Project Summary
Infectious diseases pose a significant threat to both human health and the global economy, they account for more than 20% of global mortality and viruses are responsible for about one-third of these deaths. To date, we know of about 200 infectious diseases and about 80% of infectious diseases are transmitted by unclean hands touching contaminated surfaces. SUSAAN project is focussed on development of new sustainable antiviral and antimicrobial coatings for textiles and high traffic objects made of plastics and metal, involving textile, concealed cistern control panels and switches manufacture industries. In this context, it can be stated that most of the common hand-touch sites and/or objects are covered by the project so final impact would be extensive after the successful project execution, being the results of the project validated in three main market sectors through end users. Consortium Partners and core business are one of the strongest points of SUSAAN. Technological and scientific partners (LUR, NSCR, IVW, CEIT and ITENE) are experts on main areas of nanoparticles, coatings, pretreatment, biobased nanocapsules and toxicity assessment. Companies involved cover the whole value change based on their core business including coatings production (TEC), biobased products (CEL), concealed cistern control panels manufacturing (EZC), switches and sockets (PANASONIC) and textiles (YESIM). Last but not least, INTERTEK will cover the activities on BPR (Business Process Reengineering) assessment being VIRHEALTH (the expert on virology) on charge of standardized testing to determine virucidal and antimicrobial activity of the coatings and ARDITEC on charge of sustainability assessment.
The final outcome of SUSAAN project is the validation of the new sustainable antimicrobial/antiviral nanocoating in different final products: high traffic objects (plastic and metallic) and textiles. Technical advantages and comparative results to current solutions will be used to present SUSAAN solutions to potential clients.
Scientific Output/Outcome Expected From the Project
- Active nanomaterials:
• Inorganic nanoparticles
• Biobased active materials
- Antimicrobial and antiviral nanocoating, tested and validated in 3 final applications:
• Bathrooms
• Switches and sockets
• Textiles
- Procedure for sustainable by design for coatings.
- BPR authorisation procedure
- Environmental, economic and social impacts evaluation for the new sustainable products.
Target Groups of the project
Potential users:
✓ Direct clients: bathroom components manufacturers, construction, electric plugs and sockets manufacturers, textile industry, medical facilities and labs, medical equipment, hospital furniture, hotels and other public spaces, window glass, pharmaceutical labs, packaging, food packaging areas and restaurants, food processing equipment, transportation, air ventilation systems, appliances, sporting and exercise equipment, containers, aircraft interiors and buildings, cruise lines, handrails, schools and childcare facilities, playgrounds, and/or citizens as individual final users.
✓ Professional associations & SUSAAN strategic partners-EU projects of similar domain, EU technological platforms.
Influencers: Scientific Community, EC, public and governmental organisations, policy makers and other Public audience and organisations that can contribute to establish a favorable framework for the uptake of SUSAAN solutions.
Importance of the project in Tackling Global Challenges
The market targeted in the project is huge. SUSAAN will contribute not only to overcome actual problems of risk of spread of infection on pandemic period but also to create healthier living and working environment and to improve citizen health and enhance public health. The new improved methodology and new materials could generate new actors including manufacturers, sellers and endusers, creating a huge impact on technology, economy and society. SUSAAN technology will create new markets in the future thus, it can be inferred that SUSAAN will improve societal aspects with the following impact of innovations: new companies' creation, new jobs, new knowledge, and impact on the scientific area due to these new products.
Scientific/Social/Economic Innovative Contribution
Scientific: new sustainable-by-design antimicrobial and antiviral coating with enhanced functionalities (durability, efficiency, toxicity…). Coatings validated in three market sectors and replicable in more than 25 additional applications defined.
Economic: Europe was the second biggest producer of chemicals (accounting for 16.9% of sales in 2018) although this share has halved over the last 20 years and forecasts predict a further decline by 2030 to move from second to third position. Chemical manufacturing is the fourth largest industry in the EU comprising 30.000 companies. In the short term it is estimated that SUSAAN coatings are implemented in 30 companies, and afterwards this figure could be multiplied by 10 in the long term. This will impact on 95% of SMEs and on a sector that employs approximately 1.2 million people and 3.6 million indirectly.
Societal: improved public spaces, minimization of substance of concern (PFAS), toxic/pollutants free environment. Biobased components and Sustainability. 84% of Europeans are worried about the impact of chemicals present in everyday products on their health, and 90% are worried about their impact on the environment.
Contribution to the Development of Professional Skills
Information will be gained on the use of an antibacterial and antiviral raw material developed within the scope of the project on plastic surfaces used in production, and this information will be transferred to other projects in the process of developing products beneficial to society in the future.
Contribution to the Development of Human Resources
With this project, which is carried out with 13 project partners, it is aimed to increase the personal skills and experiences of the employees in the project team by ensuring that they gain analytical and scientific competence in the relevant field and take part in international team projects.
Information about other partners in the project
1. L'UREDERRA, FUNDACION PARA EL DESARROLLO TECNOLOGICO Y SOCIAL Lurederra is a technological centre that carries out research and applied technological development activities in the fields of nanotechnology, new materials and advanced environment. https://lurederra.es/en/
2. TECNOLOGIA NAVARRA DE NANOPRODUCTOS, S. L. (TECNAN) produces and commercializes new raw materials (high performance nanoparticles) for various industrial applications, as well as other ready to use products based on them (hydrophobic and anti-stains protectors for construction- restoration, rain repellent for vehicles windscreens, anti-lime hydrophobic protector for shower-screens and other architectonic glass, anticorrosion and anti-stick protector for metals and plastics, textile protector, etc.), positioning itself as one of the suppliers more competitive at national and international level of these new materials and products. https://tecnan-nanomat.es/en/
3. "NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH “DEMOKRITOS” Founded in July 1961 as a Research Centre for Nuclear Research, Demokritos is today the largest multidisciplinary Research Centre of Greece with approximately 180 Researchers in tenured and tenure-track positions and over 500 Research Personnel working in projects funded mainly by grants from State Funds, the European Union and Private Industries. https://www.demokritos.gr/
4. LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR VERBUNDWERKSTOFFE GMBH The Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH (IVW) is a nonprofit research institution of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU). It researches fundamentals for future applications of composite materials, which are of great importance for the mobility of the future, the fields of energy, climate and environment, production technology as well as for health care. New materials, construction methods and manufacturing processes are investigated and - after the basic understanding has been developed - tailor-made for the respective requirements. The focus is on the entire process chain, from basic materials to characterization and simulation, from construction methods and production technology to component testing and recycling. New ideas and innovative concepts are not only an essential part of the research and further development of the institute, but also lead to spin-offs. Newly acquired knowledge is transferred, above all into science, but also into teaching, the interested public and industrial applications. https://www.ivw.uni-kl.de/en/home
5. CELABOR SCRL CELABOR is a local scientific and technical services centre based in the Petit-Rechain industrial park near Verviers (Belgium). CELABOR offers scientific and technical support to companies in the field of agri-food (nutrition and extraction), the environment, packaging, paper/cardboard and textiles. https://www.celabor.be/site/index.php?id_surf=&surf_lang=en
6. ASOCIACION CENTRO TECNOLOGICO CEIT Ceit is a non-profit technology center, created on the initiative of the University of Navarra in 1982, and whose main task is to carry out industrial research projects in close collaboration with the R&D departments of the companies. https://www.ceit.es/en/
7. ECZACIBASI YAPI GERECLERI SANAYI VE TICARET AS is the largest division of Eczacibasi Group. The organization has the title of Turkey's first and largest ceramic sanitary ware manufacturer and exporter. Eczacıbaşı Yapı Gereçleri has been exhibiting VitrA branded ceramic sanitary ware since 1958, and bathroom furniture, buckets and shower trays since 1991. VitrA supplies millions of pieces of ceramic sanitaryware each year to over 75 countries on five continents, accompanied by matching series of bathroom furniture, bathtubs, faucets and accessories. VitrA tiles products span a broad array of styles developed for all kinds of indoor and outdoor areas from the kitchen and living room to pools and terraces, increasingly expanding the reach of VitrA beyond the boundaries of the bathroom. https://www.eczacibasiyapigerecleri.com/
8. ALMAXTEX TEKSTIL SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI operating under the umbrella of Yeşim Group established in 1983, manufactures ready-to-wear and home textiles for global brands. It has strategic partnership with renowned brands such as Nike, Matheis – Schlafgut, Under Armour, Zara, Pull&Bear, Bershka, Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Jeans, Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Guess, Kappa, Aldi, Horizonte and Tchibo. It has a daily production capacity of 115 tons in knitting, 125 tons in dyeing, 100,000 meters in printing, 250,000 units in ready-to-wear and 100,000 units in home textiles. Yeşim is one of the few integrated facilities in the world that can carry out all processes from yarn to finished products under the same roof in the ready-made clothing industry. https://www.yesim.com/anasayfa/
9. INTERTEK ITALIA SPA inspecting and certifying products; we are a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Through our global network of state-of-the-art facilities and industry-leading technical expertise we provide innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification services to customers. We provide a systemic approach to supporting our customers’ Quality Assurance efforts in each of the areas of their operations including R&D, raw materials sourcing, components suppliers, manufacturing, transportation, distribution and retail channels, and consumer management. https://www.intertek.com/about/
10. INTERTEK IBERICA SPAIN SA inspecting and certifying products; we are a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Through our global network of state-of-the-art facilities and industry-leading technical expertise we provide innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification services to customers. We provide a systemic approach to supporting our customers’ Quality Assurance efforts in each of the areas of their operations including R&D, raw materials sourcing, components suppliers, manufacturing, transportation, distribution and retail channels, and consumer management. https://www.intertek.com/about/
11. INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DEL EMBALAJE, TRANSPORTE Y LOGISTICA The ITENE research centre provides companies with cutting-edge knowledge and technology to build a safer, more sustainable future. https://www.itene.com/en/
12. VIRHEALTH SAS Virhealth, independent laboratory, specialised in virology, offers a wide range of standardized testing according to FR/EN/ISO/ASTM as well as the bespoke assays according to specific clients’ conditions in order to determine virucidal antiviral activities of products, equipment and disinfection technologies. https://virhealth.fr/
13. PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS ELEKTRIK SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI Operating in its industrial facilities in Istanbul, Panasonic Electric Works Turkey aims to deliver innovative products and solutions that provide comfort, security and energy efficiency to the world markets and to provide a better and more comfortable life with human-focused approaches.Within the product range of Panasonic Electric Works Turkey; there are Electrical Switches and Sockets, Group Sockets, Accessories, Cable Trunkings, Low Voltage Switchgear Products, MCB Boxes, Smart Home and Building Automation Systems, LED Lighting Products, Solar Energy Panels and Fire Detection - Alarm Systems. https://ewtr.panasonic.com/tr/
14. ASSOCIATION POUR LA RECHERCHE ET LEDEVELOPPEMENT D'INNOVATIONS ET DETECHNOLOGIES POUR LA PROTECTION DEL'HERITAGE ENVIRONNEMENTAL, SOCIAL An association law 1901, created with the ambition of promoting to all its members, customers & partners, sustainable development, protection & conservation of cultural heritage, and social & societal responsibility. https://arditec.net/
