Esperanto (Enhancing the Sustainability of PhotopolymERs ANd phoToinduced prOcesses) is a MSCA initiative in the field of polymer science. At the core of the project is photopolymerization, key enabling technology (KET) for coatings, adhesives, inks, packaging, electronics, and 3D printing. known as faster and more efficient than traditional processes, as use of solvents is limited, energy consumption is very low, set-up of the plants is simple. Thanks to these advantages, it has the potential to enter and innovate many sectors, including small and medium enterprises, which are large job creators and critical for industrialisation at an early stage.
However, although greener than most chemical processes, photopolymerisation still presents sustainability issues and technical limitations, namely:
• the reliance on fossil-based raw materials
• the migration of components during the service life of the products (posing severe limits to the use of this KET in medical and food applications)
• the use of potentially harmful UV light sources
• the limited applicability to thick/opaque samples or non-illuminated areas
• the scarce recyclability of photopolymers (which are mostly crosslinked materials, thus non-recyclable).
Esperanto has been launched to tackle these problems; after forming an intersectoral network of universities and industries, the following objectives (Fig. 1) were identified:
• Objective 1 (O1): synthesis of new raw chemicals for sustainable photoprocesses, i.e. safer photoinitiators and biobased oligomers for photoinitiator-free reactions, and development of innovative processes providing easily recyclable photocured materials
• Objective 2 (O2): original uses of photopolymerisation processes for the preparation of biobased and bioinspired coatings, adhesives, thick samples, nanofibers, foams, and for the implementation of polymer processing such as 3D printing and photocrosslinking. For enabling the full control of photoprocesses and increasing efficiency, the design of a general modelling framework is also included
• Objective 3 (O3): formation of a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and environmentally conscious researchers, with advanced skills to lead and manage innovation, implementing a training through research, doctoral hard & soft skills courses, dedicated schools/workshops organised by the Consortium and interdisciplinary and transnational exchanges among partners, as summarised in Fig. 2.
