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School on Design, Fabrication and Application of Devices for Energy Production || May 13-16, 2019

The school will be held at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy and will focus on sun light conversion to energy and chemical fuels and on the ethical and sustainable use of natural resources. It will be a forum for discussion on new science and technology integration to ensure a sustainable future for people and planet.

Topics to be discussed include:

• Energy production and sustainability of energy production
• Artificial Photosynthesis
• Bioinspired systems for energy conversion
• Photonics for zero energy buildings
• Graphene/2D materials for photovoltaics
• Laser induced functionalization and nanofabrication
• Elements on stress: war, sustainability and alternative solutions

For more information: http://indico.ictp.it/event/8657/ 

PhotoTrain holds its Mid-Term Meeting at KU Leuven in Belgium 

Two exciting and productive years have already flown by for the PhotoTrain Network which came together for their mid-term meeting held at KU Leuven in Belgium on October 25-26, 2018. 

 This meeting halfway through the project welcomed all members of the Network, the representative of the European Commission’s Research Executive Agency (EC-REA) along with external experts. Interesting note, PhotoTrain was selected to be part of a Pilot study on Innovation launched by the European Commission, called Innovation Radar, which identifies high potential innovators and innovations within EU funded research projects; we were happy to have an Innovation Radar expert present with us and welcome his feedback.

 The first day of the meeting involved a brief round of introduction for the guests and a presentation by the EC officer regarding overarching aspects of a H2020-MSCA-ITN (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Innovative Training Network), Prof. Giacomo Bergamini from the University of Bologna presented in his coordinator’s report the impressive progress the project has made since its beginning two years ago. 

The main focus of the mid-term meeting, however, was on the 14 ESRs: they each presented themselves and their work in the project individually. Not only their supervisors but also the external experts acknowledged and were impressed by their skilled talks and scientific contribution to the project.

The morning of the second meeting day started out bright and early with the remaining ESR presentations. Afterwards, the groups separated: the young researchers met with the EC officer to discuss individual issues in private, while their supervisors met to discuss science and the network's next steps. Supervisors also had the opportunity to speak with the Innovation Radar expert on the innovation potential of the project. At the end of the meeting day, the whole consortium game together once more to listen to the recommendations and valuable feedback of the the EC officer and external guests and finally, pose for a group photo.

The Mid Term Meeting was also a great opportunity for a meeting of the supervisory board. In order to take advantage of the presence of all partners, the PhotoTrain team discussed the results of the mid-term meeting and how to implement the recommendations. Additionally, other management aspects were addressed, such as the next training school, which is scheduled to take place May 13-16, 2019 in Trieste, Italy and will coincide with the International Day of Light.   

Altogether, both meeting days were of great success and all participants used the opportunity for intense discussions. The whole consortium was very happy to welcome the EC officer and the external experts and once again wants to thank them for their advice to the project partners and their kind collaboration.

PHOTOTRAIN 2nd Training School in Core Science and Transferable Skills

The PHOTOTRAIN 2nd training school in core science and transferable skills was organized at the University of Bologna with SINCHEM (Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Industrial Chemistry), in Bologna, Italy. Data analysis and scientific writing in addition to the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding about the trends and developments in technology and innovation entrepreneurship ranging from seasoned experts and industry leaders (INOVYN) to cutting edge startups in the field of chemistry and advanced diagnostics. The SINCHEM & PHOTOTRAIN Winter School 2018 was held from February 12-14, 2018 at the University of Bologna, Department of Industrial Chemistry and was followed by an educational field visit to the Fondazione Golinelli, founded by Italian entrepreneur and chemist, Marino Golinelli.

The third school is currently being planned for May 2019 in Trieste.

PHOTOTRAIN hosts its first core science and transferable school in Tarragona, Spain

The first training workshops in Core Scientific & Transferable Skills was held from Wednesday, May 24th until Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Institut Català d’Investigaziò Quìmica (ICIQ – Spain). It was unanimously decided to combine the first preliminary training in core scientific skills and the preliminary training in transferable skills. ESRs benefited from the interdisciplinary and intersectoral features of PHOTOTRAIN through the bases and state of the art of photocatalytic processes and learn the bases of project management and co-ordination. Key transferable skills explored were project management and coordination, focusing on key aspects such as how to plan a project and integrate different competences, budget management, as well as risk management.

PHOTOTRAIN officially kicks off: international partners meet in Bologna to launch innovative multi-million, European-funded project.

On November 7 and 8, 2016 the partners of PHOTOTRAIN met at the “G. Ciamician Department of Chemistry” at the University of Bologna to kick off a new and exciting Marie Sklodowska-Curie project.

 PHOTOTRAIN, (Entrepreneuring Dynamic Self-Organized Interfaces in Photocatalysis: A Multidisciplinary Training Network Converting Light into Products), seeks to implement photo-catalytic technologies for triggering stereoselective organocatalytic transformations which holds promising applications in pharmaceuticals and solar fuels production for sustainable energy. 

 PHOTOTRAIN will provide 14 young researchers an inspiring, dynamic and creative environment comprising a multidisciplinary blend of world-leading collaborations, both at the academic and industrial level. Headed by Prof. Giacomo Bergamini from the University of Bologna (Italy), PHOTOTRAIN includes a team of top notch university partners such as Cardiff University (UK), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) and Universita degli studi di Trieste (Italy) as well as renowned research centres, Institut Català d'Investigació Química (Spain), Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (Israel) and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy).

Also among the partners are two leading companies: the multinational Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Ltd and Elvesys SAS (France) that will provide stimulating industry and entrepreneurial experiences for students. PHOTOTRAIN is also proud to have SINCHEM (Italy), APE (Italy), ICTP (Italy) and IOCD (Belgium) as partner organizations.

PHOTOTRAIN will be hosting its first workshop in Tarragona, Spain in spring 2017, which will aim at providing its 14 young researchers preliminary training in core scientific and transferable skills, setting the stage for their journey in pursuing both scientific and business career paths in the field of photocatalysis.