Teamwork on nanocomposites in south-eastern Europe
Numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research centres and industrial organisations in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey are studying polymers, synthetic fibres and adhesives. However, collaboration has been limited largely due to lack of an established networking system. The Centre for Technologic and Industrial Cooperation (CCTI) in Romania, with its established track record in initiating collaborations and organising brokerage events, developed the Multibrok project. Its purpose was to organise 3 brokerage events with 35–40 companies from Romania and other countries. Each event consisted of plenary sessions describing the project, parallel sessions in which companies presented themselves and their project ideas and bilateral discussions to develop project ideas. Based on past experience, CCTI expected six to eight new project ideas and partnerships from each event. In order to ensure broad collaboration, the project proposals were required to be research-industry partnerships with an SME coordinator and participation from at least four countries. Multibrok brought together south-eastern European SMEs, industries and research institutes working on nanocomposites related to polymers, synthetic fibres and adhesives. Opportunities for collaboration and networking should boost the level of research in participating countries with potentially important commercial outcomes.