BIOWATEX

The aim of BIOWATEX is to train excellent young researchers with the holistic mindset and set of skills required to face the challenges of future European developments in the area of bio-based materials with reduced environmental impact. BIOWATEX ETN assembles a multidisciplinary and inter-sectoral research consortium creating synergy between 7 academic research institutions and 3 private sector companies bringing scientists with interdisciplinary scientific expertise in chemistry, polymer and colloids science, physics and life cycle assessment. The research programme tackles the topic of high performant bio-based waterborne latex and coatings, from the synthesis of the building blocks,the structure-property relationships while taking into account sustainability considerations. The research programme is completed with a unique training programme integrating interdisciplinary scientific trainings (e.g. organic/polymer chemistry of renewable resources, emulsion polymerization process, physico-chemical characterization of polymers, colloids and surfaces, physics of polymer materials, modeling of rheological properties, ecotoxicity and life cycle assessment) and industrially-relevant transferable skills (e.g. innovation and entrepreneurship, industrial research and development strategy, management, personal career development) in order to meet challenges and needs of the global labour market and to offer attractive career opportunities worldwide. By combining both the training and the inter-sectoral, international and interdisciplinary mobility, the young researchers trained in BIOWATEX will acquire major skills making them very attractive to the large EU industry not only in the field of bio-based materials but also for many other industrial sectors as well as in academia.