Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GreenX3 (Innovative and sustainable materials, processes and technologies for a GREENer and circular economy)
Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2025-08-31
Environmental and economical sustainability requires a multidisciplinary approach to fill the gap that is currently significantly limiting technology transfer from research to marketable innovation. GreenX3 is a multidisciplinary and innovative project designed to use chemical tools to address the current global environmental challenges. The research objectives are focused on:
i) the study of greener materials including polymers, plastics, alternative feedstocks, natural substances and their environmental impact;
ii) the development of novel environment-friendly industrial processes for isolation;
iii) the recovery and production of these materials with key enabling technologies (KETs) designed to enhance resource management and product quality.
The GreenX3 network consists of a research and training environment supported by 16 teams (beneficiaries and associated partners) for the international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary training of researchers equipped with multidisciplinary skills allowing them to work across disciplines, to gradually shape and lead to a greener and sustainable chemical industry within the Research & Development/Innovation framework. The project started in September 2023, will last for 4 years and offers 13 PhD positions. More information and recent news are shared continuously on the official website, Linkedin and Instagram:
https://greenx3.eu/(opens in new window)
https://www.instagram.com/greenx3eu/(opens in new window)
https://de.linkedin.com/company/greenx3eu(opens in new window)
i) the study of greener materials including polymers, plastics, alternative feedstocks, natural substances and their environmental impact;
ii) the development of novel environment-friendly industrial processes for isolation;
iii) the recovery and production of these materials with key enabling technologies (KETs) designed to enhance resource management and product quality.
The GreenX3 network consists of a research and training environment supported by 16 teams (beneficiaries and associated partners) for the international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary training of researchers equipped with multidisciplinary skills allowing them to work across disciplines, to gradually shape and lead to a greener and sustainable chemical industry within the Research & Development/Innovation framework. The project started in September 2023, will last for 4 years and offers 13 PhD positions. More information and recent news are shared continuously on the official website, Linkedin and Instagram:
https://greenx3.eu/(opens in new window)
https://www.instagram.com/greenx3eu/(opens in new window)
https://de.linkedin.com/company/greenx3eu(opens in new window)
In the first 24 months, GreenX3 has successfully hired 13 researchers that were enrolled in a PhD program consequently. The network established important connections between researchers and institutions in a series of dedicated sessions and meetings. 9 secondments to non-academic partners emphasized interdisciplinarity and industrial character of the doctoral network. The DCs attended several conferences and meetings where they were able to present first results to the scientific community and relevant industry partners, such as Nanomed Europe 25, but also public events such as Fête de la Science, France. A highlight was the first publication related to the project in the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2025.106901(opens in new window)).
At the end of the first reporting period, results of the IRPs and overall project are still preliminary and on a small scale. In summary, the following are the achieved contributions to key objectives:
- Objective 1) Contribute to the training of the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists across the value chain of greener and circular economy.
A multidisciplinary and intersectoral training program was implemented from M1 to M24 with the execution of dedicated sessions and meetings, specifically the
• Doctoral Candidates Kick-Off Meeting
• 1st Training on Team Building and Soft Skills
• 1st International Meeting
• 1st Summer School – Towards Green Materials
• 1st Workshop – The power of virtual reality
- Objective 2) Research, development and innovation projects targeting a greener and circular economy.
DCs have made substantial progress in developing greener materials, processes and technologies from M1 to M24, with a focus on
• Use of novel materials obtained from renewable sources or repurposed waste streams and the study of its environmental impact (WP1). Progress towards the objective includes the establishment of aging protocols for conventional polymers and bio-based materials. Parameters for extraction of valuable compounds from waste material were set as well as purification and derivatization in preparation of vitamin synthesis explored.
• Greener formulations, environmentally friendly and sustainable processes development (WP2). Green Processes studied so far include green manufacturing of nanoparticulate systems with different methods. Optimization and characterization of green, water-based decaffeination was conducted. Moreover, a workflow for optimized analysis of microbial natural products, their fermentative production and subsequent extraction and isolation has been identified and is being followed with model strains.
• greener KETs as platform technologies that are generally applicable (WP3). Progress related towards development and optimization of green manufacturing include the establishment and characterization of KETs such as spinning disc systems.
- Objective 3) Future translation of results into industrial applications
From M1 to M24 all DCs/DNSs were involved in industrial placements experiencing working in industrial frameworks together with academic sector. Altogether, this enabled all DCs/DNSs to develop deeper understanding in the two sectors’ needs and requirements. Besides, as part of the implemented training program (Objective 1) multiple lecture and exercise were focused on industrial challenges, entrepreneurship and creativity
At the end of the first reporting period, results of the IRPs and overall project are still preliminary and on a small scale. In summary, the following are the achieved contributions to key objectives:
- Objective 1) Contribute to the training of the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists across the value chain of greener and circular economy.
A multidisciplinary and intersectoral training program was implemented from M1 to M24 with the execution of dedicated sessions and meetings, specifically the
• Doctoral Candidates Kick-Off Meeting
• 1st Training on Team Building and Soft Skills
• 1st International Meeting
• 1st Summer School – Towards Green Materials
• 1st Workshop – The power of virtual reality
- Objective 2) Research, development and innovation projects targeting a greener and circular economy.
DCs have made substantial progress in developing greener materials, processes and technologies from M1 to M24, with a focus on
• Use of novel materials obtained from renewable sources or repurposed waste streams and the study of its environmental impact (WP1). Progress towards the objective includes the establishment of aging protocols for conventional polymers and bio-based materials. Parameters for extraction of valuable compounds from waste material were set as well as purification and derivatization in preparation of vitamin synthesis explored.
• Greener formulations, environmentally friendly and sustainable processes development (WP2). Green Processes studied so far include green manufacturing of nanoparticulate systems with different methods. Optimization and characterization of green, water-based decaffeination was conducted. Moreover, a workflow for optimized analysis of microbial natural products, their fermentative production and subsequent extraction and isolation has been identified and is being followed with model strains.
• greener KETs as platform technologies that are generally applicable (WP3). Progress related towards development and optimization of green manufacturing include the establishment and characterization of KETs such as spinning disc systems.
- Objective 3) Future translation of results into industrial applications
From M1 to M24 all DCs/DNSs were involved in industrial placements experiencing working in industrial frameworks together with academic sector. Altogether, this enabled all DCs/DNSs to develop deeper understanding in the two sectors’ needs and requirements. Besides, as part of the implemented training program (Objective 1) multiple lecture and exercise were focused on industrial challenges, entrepreneurship and creativity
At this moment, no result beyond the state of the art has been achieved.