Page 26 - Glass-Technology International no. 3/2017

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FUNGLASS Phase2 to establish the Centre. Also, Tasks between now and 2023 include
the project has additional funding of at creating and formalizing coordination
RESEARCH CENTRE least EUR 10 million from the Ministry and management structures of the new
of Education, Science, Research and Centre, building the premises, upgrad-
IN SLOVAKIA Sports of the Slovak Republic. ing the research infrastructure, and
The lead institution for the project is expanding staff capacity.
ESTABLISHED the Alexander Dubcek University of Special attention is paid to hiring
Trencín, Slovakia, under the direction outstanding researchers and engineers.
The global glass community received of D. Dusan Galusek. Cooperating Project leaders anticipate approxi-
excellent news of a EUR 25 million institutions and their lead investigators mately 40 new jobs for researchers at
investment in glass research to estab- are Friedrich-Alexander University Er- all career stages and auxiliary staff.
lish the new Centre for Functional and langen – Nuremberg, Germany (Aldo Recruitment began in March 2017.
Surface-Functionalized Glasses (Fun- R. Boccaccini), Friedrich Schiller The funding will allow partners to
GLASS) in Trencín, Slovakia. The University of Jena, Germany (Lothar create a motivating environment not
Centre includes partner institutions in Wondraczek), Institute of Ceram- only for researchers from the Slovak
Germany, Spain, and Italy. ics and Glass of Spanish National Republic, as well as experts from
The establishment of this European Research Council in Madrid, Spain other countries. The goal is to build
centre boosts the momentum and (Alicia Durán), and University of a multidisciplinary, creative, highly
importance of glass research on a Padova, Italy (Enrico Bernardo). competitive, and inspiring environment
global scale. The purpose of the Centre Research at the Centre will focus on for conducting cutting edge research
is to conduct cutting edge research five main application areas: i) Bioma- to develop glasses for a variety of ap-
on glasses with special functional terials/ materials for healthcare, (ii) plications. Continuous education and
properties, as well as investigate novel Optical materials, including materials training through extensive scientific
strategies for functionalizing conven- with luminescence properties, (iii) exchange programs and the creation of
tional glasses. The aim is to modify Materials for energy-related applica- international doctoral degree programs
properties and add new functionalities tions and low-carbon processing, (iv) issuing double diplomas with project
to expand the range of applications Other functional materials (i.e. electric, partner institutions will ensure
in the optical, energy, structural, and magnetic, etc.), and (v) Structural that scientists and Ph.D. students
biomedical sectors. glass-based materials. from the Centre develop the desired
Prof. Galusek, director of the Centre, Where applicable, areas will further qualifications.
says, “This Centre will be an important divide horizontally, in terms of: a) A kick-off meeting for the new Centre
asset for the Slovak Republic mainly processing and characterization, b) in Trencín on 7-8 March 2017,
due to the fact that it will participate coatings and sol-gel methods, c) high- included authorities from the Minis-
in cutting edge research in coopera- temperature processing, and additive try of Education, Science, Research
tion with some of the leaders in the d) manufacturing approaches. and Sports of the Slovak Republic,
field, generating high added value in all The core funding will be used to up- representatives of the European Com-
major activities, both in teaching, fun- grade the existing National Glass Cen- mission, authorities of the Alexander
damental science, and industry-driven tre in Trencín, Slovakia, and establish Dubcek University of Trencín, and the
research. The latter is ensured by close an internationally recognized new hub international partners from Germany,
links of the Centre with the local glass for research and innovation in glass. Spain, and Italy.
industry. We also believe the Centre is
of importance for the glass technology
sector. Its activities will be focused on IGCC
those technologies where properties
of glass can be substantially altered or CERTIFIED PRODUCTS DIRECTORY
new functionalities added by surface
treatment, at low energy or material The Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC) has released its bi-annual
cost, to generate a host of applications Certified Products Directory. The Directory is published bi-annually, lists approved
for high-tech uses.” products, and is distributed to door, sash and building manufacturers, glazing con-
The European Commission H2020 tractors, homebuilders, architects, regulatory agencies and code-making groups.
programme awarded EUR 15 million Directory listings contain the licensee’s name, plant location and product descrip-
under the scheme H2020-WIDE- tion. More than 2,000 hard copies will be sent to stakeholders. The online search-
SPREAD-01-2016-2017-Teaming- able database can be easily accessed online at www.igcc.org.

24 Glass-Technology International 3/2017