Periodic Report Summary 2 - STREAM (Strengthening the Romanian research capacity in Multifunctional Polymeric Materials)
Project Context and Objectives:
Strategic objective
STREAM aimed at strengthening ICMPP’s excellence, through technological, human and partnership capacities fostering, but most of all through the reshaping of its internal organization. ICMPP ambition is to adopt a totally integrated interdisciplinary approach around four interdisciplinary research areas, defined as priorities by the Institute, in order to converge towards excellence and to place the Institute among the major players in Polymer Science and Technology in Europe.
Specific objectives
The objectives of STREAM project, as stated in Annex 1 of the GA, are as follows:
- to increase the research facilities of ICMPP with hard equipments needed to develop interdisciplinary work on multifunctional materials (WP1)
- to train ICMPP researchers and the staff of local partners on the use of new equipments/techniques (WP1)
- to concentrate the research activity of ICMPP around four Research Areas (WP2)
- to reinforce ICMPP human resources through hiring experienced researchers (WP2)
- to train ICMPP researchers through research stays in the laboratories of Collaborative Partners and by sharing post-training experience (WP3)
- to train ICMPP staff by conferences, seminars, common work, face to face discussions during the on-site visits of experienced researchers from Collaborative Partners (WP3)
- to create and define the research topics of common interest of SREAM Polymer Science and Technology Platform (WP4)
- to increase ICMPP international visibility through organization of international scientific events and the participation of ICMPP researchers in international conferences (WP4)
- to increase ICMPP national visibility through networking actions (WP4)
- to disseminate the project objectives/achievements towards different categories of public (“open-day” actions, web portal of STREAM, press releases…) (WP5)
- to ensure the viability of the project and its lasting effects on both ICMPP and its network (WP6)
- to validate the STREAM achievements/impact (WP7)
Project Results:
To strengthen the “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry (ICMPP) excellence as a major player in Romania and in the ERA, through technological, human and partnership capacities fostering, but most of all through the reshaping of its internal organization, the main activities performed to achieve these goals were:
- Enrichment the research infrastructure of the institute with new hard equipments. To a high resolution electron transmission microscope (TEM), a small angle X-ray scattering spectrometer (SAXS) and a multi-detection size exclusion chromatograph (SEC) purchased and installed period I, a fluorescence spectrometer was purchased in the second reporting period with partial support from STREAM budget, and the training of users from ICMPP and local partner institutions was performed.
- Efforts of Research Area Leaders were dedicated to focusing the interdisciplinary research activity of ICMPP towards four Research Areas of polymer science (i. Supramolecular/interface chemistry and physical chemistry; ii. Bio-based polymeric materials, environmental protection, energy conservation; iii. Bio-oriented polymeric materials; iv. Polymers for high-tech application. Nanosized/nanostructured materials), mainly through organizing common meetings of ICMPP researchers from different departments and involved in projects of interest for specific areas.
- Thirteen experienced researchers were hired for a total of 216 person-months and involved in specific research projects connected to the four Research Areas of interest for ICMPP. From them, four left the institute, one is in maternity leave and four/four were integrated in the research staff scheme of ICMPP on permanent/temporary positions.
- Out-going (ICMPP researchers in Collaborative Partners institutions) and in-coming (experienced staff from Collaborative Partners in ICMPP) programs were planned, organized and monitored. As a result, 18 new bilateral research projects were developed and the research staff of ICMPP was trained and gained knowledge on interdisciplinary topics in polymer and material science. Moreover, the experience acquired by ICMPP researchers during their stays abroad was shared with their colleagues during post-training seminars. The joint projects will be further developed by using other funds, as decided during the final IAB meeting.
- The STREAM Polymer Science and Technology Platform gathering ICMPP and the Collaborative Partners is fully operational. Its agenda, mission and work plan for the next period were established. Its portfolio of joint research services was disseminated during different networking events and on the project website.
- The visibility of ICMPP was increased by both organizing and participation in scientific events, as well as by organization of workshops and brokerage events.
- The website of STREAM was periodically updated. The site contains public and private areas, the last one being used for communication between partners or EC officers.
- The promotion of STREAM results as well as of ICMPP achievements was performed by organizing of “open days” actions, by interviews in media and press releases in general and specialized journals.
- The first step of the evaluation of STREAM impact on ICMPP research capacity development was organized and a positive intermediary and consolidated reports of the evaluators were collected and discussed with ICMPP decision staff, being used to define the ICMPP strategy for the next period.
Potential Impact:
Results achieved
The results achieved on the different WPs of the project are summarized as follows:
WP1. Strengthening research infrastructure
- Four new hard equipments were purchased and installed;
- Specialized training sessions: 11 (for groups of 4-5 researchers from ICMPP)
- Courses/practice training sessions: 6 (each, for groups of more than 20-25 persons from ICMPP and local partner institutions)
WP2. ICMPP optimal research organization and recruitment
- Nine basic research departments and one applied research department connected to four fundamental Research Areas and to Applied Research
- Total number of published papers (M1-M42): 1000 (increasing average impact factor from 1.6 in 2011 to 2,3 in 2014) from which
• papers jointly published by researchers belonging to different departments in ICMPP: more than 2/3
• papers co-authored by ICMPP and STREAM Collaborative Partners: 39
- Experienced researchers hired and integrated within ICMPP research activity: 13
papers co-authored by newly hired researchers: 39
WP3. Strengthening human resources
- Number of research stays abroad: 61
- Total period of out-going mobility programs: 46 months
- Number of training through research stays of Collaborative Partners in ICMPP: 47
- Total period of in-coming mobility programs: 290 days
- Number of seminars for post-training experience sharing: 61
WP4 Visibility – ICMPP integration in the ERA as a major player
- Platform workshops with enlarged participation were organized during IAB meetings
• Co-operation roadmap of Polymer Science and Technology Platform elaborated
• Research service portfolio offered by the Platform
• Number of ongoing international projects (FP7, COST, bilateral cooperation): 21
• Number of ongoing multipartner national: 18 (Partnership Program)
• On-going projects financed from private resources: 2
• On-going projects coordinated by the newly hired researchers: 1
- International events organized: 7 symposia; 1 summer school
- National scientific events organized: 2 symposia, 5 workshops (STREAM Platform aimed to promote regional partners), 2 brokerage events
- Number of presentations in international events: 71
WP5 Project dissemination
- Dissemination events for general public organized: 4 open-day actions, 1 round table for teachers and 1 visit of scholars attending a national competition in chemistry
- STREAM web portal up-dated periodically
Project publicity in:
- on line broadcast: 1
- press releases: 4 press releases in specialized journals; 4 in a general national journal
- link-referencing on STREAM collaborative partners official sites
WP7 Evaluation facility
- three steps of the evaluation facility were organized
- all documents requested by the evaluation panel members were prepared
- the intermediary evaluation reports and the consolidated evaluation report were collected
- the excellence of ICMPP assessed
Expected end results
A well developed and recognized institute from Romania as newly associated state fully connected to the ERA.
Potential impact and use
STREAM results impact on ICMPP medium and long-term development
- Research strategy in accordance with ERA priorities
- Improved human resources capacity
- Modernized research infrastructure
- Optimized response to wider societal and economic needs
- Higher visibility at both national and international levels
- Increased participation in multi-partner national and international projects
STREAM results impact at regional/national levels
- Strengthened regional/national cooperation networks with entities of complementary expertise and interest (universities, other research centers, SMEs or other companies)
- Improved research and innovation capacities of the region and of the country
- Increased participation of R&D national partners in international projects
- Increased interest of young generation for a research carrier
- Increased awareness of general public towards science and especially towards chemistry
- Lasting scientific/technological, societal and integrating effects
European dimension of the project is clearly revealed by the collaboration between ICMPP with well established institutions from Austria, France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. The Collaborative Partners promote the integration of ICMPP and of its national network into the ERA.
List of Websites:
www.regpot-stream.ro
Strategic objective
STREAM aimed at strengthening ICMPP’s excellence, through technological, human and partnership capacities fostering, but most of all through the reshaping of its internal organization. ICMPP ambition is to adopt a totally integrated interdisciplinary approach around four interdisciplinary research areas, defined as priorities by the Institute, in order to converge towards excellence and to place the Institute among the major players in Polymer Science and Technology in Europe.
Specific objectives
The objectives of STREAM project, as stated in Annex 1 of the GA, are as follows:
- to increase the research facilities of ICMPP with hard equipments needed to develop interdisciplinary work on multifunctional materials (WP1)
- to train ICMPP researchers and the staff of local partners on the use of new equipments/techniques (WP1)
- to concentrate the research activity of ICMPP around four Research Areas (WP2)
- to reinforce ICMPP human resources through hiring experienced researchers (WP2)
- to train ICMPP researchers through research stays in the laboratories of Collaborative Partners and by sharing post-training experience (WP3)
- to train ICMPP staff by conferences, seminars, common work, face to face discussions during the on-site visits of experienced researchers from Collaborative Partners (WP3)
- to create and define the research topics of common interest of SREAM Polymer Science and Technology Platform (WP4)
- to increase ICMPP international visibility through organization of international scientific events and the participation of ICMPP researchers in international conferences (WP4)
- to increase ICMPP national visibility through networking actions (WP4)
- to disseminate the project objectives/achievements towards different categories of public (“open-day” actions, web portal of STREAM, press releases…) (WP5)
- to ensure the viability of the project and its lasting effects on both ICMPP and its network (WP6)
- to validate the STREAM achievements/impact (WP7)
Project Results:
To strengthen the “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry (ICMPP) excellence as a major player in Romania and in the ERA, through technological, human and partnership capacities fostering, but most of all through the reshaping of its internal organization, the main activities performed to achieve these goals were:
- Enrichment the research infrastructure of the institute with new hard equipments. To a high resolution electron transmission microscope (TEM), a small angle X-ray scattering spectrometer (SAXS) and a multi-detection size exclusion chromatograph (SEC) purchased and installed period I, a fluorescence spectrometer was purchased in the second reporting period with partial support from STREAM budget, and the training of users from ICMPP and local partner institutions was performed.
- Efforts of Research Area Leaders were dedicated to focusing the interdisciplinary research activity of ICMPP towards four Research Areas of polymer science (i. Supramolecular/interface chemistry and physical chemistry; ii. Bio-based polymeric materials, environmental protection, energy conservation; iii. Bio-oriented polymeric materials; iv. Polymers for high-tech application. Nanosized/nanostructured materials), mainly through organizing common meetings of ICMPP researchers from different departments and involved in projects of interest for specific areas.
- Thirteen experienced researchers were hired for a total of 216 person-months and involved in specific research projects connected to the four Research Areas of interest for ICMPP. From them, four left the institute, one is in maternity leave and four/four were integrated in the research staff scheme of ICMPP on permanent/temporary positions.
- Out-going (ICMPP researchers in Collaborative Partners institutions) and in-coming (experienced staff from Collaborative Partners in ICMPP) programs were planned, organized and monitored. As a result, 18 new bilateral research projects were developed and the research staff of ICMPP was trained and gained knowledge on interdisciplinary topics in polymer and material science. Moreover, the experience acquired by ICMPP researchers during their stays abroad was shared with their colleagues during post-training seminars. The joint projects will be further developed by using other funds, as decided during the final IAB meeting.
- The STREAM Polymer Science and Technology Platform gathering ICMPP and the Collaborative Partners is fully operational. Its agenda, mission and work plan for the next period were established. Its portfolio of joint research services was disseminated during different networking events and on the project website.
- The visibility of ICMPP was increased by both organizing and participation in scientific events, as well as by organization of workshops and brokerage events.
- The website of STREAM was periodically updated. The site contains public and private areas, the last one being used for communication between partners or EC officers.
- The promotion of STREAM results as well as of ICMPP achievements was performed by organizing of “open days” actions, by interviews in media and press releases in general and specialized journals.
- The first step of the evaluation of STREAM impact on ICMPP research capacity development was organized and a positive intermediary and consolidated reports of the evaluators were collected and discussed with ICMPP decision staff, being used to define the ICMPP strategy for the next period.
Potential Impact:
Results achieved
The results achieved on the different WPs of the project are summarized as follows:
WP1. Strengthening research infrastructure
- Four new hard equipments were purchased and installed;
- Specialized training sessions: 11 (for groups of 4-5 researchers from ICMPP)
- Courses/practice training sessions: 6 (each, for groups of more than 20-25 persons from ICMPP and local partner institutions)
WP2. ICMPP optimal research organization and recruitment
- Nine basic research departments and one applied research department connected to four fundamental Research Areas and to Applied Research
- Total number of published papers (M1-M42): 1000 (increasing average impact factor from 1.6 in 2011 to 2,3 in 2014) from which
• papers jointly published by researchers belonging to different departments in ICMPP: more than 2/3
• papers co-authored by ICMPP and STREAM Collaborative Partners: 39
- Experienced researchers hired and integrated within ICMPP research activity: 13
papers co-authored by newly hired researchers: 39
WP3. Strengthening human resources
- Number of research stays abroad: 61
- Total period of out-going mobility programs: 46 months
- Number of training through research stays of Collaborative Partners in ICMPP: 47
- Total period of in-coming mobility programs: 290 days
- Number of seminars for post-training experience sharing: 61
WP4 Visibility – ICMPP integration in the ERA as a major player
- Platform workshops with enlarged participation were organized during IAB meetings
• Co-operation roadmap of Polymer Science and Technology Platform elaborated
• Research service portfolio offered by the Platform
• Number of ongoing international projects (FP7, COST, bilateral cooperation): 21
• Number of ongoing multipartner national: 18 (Partnership Program)
• On-going projects financed from private resources: 2
• On-going projects coordinated by the newly hired researchers: 1
- International events organized: 7 symposia; 1 summer school
- National scientific events organized: 2 symposia, 5 workshops (STREAM Platform aimed to promote regional partners), 2 brokerage events
- Number of presentations in international events: 71
WP5 Project dissemination
- Dissemination events for general public organized: 4 open-day actions, 1 round table for teachers and 1 visit of scholars attending a national competition in chemistry
- STREAM web portal up-dated periodically
Project publicity in:
- on line broadcast: 1
- press releases: 4 press releases in specialized journals; 4 in a general national journal
- link-referencing on STREAM collaborative partners official sites
WP7 Evaluation facility
- three steps of the evaluation facility were organized
- all documents requested by the evaluation panel members were prepared
- the intermediary evaluation reports and the consolidated evaluation report were collected
- the excellence of ICMPP assessed
Expected end results
A well developed and recognized institute from Romania as newly associated state fully connected to the ERA.
Potential impact and use
STREAM results impact on ICMPP medium and long-term development
- Research strategy in accordance with ERA priorities
- Improved human resources capacity
- Modernized research infrastructure
- Optimized response to wider societal and economic needs
- Higher visibility at both national and international levels
- Increased participation in multi-partner national and international projects
STREAM results impact at regional/national levels
- Strengthened regional/national cooperation networks with entities of complementary expertise and interest (universities, other research centers, SMEs or other companies)
- Improved research and innovation capacities of the region and of the country
- Increased participation of R&D national partners in international projects
- Increased interest of young generation for a research carrier
- Increased awareness of general public towards science and especially towards chemistry
- Lasting scientific/technological, societal and integrating effects
European dimension of the project is clearly revealed by the collaboration between ICMPP with well established institutions from Austria, France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. The Collaborative Partners promote the integration of ICMPP and of its national network into the ERA.
List of Websites:
www.regpot-stream.ro
