Zlín Became a National Centre of Competence for Polymer Research
25. January 2023A remarkable success was achieved by the staff of the Centre of Polymer Systems (CPS) of Tomas Bata University in Zlín. They succeeded in a difficult public competition announced by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR) within the National Competence Centres programme, which focuses on the strengthening of efficient cooperation between research organizations and business and industry. The CPS scientists will deal with the issue of polymers and their impact on the environment.
This unique project named “National Centre of Competence of Polymer Materials and Technologies for the 21st Century” is one of 18 projects accepted for funding within an international evaluation of project proposals. The proposals were submitted by Czech universities and institutes of the Academy of Sciences. Within the National Competence Centres programme, this is the only project focusing on the issue of polymers and on their impact on the environment. The CPS has been listed as the coordinating unit.
“It is a great honour and, at the same time, a big challenge. Polymer research has had a long tradition in Zlín, and the project accepted for funding is an evidence of the important position gained by the Centre of Polymer Systems in its field on the national and international level during the 12 years of the Centre’s existence. I very much appreciate the concept of the National Competence Centres programme, which aims to link research with business and industry. We are looking forward to our cooperation with colleagues from other important and recognized research institutions as well as from companies with high innovation potential,” says Prof. Vladimír Sedlařík, Director of the CPS, who is the principal investigator of the project.
It is an extensive six-year project where the total costs related to the project consortium amount to almost CZK 380 million, with a quarter of these costs to be covered by the corporate sector. Furthermore, another application has been submitted, aimed at additional funding for the project from resources amounting to more than CZK 140 million, to be provided by the National Recovery Plan. 24 partner institutions are involved in the project, among them universities, industrial partners and non-profit organizations dealing with polymer technologies and with their impact on the environment.
The actual project includes a wide range of research tasks whose results have potential for practical application, expected to happen soon. “Specifically, these are, for example, projects aimed at increasing the efficiency and automation of the process of sorting of plastics during their recycling or at finding new ways how to effectively obtain economically valuable substances from plastic waste,” says Prof. Vladimír Sedlařík. The CPS scientists will also focus on the development of long-lasting materials that will show a better durability. That means that the materials will be more resistant and durable; therefore, there will be no need to waste energy and raw materials. They will also develop polymer materials that will be safer for end users in terms of flammability, release of harmful substances as well as resistance to the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses.
The project will also address the issue of tyre recycling, use of renewable resources and waste for polymer production or detection and capture of microplastics that are widely discussed nowadays.
“The key topic of all sub-projects is responsible management of materials and energy, environmentally friendly and safe approaches taking into consideration the legislative and economic aspect of the solutions in preparation,” emphasizes Prof. Vladimír Sedlařík.
