Periodic Reporting for period 3 - STRENTEX (ERA Chair for emerging technologies and innovative research in Stretchable and Textile Electronics)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-01-01 al 2024-12-31
Despite serious efforts deployed at national and European level, the significant internal disparities in terms of research and innovation performance can be observed in Europe. The STRENTEX project is intended to enhance research performances of the promising institution from low performing country (Serbia), Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad (FTS-UNS), thanks to establishing ERA Chair in the field of stretchable and textile electronics.
The STRENTEX project is in line with the Horizon 2020 Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) cross-cutting issue, engaging society, integrating the gender and ethical dimensions and ensuring the open access to research publications. The STRENTEX team has already developed prototypes and demonstrators, aligning them with the needs and expectations of society. To mention some of them: (1) Textile-based insoles for gait measurement; (2) Textile-based pressure detection system; (3) Thermo facial mask; (4) Self-adhesive and flexible textile heater; (5) Textile-based wearable energy harvester; (6) Wearable cooling therapy device; (7) Portable wearable potentiometric pH monitoring device; (8) Stretchable textile-based sensor for simultaneous breathing and motion monitoring.
The overall project objective is to decrease the research and innovation performance disparities between the “widening country” (Serbia) and innovation leaders in the EU, through attracting and maintaining high quality human resources and through implementing structural changes at FTS-UNS, to facilitate the achievement of excellence in the field of Stretchable and Textile Electronics, building on the formation of a respectable ERA Chair in this scientific domain.
The STRENTEX project is in line with the Horizon 2020 Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) cross-cutting issue, engaging society, integrating the gender and ethical dimensions and ensuring the open access to research publications. The STRENTEX team has already developed prototypes and demonstrators, aligning them with the needs and expectations of society. To mention some of them: (1) Textile-based insoles for gait measurement; (2) Textile-based pressure detection system; (3) Thermo facial mask; (4) Self-adhesive and flexible textile heater; (5) Textile-based wearable energy harvester; (6) Wearable cooling therapy device; (7) Portable wearable potentiometric pH monitoring device; (8) Stretchable textile-based sensor for simultaneous breathing and motion monitoring.
The overall project objective is to decrease the research and innovation performance disparities between the “widening country” (Serbia) and innovation leaders in the EU, through attracting and maintaining high quality human resources and through implementing structural changes at FTS-UNS, to facilitate the achievement of excellence in the field of Stretchable and Textile Electronics, building on the formation of a respectable ERA Chair in this scientific domain.
The most important work performed in this reporting period (from 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2024) are explained below per each work package and tasks within them.
WP1: ERA Chair establishment
Task 1.1: This task was accomplished in the first reporting period, bearing in mind that ERA Chair holder, prof. Varun Jeoti was employed at FTS-UNS and started his engagement from 01/09/2020. He has continued successfully with his work during RP3.
Task 1.2: The ERA Chair team members, 3 postdocs (Dr Mitar Simić, Dr Saima Qureshi and Dr Pradeep Kumar) and 4 PhD students (Sohail Sarang, Adrian Stavrakis, Hima Zafar and Ivana Knežević) were continued to work within the project, during RP3 and there were no any changes in the composition of the team.
Task 1.3: Three capital pieces of equipment (embroidery machine, screen printer and tension testing instrument) were purchased in the RP1 and they have been actively used by ERA Chair team members to develop innovative prototypes/demonstrators in RP3.
WP2: Structural changes for sustainable excellence
Task 2.1: According to the plan, in order to support institutional ERA roadmap, we organized meetings with stakeholders in the project field. The Open science forum was also organized, with 25 attendees.
Task 2.2: We have implemented important structural changes at the coordinator institution, in the domain of (a) infrastructure, (b) policies, and (c) organizational level.
Task 2.3: The Center for stretchable and textile electronics (CESTE) at FTS-UNS, has continued with the organization of various events as well as organization of experts talks, during RP3
WP3: Raise research profile of the FTS-UNS and its staff
Task 3.1: Five staff members of the STRENTEX team performed their two-months long secondments to our EU networking partners (Sohail Sarang to the University of Tampere, Finland; Hima Zafar to the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy; Mitar Simić and Saima Qureshi to the Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany and Pradeep Kumar to the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain). In addition, two researchers from EU networking partners performed secondments to the FTS-UNS (Luca Fiore from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy and Pablo Ulises Herrera Sanchez, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain). 3 international experts delivered on-site training to ERA chair team. The final project conference was organized in Novi Sad, Serbia, with 42 attendees (I day) and 38 (II day).
Task 3.2: STRENTEX project team members published 21 peer-reviewed journal papers in RP3 as well as 13 papers at international conferences.
WP4: Boosting FTS-UNS’s innovative capacities and capabilities
Task 4.1: We submitted 13 new follow-up project proposals (in 10 as a coordinator institution, whereas in 3 as a beneficiary) and 3 of them were approved for funding (Phoenix-OoC, EINSTEIN and GRETA).
Task 4.2: STRENTEX team members submitted 4 patent applications during RP3 (all at the international level) and 3 patents were awarded (2 at national level and 1 at international).
Task 4.3: The spin-off company entitled “Strentex innovations d.o.o.” was established in July 2024. More details can be seen on https://strentexinnovations.com/(si apre in una nuova finestra). The company is led by the ERA Chair holder Dr Varun Jeoti as an important sustainability action.
WP5: Dissemination, communication and exploitation
Task 5.1 The web site of the STRENTEX project and social media platforms have been regularly updated. The project website and our social media have constant organic increase in key performance indicators.
Task 5.2: The STRENTEX team participated in 2 technical fairs in RP3: SENSOR+TEST 2023 in Nurnberg (Germany) and NANOTEXNOLOGY Expo 2023 in Thessaloniki (Greece) and we have own booth exposing the developed prototypes within the STRENTEX project to wider audience. A wide range of promotional materials have been printed. The promotional video of the STRENTEX project achievements were created in two versions, 2 minutes long and 10 minutes long and they have been disseminated to the interested parties and can be downloaded from the YouTube channel of the STRENTEX (https://www.youtube.com/@strentexproject(si apre in una nuova finestra)).
Task 5.3: In RP3, we have had 4 TV interviews, 3 articles in newspapers or science portals, 3 talks, 6 events for wider society, 4 open/info days, 2 posters, and 1 Newsletter.
Task 5.4: Catalogue (or e-book of demonstrators) of the key exploitable results of the STRENTEX project has been created and can be downloaded from the project web site.
WP6: Project management
Task 6.1: We organized 12 Project Management Board meetings during RP3. All project risks have been regularly analysed and appropriate mitigation measures suggested.
Task 6.2: This task was completed during RP1 and in RP3 there was no planned activities.
Task 6.3: All project reports and deliverables were created and submitted on time.
WP1: ERA Chair establishment
Task 1.1: This task was accomplished in the first reporting period, bearing in mind that ERA Chair holder, prof. Varun Jeoti was employed at FTS-UNS and started his engagement from 01/09/2020. He has continued successfully with his work during RP3.
Task 1.2: The ERA Chair team members, 3 postdocs (Dr Mitar Simić, Dr Saima Qureshi and Dr Pradeep Kumar) and 4 PhD students (Sohail Sarang, Adrian Stavrakis, Hima Zafar and Ivana Knežević) were continued to work within the project, during RP3 and there were no any changes in the composition of the team.
Task 1.3: Three capital pieces of equipment (embroidery machine, screen printer and tension testing instrument) were purchased in the RP1 and they have been actively used by ERA Chair team members to develop innovative prototypes/demonstrators in RP3.
WP2: Structural changes for sustainable excellence
Task 2.1: According to the plan, in order to support institutional ERA roadmap, we organized meetings with stakeholders in the project field. The Open science forum was also organized, with 25 attendees.
Task 2.2: We have implemented important structural changes at the coordinator institution, in the domain of (a) infrastructure, (b) policies, and (c) organizational level.
Task 2.3: The Center for stretchable and textile electronics (CESTE) at FTS-UNS, has continued with the organization of various events as well as organization of experts talks, during RP3
WP3: Raise research profile of the FTS-UNS and its staff
Task 3.1: Five staff members of the STRENTEX team performed their two-months long secondments to our EU networking partners (Sohail Sarang to the University of Tampere, Finland; Hima Zafar to the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy; Mitar Simić and Saima Qureshi to the Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany and Pradeep Kumar to the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain). In addition, two researchers from EU networking partners performed secondments to the FTS-UNS (Luca Fiore from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy and Pablo Ulises Herrera Sanchez, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain). 3 international experts delivered on-site training to ERA chair team. The final project conference was organized in Novi Sad, Serbia, with 42 attendees (I day) and 38 (II day).
Task 3.2: STRENTEX project team members published 21 peer-reviewed journal papers in RP3 as well as 13 papers at international conferences.
WP4: Boosting FTS-UNS’s innovative capacities and capabilities
Task 4.1: We submitted 13 new follow-up project proposals (in 10 as a coordinator institution, whereas in 3 as a beneficiary) and 3 of them were approved for funding (Phoenix-OoC, EINSTEIN and GRETA).
Task 4.2: STRENTEX team members submitted 4 patent applications during RP3 (all at the international level) and 3 patents were awarded (2 at national level and 1 at international).
Task 4.3: The spin-off company entitled “Strentex innovations d.o.o.” was established in July 2024. More details can be seen on https://strentexinnovations.com/(si apre in una nuova finestra). The company is led by the ERA Chair holder Dr Varun Jeoti as an important sustainability action.
WP5: Dissemination, communication and exploitation
Task 5.1 The web site of the STRENTEX project and social media platforms have been regularly updated. The project website and our social media have constant organic increase in key performance indicators.
Task 5.2: The STRENTEX team participated in 2 technical fairs in RP3: SENSOR+TEST 2023 in Nurnberg (Germany) and NANOTEXNOLOGY Expo 2023 in Thessaloniki (Greece) and we have own booth exposing the developed prototypes within the STRENTEX project to wider audience. A wide range of promotional materials have been printed. The promotional video of the STRENTEX project achievements were created in two versions, 2 minutes long and 10 minutes long and they have been disseminated to the interested parties and can be downloaded from the YouTube channel of the STRENTEX (https://www.youtube.com/@strentexproject(si apre in una nuova finestra)).
Task 5.3: In RP3, we have had 4 TV interviews, 3 articles in newspapers or science portals, 3 talks, 6 events for wider society, 4 open/info days, 2 posters, and 1 Newsletter.
Task 5.4: Catalogue (or e-book of demonstrators) of the key exploitable results of the STRENTEX project has been created and can be downloaded from the project web site.
WP6: Project management
Task 6.1: We organized 12 Project Management Board meetings during RP3. All project risks have been regularly analysed and appropriate mitigation measures suggested.
Task 6.2: This task was completed during RP1 and in RP3 there was no planned activities.
Task 6.3: All project reports and deliverables were created and submitted on time.
The STRENTEX team has already created results beyond state of the art and 2 patent applications have been submitted, namely, for: (a) self-adhesive and flexible textile heater, specifically designed as a custom-made solution that can be integrated into garments such as jackets, coats, and other apparel and (b) an optical microphone system that uses a photoplethysmographic sensor in conjunction with a custom vibrating diaphragm to detect acoustic waves and biological signals simultaneously.
We established the Strentex Innovations start up. We specialize in creating innovative stretchable textiles and biopolymer-based electronics designed for both personal and industrial applications. Through lateral thinking, integrity, and customer-focused solutions, we aim to make a lasting impact in shaping a sustainable tomorrow in healthcare sector.
We established the Strentex Innovations start up. We specialize in creating innovative stretchable textiles and biopolymer-based electronics designed for both personal and industrial applications. Through lateral thinking, integrity, and customer-focused solutions, we aim to make a lasting impact in shaping a sustainable tomorrow in healthcare sector.