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Artificial Molecular Machines

Project description

Nature and nurture are inspiring a new generation of molecular machinists

Machines use mechanical forces and moving components to perform functional tasks. From wheels and axles to levers and pulleys to the energy-converting machines of the Industrial Revolution, human-made machines have shaped our development. More recently, machines have been down-sized – a lot – with inspiration from nature. All motion in living organisms comes from biological molecular machines. Now, scientists are developing artificial molecular machines for engineering and medical applications. ArtMoMa plans to put the wheels in motion for facilitating European leadership in the promising area of artificial molecular machines. Young researchers mentored by world-class scientists in academia and industry are working together to establish a lasting educational structure to translate fundamental research into numerous applications.

Objective

Artificial molecular machines have the potential to revolutionise medical treatment, material design, and energy conversion for the benefit of the European and global community. Key fundamental aspects have been studied and the findings were awarded with the 2016 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Now it is time to guide the research further towards game-changing implementations that utilise artificial movement of molecules and orchestrate them in large systems. Therefore, we propose the ITN project ArtMoMa, which aims a) to push the current scientific boundaries further and to explore entirely new directions of fundamental research towards technologically relevant implementations; and b) to educate and mentor 15 curious and highly capable ESRs to form a critical mass of fully skilled young professionals acting as multipliers to develop technologies across Europe. The network is built on synergies and complementarities between leading scientists (with for instance the involvement of 4 Nobel Prize Laureates), world-class institutions, different disciplines, and the incorporation of several industries as drivers – ranging from start-ups to SMEs to global players – from all over Europe. In the medium- to long-term, we have the joint vision to create new and sustainable education structures with strong involvement from key stakeholders and including industry. This will build a continuous stream of leading European scientists who will create further knowledge and innovations in the future, ranging from processes to products to services and resulting in economic growth and leadership in this field.

Coordinator

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Net EU contribution
€ 549 604,08
Address
RUE MICHEL ANGE 3
75794 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 549 604,08

Participants (7)