CEOSeR Project Kick-Off

27.02.2013

 

Today witnessed the official kick-off of the CEOSeR project in Kaunas led by the coordinator Prof. Hab. Dr. Juozas Gražulevičius, Head of the Department of Organic Technology, Kaunas University of Technology (DOT-KTU).

The year before Intelligentsia helped Prof. Gražulevičius to write the ambitious CEOSeR project proposal to establish a Centre of Excellence in Organic Semiconductor Research within DOT-KTU.

The proposal was submitted to the EU’s FP7 REGPOT programme where the competition to win funds is extremely fierce and the success rate often well below 10%. Nevertheless, DOT-KTU triumphed with CEOSeR coming first - with a perfect score of 15/15 - out of 287 ranked proposals.

The project's €2.8m grant funding represents the largest individual grant won under FP7 by Kaunas University of Technology or any other research organisation in Lithuania.

"The EU funds will help us to renew and upgrade our laboratory. We will invest in state-of-the-art equipment - such as new spectrometers and liquid chromatography system - and hire five additional researchers and two innovation support managers," commented Prof. Gražulevičius.

From a scientific perspective, CEOSeR will enable DOT-KTU to strengthen its research capability in the development of new materials - so-called electroactive low-molar-mass materials as well as polymeric and dendritic mate
rials - for organic large area electronic (OLAE) technology.

OLAE technology is an exciting and fast growing technology. It allows electronic circuits and devices to be produced onto any surface, whether rigid or flexible, and over large areas. It is leading to the creation of new products, such as roll-able electronic display screens, large-area efficient lighting, low-cost solar cells and low-cost radio frequency identification devices. Currently valued at about €1bn, the global market value for OLAE technology is forecast to increase to over €200bn by 2027.

"CEOSeR will allow DOT-KTU staff to receive advanced training during twinning visits to five top European research organisations: Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, University of Cergy-Pontoise, Technische Universitat Dresden and Novaled AG," enthused Prof. Gražulevičius.

However, not only will CEOSeR benefit DOT-KTU, it will also support local manufacturers of solar cells and organic semiconductors in Lithuania and the Baltic Sea Region. During the project, several workshops will be organised with local companies to help develop collaborative research projects.

"Winning the CEOSeR project has provided a confidence-boosting recognition of our department's research excellence in organic semiconductor research," concluded Prof. Gražulevičius, "Now we look forward to working with our twinning partners to successfully implement the project."

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