engagement. This approach aimed not only to implement technical solutions but also to engage various stakeholders in the collaborative development and to raise civic awareness about sustainability and air quality concerns. Three series of participatory workshops and consultations were conducted with local stakeholders, including residents, city authorities, representatives of businesses and energy companies. By involving stakeholders in the decision-making process, the project fostered ownership and commitment among participants, enhancing the sustainability and acceptance of proposed solutions. From a technical perspective, accessing data is essential to planning decarbonization processes. Therefore, sources and methods for obtaining this data at the city level have been indicated. The preferred solutions were shown for replacing fossil fuel boilers, at the level of a single house, neighborhood and city area. It was proposed to create a local decarbonization fund and a pilot distributed heat pump and PV system was installed, which could be its foundation. For the neighborhood of several communities in multi-family buildings fueled by gas, a common heating system based on heat pumps, storage, and renewable energy sources (RES) installations was proposed and consulted with the residents. The potential business model related to these processes was consulted with the stakeholders and the final decision of the residents on its implementation is awaited. Attention was also drawn to the role of district heating (DH) in decarbonization and the need for its gradual transition to renewable sources was agreed with the city authorities. The importance of the project extends beyond immediate benefits, with expected long-term impacts including sustained reductions in carbon emissions, improved public health outcomes, and economic resilience through energy cost savings.

Project Acronym: SmartFood
Project Promoter: Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia
Polish Partners: 'Cracow University of Technology, The Maria Grzegorzewska University
Norwegian Partners: 'Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Western Norway Research Institute, BI Norwegian Business School
Project cost (EUR): 1604999,99
Grant amount (EUR): 1604999,99
Duration: 01.09.2021-30.04.2024
www: www.smartfood.city
Project summary: SmartFood integrates state of the art interdisciplinary research of urban food consumption and production, with a novel approach to co-creation of insect- and vege-based, nutritious foods, without using any soil or land, while exploiting the locally available rainwater and solar energy for all year long sustainable and safe food production in corridors of urban blocks of flats. SmartFood aims to make a significant contribution towards fulfilling the long-term vision of cities of the future, where switching to sustainable food consumption and production patterns increases healthy eating habits, reduces reliance on food retailing, reduces food waste and strengthens communal connection in urban buildings. As outcome of these activities, home food production reduces environmental footprint by lowering greenhouse gas emissions for food production and transportation. Relative to the prior work on reduction of food waste and sustainable community development that primarily rely on self-reported survey measures which have low predictive reliability, we use state of the art controlled experiment that implements actual sustainable food self-production facilities and measures real environmental, behavioral and attitudinal outcomes and therefore provides evidence-based policy recommendations.

Project Acronym: USAGE
Project Promoter: Water Science and Technology Institute- H2O SciTech
Polish Partners: Warsaw University of Technology; Cracow University of Technology; CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research
Norwegian Partners: Norwegian Institute for Water Research; The Fridtjof Nansen Foundation at Polhøgda 
Project cost (EUR): 2326998,06
Grant amount (EUR): 2326998,06
Duration: 01.08.2021-30.04.2024
www: https://urbanras.eu/
Project summary: The objective of the project is to create the green-garden installation for the food production which is based on aquaponic systems supported on rain and stormwater collection infrastructure. Alongside to food production, the infrastructure will play an educational and social role, integrating the citizens, creating the workplaces and propagating the environment-friendly behaviors. The design of the system will be suited to the urban tissue thanks to local community engagement and urban planners work. The aquaponic installation connected with the water collection and treatment system will create a meeting place and play a social role by integrating neighborhoods, local citizens, boosting entrepreneurship and rising the knowledge about climate changes. The project takes the Urban Living Lab (ULL) approach with six interrelated, feedback-driven work packages. It’s a complex project, containing aquaponics with stormwater treatment and the technologic “mixture” with social component. ULL methodology assumes moving almost all research activities to the project site. Big part of infrastructure will be located in two urban sites (Wroclaw and Oslo) and research on them will be performed there. In this “co-creation” process subject infrastructure is developed in front of the local community and with their engagement. Researchers in this setting can be seen as “invited experts” that intervene within stormwater aquaponic installation but are doing this “on behalf” of society. Aquaponic farm in modern, dense cities may help accomplish the search for amorphous forms, offering expected variety and contrast in highly urbanized context. Even more important advantage that aquaponic farm offers to urban hierarchies is its potential of social interactions.

Akronim: 3DforCOMP
Project Promoter: Technology Partners Foundation 
Project cost (EUR): 199887,40
Grant amount (EUR): 199887,40
Duration: 01.09.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: https://technologypartners.pl/portfolio-items/3dforcomp/
Project summary: 3DforCOMP aims at developing a technology for increasing the through the thickness electrical conductivity of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) up to values required by the aerospace, automotive, defence and electronic industries for electromagnetic shielding. The proposed solution consists of using the Fused Filaments Fabrication (FFF) 3D printing process to print thermoplastic nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes onto the surface of carbon fabrics. Such an approach will allow to introduce in a safe way high volumes of carbon nanotubes (up to 15wt%) into the CFRP structure, which is impossible using currently available technologies. During the CFRP manufacturing process, the printed nanocomposites will be melted and mixed with the epoxy resin resulting in an increase of not only electrical but also mechanical properties. A new type of the electrically conductive and flexible filaments based on hot melt adhesives and carbon nanotubes will be tested using an industrial 3D printer in SINTEF, Norway. At each step of the process, the electrical conductivity will be analysed and supported by microscopic investigations of the carbon nanotubes’ dispersion. This will allow for understanding the influence of process conditions on the electrical properties and on the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness. The developed solution will be tested in natural conditions on an airplane wing prototype at the end of the project.

Akronim: ACIPHAGE
Project Promoter: Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy PAS
Project cost (EUR): 175816,45
Grant amount (EUR): 175816,45
Duration: 01.06.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: https://hirszfeld.pl/projekty/aciphage/
Project summary: Celem projektu jest wyizolowanie, scharakteryzowanie i przygotowanie koktajlu fagowego specyficznego dla wyjątkowo opornych bakterii Acinetobacter baumannii, będących patogenem oportunistycznym, zdolnych do wytwarzania biofilmu i szeroko rozpowszechnionych w środowisku szpitalnym. Gatunek ten powoduje liczne infekcje wśród długo hospitalizowanych pacjentów, w tym na oddziałach intensywnej opieki medycznej. A. baumannii został zaklasyfikowany przez Światową Organizację Zdrowia do krytycznej grupy priorytetowej. Wspomniany patogen jest jedną z możliwych przyczyn trudnych do leczenia infekcji dróg moczowych, które stanowią ogromny problem społeczny wśród kobiet i znacząco obniżają ich jakość życia. W celu znalezienia i wyizolowania nowych fagów aktywnych przeciwko A. baumannii zebrane zostaną zarówno wielolekooporne bakteryjne szczepy szpitalne oraz próbki wody. Nowo wyizolowane fagi zostaną poddane amplifikacji w celu określenia ich morfologii oraz przynależności taksonomicznej. W celu potwierdzenia litycznego charakteru fagów zostanie przeprowadzone sekwencjonowanie ich materiału genetycznego. Określone zostanie spektrum lityczne fagów oraz ich stabilność w różnych warunkach przechowywania. Ponadto do opracowania składu preparatu fagowego wykorzystane zostaną również fagi pochodzące z kolekcji Laboratorium Bakteriofagowego (możliwa synergia fagów w potencjalnym preparacie docelowym). Zarówno różne warianty koktajli, jak i pojedyncze fagi zostaną wykorzystane do badania skuteczności fagów in vitro. Następnie fagi, które wykazywały najwyższą skuteczność w walce z biofilmem bakteryjnym zostaną wykorzystane do badań in vivo. Badania te dotyczyć będą eksperymentalnie wywołanej infekcji dróg moczowych u myszy. Badania nad składem preparatu aktywnego wobec wielolekoopornym szczepom A. baumannii w leczeniu infekcji dróg moczowych przyczynią się zarówno do rozwoju fagoterapii, jak i do przezwyciężenia ogromnego problemu zdrowotnego o znacznym zasięgu społecznym.

Akronim: AptaCancer
Project Promoter: Jagiellonian University, Kraków, dr Małgorzata Benedyk-Machaczka
Project cost (EUR): 168 123
Grant amount (EUR): 168 123
Duration: 01.03.2020-2024-03-01
Project summary: The aim of the project is to develop a universal molecular probe for the PD-L1 protein (programmed death receptor -1 ligand), which will facilitate the diagnosis of various types of cancer. PD-L1 is a protein present on the surface of many cancer cells, allowing them to bypass the natural defense system of the immune system. One of the components of the immune system are T lymphocytes, which recognize and attack cancer cells. These cells have structures called receptors on their outer surfaces, which act as keys to lock onto the molecules of attacking organisms. This molecular recognition is a major component of the immune response. One of the elements of this mechanism are so-called "checkpoints", which prevent T cells from attacking normal cells. A key part of this mechanism is the PD-L1 / PD-1 system (programmed death protein -1). PD-L1 on normal cells recognizes and attaches to PD-1 on T cells, preventing them from attacking healthy cells. Unfortunately, some cancers have learned to produce large amounts of PD-L1 in order to trick the immune system into avoiding detection. Hence, the designed probes that target PD-L1 binding will be able to detect and locate neoplastic cells at a very early stage of the disease. These probes can be used in early diagnosis, increasing the chances of detecting the disease and starting treatment.

Akronim: BANANO
Project Promoter: Institute of High Pressure Physics Polish Academy of Sciences
Project cost (EUR): 198 398,42
Grant amount (EUR): 198 398,42
Duration: 01.08.2021-2024-04-30
Adres strony: http://www.unipress.waw.pl/mbe/pl/projekty/banano
Project summary: The project addresses the unsolved question about production technology of single-frequency lasers emitting in visible range 380-530 nm, in particular distributed feedback laser diodes (DFB LDs) based on GaN. One stable wavelength operation with high side mode suppression ratio is required for such applications as: high-speed, last-mile communication based on plastic optical fibers, precise time measurements by atomic clocks or advanced sensors based on interferometry. The nitride DFB LDs are not yet available on the market because of severe limitations related to inherent material properties of (In,Al,Ga)N alloys, namely: low refractive index contrast and high lattice mismatch. A few concepts to address these issue have been reported, utilizing a photonic grating on top of LD structure. We propose a novel approach, namely introduction of periodic arrays of nanometer size air-channels to GaN in order to locally obtain a much lower refractive index and form a photonic grating. A goal of the project is to develop a combination of advanced processing technologies in order to fabricate buried photonic structure (air-GaN grating) that could be located below the active region of the device. Such grating will be integrated in a blue LD structure grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy for light coupling and dedicated wavelength selection in order to demonstrate novel design nitride DFB LD. Performance of such development will be investigated theoretically and characterized experimentally in order to verify the applicability of the proposed invention.

Akronim: Bioabsmat
Project Promoter: Instiyute of Metallurgy and Materials Science Polish Academy of Sciences 
Project cost (EUR): 199 864,84
Grant amount (EUR): 199 864,84
Duration: 01.09.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: www.bioabsmat.pl
Project summary: Progress in bioabsorbable metals is of great importance since they can be used to produce temporary implants, replacing permanent ones, and thus limiting harmful side effects linked with their long-term presence in a patient body. The interest in bioabsorbable metals for biomedical applications is growing. With the acceleration of an aging society, human health and quality of life are among the most critical issues. The replacement of human tissue by implants is one of the conditions of supporting long and good physical condition of the as complicated machine as human. The orthopedic market in the world is forecasted to potential growth for next year’s mainly by sports injuries and car accidents (e.g., https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/orthopedic-trauma-devices-market-130) but also caused by osteoporosis. Replacement for permanent bone implants is required, what will prevent secondary surgeries and complications connected with metallic parts inside a human body.
Therefore, in the frame of this project, it is planned to produce ZnMg0.5 alloys with the addition of a small amount of Ca and Sr and proceeded by hydrostatic extrusion. A prototype of an orthopedic screw with enhanced properties will be designed and subjected to mechanical, microstructural, and corrosion investigation. The innovative approach proposed in the project covers the implementation of quaternary zinc alloys with satisfying mechanical properties obtained by alloying and hydrostatic extrusion, along with a beneficial impact on corrosion and biological properties. The series of globally unique prototype elements in the form of bone screws made of highly strengthened bioabsorbable Zn alloy designed and manufactured during the project will be presented to companies involved in manufacturing biomedical devices. This study can provide a new direction in the development of new generation orthopedic implants. 

Akronim: BioLigaMed
Project Promoter: Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences
Project cost (EUR): 196 956,73
Grant amount (EUR): 196 956,73
Duration: 01.10.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: www.ligament.ippt.pan.pl
Project summary: The project involves the development of an internationally innovative prototype of the implant for the repair of the knee ligaments. The implant will enable the reconstruction of the ligament's torn par and the tunnel in the bone in the place where the implant is mounted. The developed prototype of the implant will have biomimetic properties - modification of the surface with ceramics in the part of bone reconstruction and with protein in part of the ligament reconstruction. The biocompatibility of the implant will be verified and preclinical studies carry. The newest trend in ACL reparation is using a collagen sponge combined with an appropriate implantation technique. It involves the suture repair of the ligament combined with a bioactive scaffold to bridge the gap between the torn ligament ends. In this solution, the nonbiodegradable tape is used to enhance the mechanical properties of the collagen sponge and enable sponge mounting in the femoral canal. However, the problem is that after a few years polymeric tape attached to endobutton is rubbed at the point of peeking with sharp edges of the bones. Additionally, bone regeneration is minimal due to the lack of filling of the tunnel. The project includes the development of the shape of the implant, the selection of polymers taking into account the necessary mechanical properties. In the next stage, the developed implant model will be optimized by differentiating the parameters of the FDM process. The material properties of the manufactured product will be determined. Then, in in-vitro and in vivo conditions, biocompatibility (cytotoxicity and toxicity, biodegradation) will be assessed, and the implant will be tested in preclinical studies on a large animal model

Akronim: BIPOLAR
Project Promoter: Systems Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Project cost (EUR): 196 969,36
Grant amount (EUR): 196 969,36
Duration: 01.01.2022-2024-02-29
Project summary: BIPOLAR aims at the development of highly novel computational intelligence methods for sensor-based, semi-supervised and uncertainty-aware prediction of bipolar disorder (BD) episodes. Initial research confirms that objectively collected data from sensors can be a gamechanger in detection of episodes of bipolar disorder (BD). However, the key barriers to use sensors in BD monitoring remain open: (i) lack of easily adaptable computational methods for BD episodes prediction; (ii) lack of reliable benchmark datasets for training of the algorithms. Furthermore, in the majority of the state of the art, the episode prediction problem is stated as a supervised learning task and collecting numerous labels is almost infeasible in the BD monitoring context. BIPOLAR has access to two large digital anonymised data sets already collected from sensors of BD patients which will guide the research and experimental development. The objectives of the BIPOLAR are: (1) to develop and evaluate methods for sensor data aggregation and feature retrieval (2) to model uncertainty of depressive and manic symptoms; (3) to develop semi-supervised software prototype for prediction of shifts of patients’ mental state (4) to demonstrate the solution in two real-life use cases. BIPOLAR will use an agile approach in its research-based development including evaluation in specific psychiatric scenarios characterized with low sensor-data labeling percentage, high uncertainty of psychiatric labelling and high-variability between individuals. 
Scientific uniqueness of BIPOLAR consists of delivering a software prototype with a set of accurate computational methods for early prediction of bipolar episodes based on the conjoint use of fuzzy logic, statistical process control and semi-supervised learning. Results of BIPOLAR will be made available under open access licence and will have significant societal and economic impact. 

Akronim: CerChamber
Project Promoter: Łukasiewicz Research Network - Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials
Project cost (EUR): 198 479,09
Grant amount (EUR): 198 479,09
Duration: 01.09.2021-2023-12-31
WWW: www.icimb.pl/projekty-badawczo-rozwojowe
Project summary: The project concerns the development of ceramic and ceramic composite combustion chambers for aviation and space technology. Three types of materials were selected for this purpose, for which fabrication technology will be developed:
- silicon nitride ceramics 
- silicon nitride matrix composites reinforced by silicon carbide particles 1-30wt%
- silicon nitride matrix composites reinforced by carbon fibers 1-30wt%.
Silicon nitride belongs to the group of non-oxide ceramics. In such materials dominant type of chemical bonding between atoms is covalent, thus even in high temperatures the mobility of atoms and consequently matter diffusivity is small. As a result, silicon nitride does not show good sinterability. Due to the complex shape of the rocket nozzles, no hot pressing techniques, usually used for production of these materials, can be applied directly. The technology for fabrication method of the materials will be modified for the production of combustion chambers by powder metallurgy. For this reason, it is indispensable to introduce sintering aids which will either cause sintering of the material by liquid phase rout or increase the diffusivity of the material at high temperature.
The granulated powders containing forming and sintering additives will be compacted isostatically and subsequently sintered in protective atmosphere pressurelessly and densified in conditions of high-temperature and high pressure using Hot Isostatic Pressing technique. The materials will be characterized in terms of their thermal and mechanical properties which will allow the design of test at dyno. The full scale ceramic and ceramic composite combustion chambers will be subjected to tests at the stand for testing the thrust 500N class rocket engines. The properties of the prototypes nozzles obtained by the designed technology will be validated in the working conditions.

Akronim: CompoChar
Project Promoter: Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences
Project cost (EUR): 191 702,22
Grant amount (EUR): 191 702,22
Duration: 01.04.2022-2024-04-30
Project summary: The main objective of the research will be to develop the technology of biochar production and dosing for the composting process of bio-waste, to reduce harmful emissions (CO2, CH4, H2S, NH3, CO). Second goal will be improve the bio-waste composting process, produce high quality compost (CompoChar) and reduce the carbon footprint. A technology for the production of biochar with high gaseous sorption properties and will be proposed. The use of the technology will allow reduction of costs related to the treatment of composting process gas, which the installation has to remove. Those gases are also harmful to the environment, odor-generating and dangerous for composting plant employees. The advantages of the proposed solution are: 
- reducing the emission of harmful gases: CO2, CH4, H2S, NH3, CO at least 25%,
- shortening the composting process by 7 days and increasing the fertilizing properties of the compost,
- increasing the economic benefits – reduce the amount of gases which need to be cleaning,
- extending the duration of the thermophilic phase, which will allow for greater hygiene of CompoChar,
- closing the chain of the production and recycling cycle by using compost for the production of biochar.
The presented technology will be possible to implement in bio-waste treatment plants as an alternative technology for reducing gaseous emissions. In addition, the new technology may constitute an attractive market complement to the currently used methods for intensifying the processing of bio-waste, used for facilitating the work of composting plants in difficult operating conditions.

Akronim: DesignHyCap
Project Promoter: Wrocław University of Science and Technology
Project cost (EUR): 126 236,21
Grant amount (EUR): 126 236,21
Duration: 01.08.2021-2023-11-01
Project summary: The growing demand for electricity requires the exploration of electrical devices, which could meet the increasing needs of modern society. The supercapacitors are group of devices with promising opportunities for storage of large amounts of energy. Accordingly, there are requested the new innovative materials which would exceed the electrochemical properties of currently used activated carbons. Among the intensively studied groups of compounds are transition metal oxides, sulphides, nitrides and their composites with carbon nanomaterials. Recently, the large scientific interest is focused on the synthesis of these composites. However, the electrochemical capacitance of transition metal compounds(oxides, sulphides, nitrides)/carbon nanomaterials as electrode material are much higher than the capacitance of conventionally used activated carbon. The aim of these project is synthesis of transition metal compounds/carbon nanostructure composites as an electrode material for hybrid capacitor. The project will consist of several steps, including synthesis of transition metal compounds/carbon nanomaterials under various conditions, its physical characterization and evaluation of their capacitance properties in supercapacitor working in aqueous electrolyte. Three carbon nanostructures will be tested: carbon nanofibers, activated carbon and reduced graphene oxide. Obtained composites with carbon nanostructures will be synthesized by facile chemical precipitation, but also by hydrothermal and solvothermal treatment. The compounds ratio in the composite will be verified by the electrochemical measurements. Finally, the chosen composites will be tested in hybrid capacitor using aqueous solution as an electrolyte, where at least one electrode will be built of transition metal nitride/carbon nanomaterial composite. Materials received as the project may contribute to setting new trends in the development of innovative energy storage devices.

Akronim: DMOPV
Project Promoter: Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science Polish Academy of Sciences 
Project cost (EUR): 120 642,77
Grant amount (EUR): 120 642,77
Duration: 01.03.2022-2024-04-30
WWW: www.imim.pl
Project summary: The challenge of the present world is the development in the field of energy saving and renewable energy. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the share of alternative energy sources in total world production. It can be achieved by maximizing energy yields while minimizing the cost of its obtaining. Hence, the main direction of photovoltaics evolution is implementation of advanced technologies for cheap and high-efficient solar cells and modules production. To meet these expectations the major project finding is the development of a procedure of low-resistive metal oxide semiconductors production for use in all oxide heterojunction and perovskite solar cells. The material selected for the research is very promising copper (I) oxide, which is characterized by good physicochemical parameters and can constitute a structural element of the solar cell. The project consists of two tasks. The result of the first task is the “know how” of producing the thin functional layers, based on low-resistive doped metal oxides. For this purpose the simple spray-coating method will be implemented. In the second task a complete prototype device with doped copper oxide will be produced. Two variants of solar cells are considered, heterojunction thin film solar cell where copper oxide will act as an light harvester and perovskite solar cell with Cu2O holes transporting layer. 
The evolved technology will contribute to the broadening of knowledge in the field of doping of oxide semiconductors. Moreover, in the long term, it can be commercialized what will reduce the production costs of solar cells and modules. Due to this, the number of photovoltaic investments will increase what will have a positive impact on environmental protection. 

Akronim: ENDLESS-Mol
Project Promoter: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Project cost (EUR): 160 981,93
Grant amount (EUR): 160 981,93
Duration: 01.04.2022-2024-04-01
Project summary: The design of new materials by means of experiments is remarkably challenging due to the vast number of precursors and the difficulty of unambiguously predicting the properties of novel materials prior their profound analysis. Theoretical modelling can assist experimental studies in efficiently devising novel compounds that feature desired properties. Unfortunately, conventional state-of-the-art theoretical models are difficult, primarily because the computational resources required grow exponentially with system size. Thus, highly accurate quantum chemistry calculations are typically limited to small building blocks of larger materials. Novel electronic structure methods can serve as a resort to break the unfavorable computational scaling of present-day quantum chemistry. One such innovative approach models many-electron systems as collections of electron pairs or geminals. Unfortunately, highly-optimized quantum chemistry software packages that support geminal-based methods are currently unavailable. To allow for an efficient design of molecular compounds, our open-source software package PyBEST will be (i) extended to include an optimized tensor contraction engine and (ii) accelerated to support both CPUs and GPUs using modern approaches like Intel's oneAPI and CuPy. The resulting optimized, open-source software suit will allow for an efficient design of organic solar cells exploiting the robust, computationally inexpensive, reliable, and black-box-like methods shipped with PyBEST. These technical advantages compared to conventional electronic structure codes and methods will facilitate theoretical modelling of molecules, which are out of reach of present-day quantum chemistry. Finally, this project will shift the current paradigm in computational chemistry, large-scale modelling, and theoretical materials design towards novel and systematically improvable approaches implemented in modern quantum chemistry codes that use progressive programming models.

Akronim: engiSCAF
Project Promoter: Lodz University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 169 223,33
Grant amount (EUR): 169 223,33
Duration: 01.09.2021-2024-04-30
Project summary: In the proposed study a novel 3-layered and composite biopolymer scaffold of customizable porous structure and preset biological activity will be prepared by the freeze-drying method. The scaffold will be composed of three functional layers: 1st one made of collagen, 2nd of polymer mixtures based on sodium hyaluronate and its mixtures with other polymers enriched with the selected active compounds; 3rd the nano-monolayer of titanium dioxide serving as functional coating with bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties and reducing the hydrophilicity. It is expected that the prepared structure will be universal for different applications and easily adjusted to the targeted active compound. The last part of the project anticipates the elaboration of the variant of scaffold directed to the use in skin cell engineering (prototype). It is expected that the final construct and its 3-layered system will play crucial role in each stage of wound healing process.

Akronim: FlowChar
Project Promoter: Silesian University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 193 123,38
Grant amount (EUR): 193 123,38
Duration: 01.10.2021-2023-12-31
WWW: www.flowchar.pl
Project summary:

The main idea behind the FlowChar project is to integrate water desalination and biomass thermochemical conversion technologies by employing the residual gasification char as the electrodes during capacitive deionisation of water. The expected advantages of this solution are twofold – the reduced costs of the water treatment and the improved performance of the gasification process. Achieving these benefits should be enabled by the complementary roles of porous carbons and alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEM) in each of the two processes. Gasification char is an abundant by-product of biomass conversion and, just as activated carbons, it can possess the attributes required of the electrode material, i.e., high surface area and microporosity. On the other hand, salt ions (including Na+) are considered as a contamination of the water used, e.g., for agricultural purposes, while their presence in char catalyses the gasification reaction, thus improving the biomass conversion efficiency. Current knowledge on these phenomena provides valid grounds for the assumption that the utilisation of char, created in abundance in the gasification reactor, for the removal of the salt that contaminates water and a further thermochemical conversion of the salt-saturated char would contribute to the cost reduction of the desalination cell operation and the improved performance of the gasification plant.

The feasibility of this concept requires answers to three fundamental questions:
- Can biomass gasification provide the char that meets the requirements for the flow electrode material?
- How well will this char perform during the water desalination?
- Will the Na-saturated char improve the biomass gasification process?
The scope of the FlowChar project is to verify each of these questions via a dedicated work package.

Akronim: ForMag
Project Promoter: Lublin University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 200 000
Grant amount (EUR): 200 000
Duration: 01.11.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: https://mt.pw.edu.pl/index.php/wip/Nauka-i-rozwoj/Projekty-finansowane-z-Funduszy-UE/NCBiR-Small-Grant-Scheme-New-technology-of-forming-magnesium-alloy-wheels-for-light-vehicles
Project summary: The project aims at developing a new technology of forming Mg alloy wheels for light vehicles from preforms cast in metal moulds. The global trend of increasing demand for lightweight structures consisting of parts made of Mg alloys fully justifies raising this issue. Magnesium alloys classified as light metals are the future of construction materials. Their low density as well as good mechanical properties attracted great interest in the industry, particularly in the production using these materials. In recent years, the continuous reduction of the weight of the structures has been one of the main production priorities for various industries. As a result, components made of Mg alloys are increasingly used in mechanical engineering. One of the recipients of magnesium parts is the automotive industry, where the reduction of the weight of the structure can be directly translated into the improvement of the dynamics of the means of transport. The applications of Mg alloys in transport include all kinds of vehicle wheels for cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trolleys, etc. Modern technologies of manufacturing products from these materials have been noticeably improved recently, creating new possibilities for their application. Continuously developed technologies of forming of Mg alloys must not be overlooked, which make it possible to manufacture products with better properties compared to those obtained by casting only. The scope of the project covers the experimental and theoretical research of the parameters of the die forging of Mg alloys cast in metal moulds and the preliminary development of a new technology. Next, multi-variant numerical simulations of the new process of forming Mg alloy wheels will be performed. Then, tests of the new technology of die forging Mg wheels will be carried out both in laboratory and in industrial conditions. The final stage is a technical and economic analysis and the final development of the technology.

Akronim: GalvaNiB
Project Promoter: Łukasiewicz Research Network - Institute of Precision Mechanics
Project cost (EUR): 199 930,77
Grant amount (EUR): 199 930,77
Duration: 01.07.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: www.galvanib.pl/en
Project summary: The subject of the project are composite coatings with a Ni-B matrix and a dispersion phase in the form of boron (B) or molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). The assumptions of the project take into account the worldwide search for materials with precisely defined functional requirements such as high hardness, corrosion resistance and resistance to wear by friction. The choice of B and MoS2 as dispersion phases is dictated by their properties. Boron, in addition to improving mechanical properties, can contribute to the improvement of resistance to increased temperatures. This element melts at a temperature of over 2000°C, for comparison nickel at about 1450°C. This is interesting for future applications in the automotive and aerospace industries, where parts are exposed to high temperatures. On the other hand, MoS2 is characterized, similarly to graphite, by a layered structure, which ensures its lubricating properties. The Ni-B alloy coating itself also has lubricating properties. The combination of these two phases can give very favorable tribological properties.
The coatings will be produced by chemical reduction method on steel substrates from multicomponent solutions. It is planned to obtain materials of hardness above 900 HK0.025. Such hardness can be achieved by chromium coatings, which are currently being replaced with other materials due to the limitations expressed in EU directives and REACH regulations. Other benefits of introducing B or MoS2 particles will be an increase in wear resistance compared to Ni-B coatings. Ni-B/B and Ni-B/MoS2 coatings will be produced with different parameters of the deposition process (bath composition and temperature, deposition time, mixing method, additives, etc.). The produced materials will be characterized by light and scanning microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, roughness parameters measurements, Knoop/Vickers hardness measurements, tribological tests, electrochemical corrosion tests. The coatings will be fabricated on a laboratory scale and on a galvanic line on semi-technical scale.

Akronim: GrooveNeuroTube
Project Promoter: Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan
Project cost (EUR): 188 673,03
Grant amount (EUR): 188 673,03
Duration: 01.10.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: http://cnbm.amu.edu.pl/en/projekty-krajowe/small-grant-scheme-2020-norway-grants-multifunctional-groove-patterned-tubes
Project summary: The aim of the interdisciplinary GrooveNeuroTube project is to produce composite tubes by 3D printing for increased regeneration of peripheral nerves after injuries. In order to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering, 3D printing technology is one of the most promising and efficient methods. However, the generation of biocompatible, stable and low-cost scaffolds material for tissue regeneration remains a significant challenge. Naturally derived polymers, such as hyaluronic acid (HA), exhibit the unique biological property of high biocompatibility, however poor mechanical properties. On the other hand, addition of synthetic polymers including polycaprolactone (PCL) can significantly improve the stability and mechanical properties of scaffolds, making it promising for producing tissue engineering constructs. The addition of growth factors and antibacterial agents is another advantage for direct cell adhesion and axonal outgrowth, and preventing bacterial infection. In this proposal, the scaffold (tubes) will be composed of composite PCL/HA with incorporated active agents. In each project step, material characterization and detail in vitro cytotoxicity studies on primary neurons (rat, human) and human neural stem cells will be performed to access scaffold biocompatibility. Axonal outgrowth will also be exanimated under the electrical stimulation. Finally utility of clinical usage of GrooveNeuroTube will be examined in vivo on rat sciatic nerve injury model. The results obtained will perform the rational design of biocompatible scaffolds for increasing regeneration and tissue integration of peripheral nerves after injuries. Due to the precision which should be preserved while mimicking the nervous tissue ECM and simultaneously incorporating bioactive agents within the structure, the unique 3D printing method involving direct bioagent printing will be used.

Akronim: HotHybrids
Project Promoter: University of Gdansk
Project cost (PLN): 863 750
Grant amount (PLN): 863 750
Duration: 01.04.2022-2024-04-30
Project summary: Overcoming of barriers in the CO2 photoconversion into valuable chemicals requires formation of a new family of materials, possessing high stability, visible light response, long lifetime of photogenerated carriers, good charge mobility, high CO2 adsorption capacity, selectivity and low toxicity, however, none of individual known materials has at the same time all mentioned above features.
To meet all these requirements laid out about, the main objective of the HotHybrids project is to develop a thoroughly groundbreaking class of hybrid materials composed of new double perovskite nanocrystals (DPNs), encapsulated by MOFs. This hybrid system combines unique properties of: (i) DPNs (composition, size and morphology dependent band structure) and (ii) MOFs (high stability in aqueous environment, tremendous surface area and porosity, high capacity of CO2 adsorption, catalytic activity and structure enabling charge mobility). This challenge of the HotHybrids project will be achieved by efficient coupling (chemical or physicochemical linking) of these components into cutting-edge hybrid system allowing for effective charge carriers transport and not blocking activity of any hybrid’s unit.

Akronim: HumMilkPres

Project Promoter: Gdańsk University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 191 027,32
Grant amount (EUR): 191 027,32
Duration: 01.10.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: https://chem.pg.edu.pl/en/hummilkpres 
Project summary: The objective of the project is developing an alternative procedure for preservation and storage of human milk (HM) that will minimize the loss of nutrients and biologically active components. This goal will be achieved by designing and building a prototype of a device for generating pressure at subzero temperature, intended for samples with a volume of 100-150 mL (average volume of milk donated to banks) and determining the changes of selected nutrients and biologically active components and the degree of microbiota inactivation in HM during storage at subzero temperature and high pressure in the conditions when the water remain unfrozen. Breastfeeding is the best way of nutrition newborns and child up to second years old. This recommendation of WHO results from the unusual properties of HM. The quality and quantity of compounds in HM is perfectly adapted to the needs of developing children at every stage of their growth and is one of the main factors responsible for maintaining their good health in adult age. In the case of premature babies, breastfeeding provides proper maturation of underdeveloped digestive and immune system and significantly reduce the risk certain diseases. Therefore, when the mother cannot breastfeed the best alternative, especially regarding feeding premature infants, is then use of HM collected in Human Milk Banks (HMB). Although the microbiota of HM is important component positively influencing the development of the infant, some risk of transferring dangerous diseases as a result of secondary contamination causes that in most HMB the milk is preserving by heating at 62.5C for 30 min. Such treatment leads to a significant reduction in the nutritional and biological value of the HM. Therefore, new methods for preserving HM are searched for, which will ensure microbiological safety, but the properties of milk will be maintained as much as possible. 

Akronim: HyStor
Project Promoter: Wroclaw Univerity of Science and Technology
Project cost (EUR): 197 885,3
Grant amount (EUR): 197 885,3
Duration: 01.10.2021-01.10.2023
WWW: https://hystor.pwr.edu.pl/en/
Project summary:Hydrogen storage has become a dominant issue in the emerging green economy, with the promise of a long-term hydrogen-powered economy based upon cheap and efficient hydrogen production driven by renewable energy sources. However, hydrogen technology faces several technical limitations before it becomes a primary fuel option in such areas as hydrogen-powered emission-free vehicles. One of the major technical hurdles is hydrogen permeation of storage vessel walls, due to its low molecular weight and chemical properties.
Silica Oxide technology is rapidly becoming a promising technology with respect to storage vessel coatings that can reduce permeation losses. The current Project focuses on development of hydrogen permeation limitation through polymers wall based on an application of oxide sol-gel coatings on HDPE polymer as commonly used for gas storage system. Moreover, the system for application, stabilization and defects detection in new-obtained coatings will be established to make proposed solution the most comprehensive and reliable.
Progress in this field will accelerate the successful uptake of hydrogen fuel as a cheap, safe, and efficient energy source for autonomous emission-free transport. This is an essential if the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol on the reduction of greenhouse emissions are to be met by 2030. Moreover, the Project deliverables are in line with European Green Deal strategy, A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe published on 8 July 2020, and with Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy (Brussels, 9.12.2020, COM(2020) 789 final), which defines the main objectives of Hydrogen strategy until 2050.

Akronim: IL-HYDROGEN
Project Promoter: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Project cost (EUR): 199 098
Grant amount (EUR): 199 098
Duration: 01.02.2022-2024-02-01
WWW: https://www.chem.umk.pl/en/htaes/projects/norway-grant/
Project summary: The Project and its outcomes’ target is an important contribution to solving a worldwide environmental issue. Efficient electrolysis of water is commonly seen as a way to accumulate the excess
energy that may be produced by some renewable sources, as photovoltaics. This excess could power the electrolysis process, which yields hydrogen, i.e., the fuel with the highest energy density
per volume unit. This concept is in line with hydrogen economy perspectives. The crucial element for water electrolysis is an efficient electrode design which enables a low split potential alongside
high durability. Another key matter is the elimination of platinum from electrode manufacturing. The Project’s aim is the synthesis of such electrode materials and practical verification of their
application-oriented features. The main objectives are to obtain catalysts, i.e., 3D-structured graphene enriched with heteroatoms, metal oxides, and perovskite metal oxides. The key innovation is
the synthesis of new electrode noble-metal-free materials itself. The catalysts most promising from the perspective of water splitting will be discerned and described in detail on the basis of
physical and chemical analyses. The synthesis strategy will be established taking into account the high variability of metal oxides, heteroatom dopants, and perovskite metal oxides. The chemical
state of atoms will be examined and characterized to make it possible to choose the most effective catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction. This way, we will
gain a precise determination of catalyst site types, which will be particularly important for the interpretation of electrochemical measurements. Important step is determine the relationship of morphology and elemental composition with the materials’ electrochemical and photoelectrochemical (water splitting) activity, as well as their hydrogen evolution reaction activity in contact with
aqueous electrolytes.

Akronim: INNOQPTECHNOL
Project Promoter: Silesian University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 181530,48
Grant amount (EUR): 181530,48
Duration: 01.01.2022-2024-04-30
Project summary: Modern steels intended for structural elements of passenger cars (sheets) and trucks (sheets and plates) must combine high strength, high plasticity, fracture resistance, beneficial technological properties and the ability to absorb energy released during crush events. Moreover, they should provide an opportunity for the development of cost-effective and light-weight parts with improved safety and optimized environmental performance. In response to the identified needs of the automotive industry, the goal of the project was defined as the development of novel technological concepts for ultra-high strength and ductile automotive sheets and plates made of economical medium manganese steels such as Quenching and Partitioning, combining high strength, plasticity,
fracture resistance and showing beneficial technological properties with high application potential in the automotive industry. Within this project, 2 innovative steel grades of 0.16C- (4-5) Mn-1.0Al-0.5Si-Nb type steels will be developed. Two innovative, cost-effective high-efficient thermomechanical processing and Quenching and Partitioning heat treatment technologies will be designed, the aim of which is to produce ultra-high-strength martensitic steels with retained austenite showing the desired stability and morphological homogeneity, which will allow obtaining sheets and plates with unattainable so far mechanical properties. The designed technologies are easy to implement in industrial conditions, as they do not require significant modifications of the currently used technological lines. The implementation of the project goal requires comprehensive industrial and experimental type of research which included: thermodynamic simulations, production of 2 steels and their initial hot working, dilatometric studies, physical simulations of the thermomechanical processing, semi-industrial thermomechanical processing, verification of
mechanical properties and detailed microstructural studies.

Akronim: INPORR
Project Promoter: Gdańsk University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 198 358,91
Grant amount (EUR): 198 358,91
Duration: 01.01.2022-2024-04-30
WWW: https://wilis.pg.edu.pl/en/inporr
Project summary: The new paradigm of wastewater treatment is shifting wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to “water resource recovery facilities”. In the plants with anaerobic sludge digestion, the return liquors from dewatering of digested sludge (sidestream) contain high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus. These special characteristics bring new opportunities for implementing sustainable technologies for nutrient recovery. The aim of the project is to develop and explore an integrated nitrogen and phosphorus removal and recovery (INPORR) technology in sidestream and, consequently, strengthening the scientific career of Principal Investigator. The novelty of the INPORR technology lies in the integration of phosphorus and nitrogen recovery and assembling these processes with the advanced, energy efficient process (deammonification) for nitrogen removal. The INPORR technology consists of three stages: 1) phosphorous recovery during chemical struvite precipitation, 2) nitrogen recovery using gas permeable membrane (GPM), and 3) deammonification for polishing nitrogen removal. The nutrients will be recovered in the form of potential fertilizers (ammonium sulphate and magnesium ammonium phosphate). In parallel, a reference technology, consisting of the phosphorus recovery unit and deammonification reactor, will be operated. The INPORR project includes both fundamental research (ammonia separation on the GPM) and industrial research (application and validation of INPORR and reference lines under laboratory conditions and in a real WWTP). Both lines will be compared in terms of the overall nitrogen removal performance, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas (N2O) production. A mathematical model of both lines will be built in the GPS-X simulation platform. After calibration and validation the model will be used a decision-making tool for designing or operating WWTPs in the view of reducing the environmental impacts of the nutrient removal/recovery processes.

Akronim: Intelligent_XRay_Det
Project Promoter: AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow
Project cost (EUR): 181 310,71
Grant amount (EUR): 181 310,71
Duration: 01.01.2022-2024-04-30
WWW: https://intpix.agh.edu.pl/en/
Project summary: The idea of the intelligent sensor design was proposed long ago, however, there were no tools and methods allowing for reliable on-chip implementation. Utilizing deep sub-micron technologies like CMOS 28 nm allows for dense on-chip logic synthetizing and therefore gives an opportunity for artificial neural network (ANN) placing as close to the signal as possible. Even though ANNs are mostly used for much bigger problems in biology and physics where they are big, complex and require enormous computation power, the PI claims that for simple signal processing like pattern recognition of low-level signals they are small enough to fit into an IC. X-ray detectors are on the continuous race for better energy resolution and higher speed. Scientific groups around the world like CERN, PSI, Fermilab, SPring-8 are reaching limits of the theoretical values, but still scientists using those detectors want to have more precise numbers. The traditional way used by most groups is to overcomplicate the circuit schematics by adding more and more circuits which are mostly used for compensation of integrated circuits imperfections in various stages of the signal processing path. In contrast to this approach, the PI is proposing to use an artificial neural network to compensate for moderate parameters of the sensor quality and moderate front-end signal processing parameters.

Akronim: MECHEX
Project Promoter: Cracow University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 194 112,35
Grant amount (EUR): 194 112,35
Duration: 01.10.2021-2023-12-31
WWW: https://mechex.pk.edu.pl/
Project summary: Plate fin and tube heat exchangers (PFTHE) have plenty applications in heating and cooling technics e.g. cooling towers, dry coolers and air coolers in the food industry, oil coolers in car engines, air coolers and heaters in ventilation, refrigerant coolers and heat pumps in air conditioning. Is it possible to optimize the construction of the PFTHE? It would seem that the current process of design of PFTHE cannot be more optimal.
The classical method of calculating PFTHE is based on the average logarithmic difference of medium temperatures. It assumes that the air-side heat transfer coefficient on every row of PFTHE is constant. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation studies and experimental results show that there are significant differences in coefficient between an individual row of tubes. This is true especially if air velocity in front of PFTHE is smaller than 2.5 m/s. It is possible to consider different coefficients on each row of tubes. Taking into account these dependencies between heat transfer coefficient and the row’s position will allow optimal PFTHE design e.g. it will eliminate 4-row PFTHEs in favour of 1- or 2-row PFTHEs. Following optimization gives us a chance to significantly reduce materials for building PFTHEs.
The main objective of the research is to create a new method of calculation and experimental studies of cross-flow heat exchanger made from tubes with individual or continuous fins. This new method will be determined based on experimental and numerical research. An analytical and numerical model of 2-row and 4-row PFTHE will be developed. New method can be used during the cross-flow heat exchanger design or optimization.
The test facility will be built for the needs of experimental determination of the Nusselt number for air-side and water-side in PFTHEs. The stand will allow aerodynamic, hydraulic and thermal tests in steady and transient conditions.

Akronim: MOHMARER
Project Promoter: Silesian University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 186 978,74
Grant amount (EUR): 186 978,74
Duration: 01.01.2022-2024-04-30
Project summary: The demand for rare earth elements (REEs) grows rapidly in recent years due to their unique properties and many strategic industrial applications. The MOHMARER project concerns the creation of new REE selective, hybrid magnetic membranes and sorbents for the REEs separation from extracts coming from coal fly ash leaching process. The main objective of MOHMARER project is the design and synthesis of modern REE selective, hybrid magnetic membranes and sorbents with high stability. A fully innovative approach in this project will be the design and synthesis of novel hybrid REE selective sorbents based on modified magnetic Fe@MWCNTs, closed in silica shell and functionalized with ILs, IIPs and AEP (with increased REE affinity, high adsorption capacity and easy elution for REE(III)). The next innovative approach will the design and synthesis of new resistant REEs selective polymer and hybrid magnetic membranes based on ion imprinted polymers and modified magnetic Fe@MWCNTs with high selectivity, stability, membrane capacity and REE recovery. In view of their potential usage in a future, the next goal will be carrying out the analysis of REE transport through polymer and hybrid membranes and REE recovery from obtained sorbents using the synthetic ion mixture (the same composition, like in leachates). To take a full description and evaluation of the newly designed hybrid magnetic membranes and sorbents, we intend to examine the chemical, mechanical, thermal, rheological and physical properties by means of a variety of techniques and to determine their influence on transport, adsorption and strength properties. To model the REE ions transport through membranes and REE ions sorption kinetics on analysed sorbents will be created computer applications. Finally, the last objective will be the selection of the most optimal composition of particular hybrid sorbents and membranes, by usage of created computer applications.

Akronim: NITROsens
Project Promoter: Gdańsk University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 199 974,73
Grant amount (EUR): 199 974,73
Duration: 01.09.2021-2024-03-01
WWW: https://nitrosens.eu/language/en/home-2/
Project summary: The worldwide use of nitro-explosives in the military and industrial applications has led to widespread environmental contamination. Only after World War I and II in the Baltic Sea, vast amounts of nitro-explosives was dumped, including highly toxic 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). Only in the vicinity of Germany, there are 1.6 million metric tons of sunken conventional munition explosives. Over time, metal shields in which explosives have been deposited begin to corrode, which results in increasing uncontrolled emissions of these pollutants into the environment. From these reasons, nitro-explosives and their decomposition products are widespread in the environment, especially in marine and inland water. However, the detection of conventional explosives in natural ecosystems is still an analytical challenge.
In this project, we propose a novel electrochemical sensing platform – NITROsens for rapid nitro-explosive compounds detection in both sea and freshwater. The limit of detection of NITROsens platform will be below the lifetime health advisory limit of nitro-explosive in drinking water, i.e. 2.0 ppb. The sensor will make it possible to quickly confirm the presence of explosive compounds in the aquatic environment. Hence, it can be successfully used for screening measurements to estimate environmental pollution with high-energetic nitro-compound. The sensor can also be used to assess the degree of leakage of explosives from the dumped after World War I and II barrels.

Akronim: RenMet
Project Promoter: Łukasiewicz Research Network — Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals
Project cost (EUR): 198 645,11
Grant amount (EUR): 198 645,11
Duration: 01.09.2021-2024-04-30
Project summary: The aim of this project is to develop global rhenium technologies and expand the research potential of the group from the Łukasiewicz - Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (Ł-IMN). The project
concerns the development of hydrometallurgical technologies for the production of rhenium compounds of other metals (e.g. Co, Cu, Ni, Li) using waste materials, mainly obtained from recycling,
but also from the national Cu and Zn-Pb industries. The project is a direct response to the diagnosed needs of the non-ferrous metals industry, i.e. the need to develop technologies using metals
recovered from waste and to create components with high added value from them. This is due to the global tendency to develop innovative technologies based on the principle of sustainable
development and the reduction of global access to primary raw materials. The project also aims to increase the applicability of Re in catalysis, electromobility, aviation and defense industry by
expanding the assortment of Re products with specific properties which are desired and expected in these markets. All the researches proposed in this project are based on basic
hydrometallurgical techniques such as leaching, solvent extraction, electrodialysis, precipitation, filtration, crystallization and ion exchange. It is assumed that the developed technologies will be
waste-free or low-waste - which is a necessary element of environmentally friendly technologies based on the principle of sustainable development. The rhenium compounds with selected metals
produced as a part of this project will be high-purity products. The possibility of their use in four strategic areas will be verified:
- catalysis - for the production of catalyst precursors and/or homo- or heterogeneous catalysts,
- the aviation industry - for the production of multi-component superalloys,
- the defense industry - for making materials for multi-component heavy sinters,
- electromobility - for creating components of supercapacitors.

Akronim: TAISTI
Project Promoter: Poznan University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 188 342,23
Grant amount (EUR): 188 342,23
Duration: 01.07.2021-2024-02-29
WWW: https://www.taisti.eu
Project summary:  
The TAISTI project is designed to answer specific questions aimed at solving practical problems of detecting ingredients in a recipe that should be replaced concerning a special diet, dish or other constraints and recommending their valid substitutes. The project will focus on providing practical solutions in the domain of information engineering researching various designs and experimentally evaluating them with a purpose to propose a new technology.
TAISTI will increase the share of female researchers in technical sciences: four female researchers in technical sciences, including three in information engineering, and one in food and beverages, will participate in TAISTI, one in the roles of the PI aand WP leader, and two in the roles of WP leaders. Moreover, PI will establish a new research collaboration by going abroad for research to visit Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
The specific objectives of the project are to provide: 1) integrated knowledge and data resources on culinary recipes and their ingredients to fuel artificial intelligence algorithms, 2) novel data- driven (machine learning-based) methods to recommend candidate ingredient substitutes and predict their characteristics, 3) novel knowledge-driven (logic reasoning-based) methods to select and explain target ingredients and their valid substitutes, and 4) a proof-of-concept system for recommending ingredient substitutes to integrate and demonstrate the developed technologies. The project will result in conference and journal publications as well as in a patent application. The result of the project will be at TRL level 6.

Akronim: TEX-WATER-REC
Project Promoter: Lodz University of Technology
Project cost (EUR): 180 649,20
Grant amount (EUR): 180 649,20
Duration: 01.09.2021-2024-04-30
WWW: www.tex-water-rec.p.lodz.pl
Project summary: The production of textile goods is highly water-consuming. An average is 150 L per 1 kg of textiles. The OECD warns of the need to take real action to reduce water use by the textile industry. Moreover, the OECD indicates wastewater recycling as the most effective solution leading to closing water cycles creating a sustainable economy. However, textile wastewater is heavily polluted and its treatment is challenging. A fully satisfying treatment for textile wastewater recycling was not so far offered. Therefore, there is a wide field for investigation of new advanced treatment methods. Catalytic ozonation is one of the most explored of wastewater treatment within the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). As far as this technic seems to be promising, there is a need to develop a suitable catalyst for industrial use. The crux of innovation within the project is the development of modern supported thin-film catalyst of multiuse industrial potential for enhanced ozone treatment of highly polluted textile wastewater. The main project issues are the preparation of the catalytic active phase on structured supports by the cold plasma method, investigation of its activity in the ozonation process using the model and real industrial textile wastewater, evaluation of catalyst effectiveness in pollutants and toxicity removal, assessment of industrial applicability by multi-cycle use. The research is planned to be conducted on three levels. Firstly, the fundamental research for catalyst development and basic investigation of its characteristics. Secondly, the industrial investigation for the real textile wastewater ozonation with developed catalysts. Thirdly, experimental development for the possibility of industrial multi-cycle use of catalyst and recycling trials for textile re-dying with purified wastewater. The result of the project will be development of the modern thin-film catalytic systems for industrial water recycling supporting the idea of a closed water loop.

Akronim: VariaT
Project Promoter: Institute of Geophysics Polish Academy of Sciences
Project cost (EUR): 162 696,94
Grant amount (EUR): 162 696,94
Duration: 01.03.2022-2024-04-30
Project summary: The behaviour of river catchments, in conjunction with glaciers, permafrost and biotic elements, is undoubtedly one of the most important indicators of climate and environmental change in the Arctic region. The recognition of the hydrological processes and their changes in Svalbard is named as one of the most important research needs in the High Arctic. Water temperature is a principle variable, which has a significant impact on the aquatic environment in terms of water chemistry and freshwater biota. Main goal of the study is an identification of major factors shaping the thermal regime of arctic rivers and its temporal variability. The project will focus on the investigation of in-situ measurements in three selected glacierised and deglaciated catchments near the Polish Polar Station Hornsund in Spitsbergen, giving particular emphasis to the spatio-temporal variability of water temperature, runoff, precipitation, soil moisture, snow cover, ground temperature, groundwater levels, radiation, and their integration with tracer approach. The added value of remote sensing data, including imagery derived from both in-situ and UAV thermal infrared cameras will implement the analysis of spatial distribution of surface and subsurface thermal characteristics and flowpath of water. Archival hydro-meteorological data from the Hornsund station together with extended measurements proposed within this project will facilitate the modelling of water temperature dynamics to identify interactions between climate change and variability of thermal regimes of multiple arctic rivers. In order to forecast future hydrological conditions and their impact on polar environments, several data- and process-based hydrological models will be applied. The results of the proposed project will have extensive interdisciplinary applications, primarily in hydrology and climatology, but also in hydrogeology, geomorphology, and bio-ecology.