We are happy to announce that today, Friday, 17 December 2010, marked the official commencement of research activities and general operations of the “Research Unit for Nanostructured Materials Systems” coordinated by Professor Panteleimon Kelires of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. The pertinent kick-off meeting took place at the Senate Building of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT). This major research endeavor is co-funded by the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus through Structural Funds and Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation respectively to the tune of 2,000,000 Euro and is hosted by CUT and partnered with the University of Cyprus, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Harvard University and the Energy Service of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
The main objective of the project is to establish an innovative Research Unit that will eventually grow and develop into a Centre of Excellence for Materials Research and Development involved in cutting-edge research activities and adapting to future technological needs as they arise. The Unit aims at resolving materials-related problems pertinent to the economically important local industries, and spearhead the efforts for future growth through the development of innovative materials systems. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the efforts in making Cyprus technologically competitive in the field of Advanced Materials on a European and international level.
The research Unit and the envisioned Center of Excellence will constitute a truly unique infrastructure in the scientific and technological map of Cyprus. Through the application of nanotechnology research to the design and development of new practically important materials systems and the provision of high caliber education and training, the Unit will promote a general awareness of the importance of modern materials and its role in the technology of today, enhance the competitive edge of Cyprus in the materials sector, and contribute to the general effort for socioeconomic growth. Of particular importance to Cyprus economy is the solar thermal collector industry. The Unit`s research activities in this field, in close cooperation with the Energy service of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, the Association of Solar Energy Industries of Cyprus and other stake holders, will lead to the development of new and improved coatings that will enhance collector quality and thermal performance. In this way, the Cypriot solar collectors and solar energy systems will become technologically competitive thus facilitating the promotion of exports of locally manufactured units.
Another benefit for Cyprus that will be derived from the activities of this Unit is the development of a National Standardized Materials Testing Centre. The development of this testing facility will reinforce the collaboration with industry and the public sector and in the long term, testing will encompass a wide range of materials properties and assessment of product performance. The synergy between the Testing Centre and the Unit´s research activities will render it a major consultant to the Cypriot Industrial Sector in the field of materials. Finally, the Unit will provide increased and rewarding employment opportunities in the scientific and technological sectors thus accomodating the repatriation of Cypriot scientists and engineers and will play a leading role in the establishment of the first Technological Park in Cyprus with the obvious advantages that this will beget.
In general terms, the primary innovation characterizing the Unit’s activities is the effective synergy of theory/simulation and experiment (materials synthesis and characterization) under a single roof. As well, the pertinent research projects will encompass the development of novel coatings for solar thermal collectors with absorption characteristics near the maximum of the solar radiation spectrum, the implementation of a new generation of protective coatings that will exhibit an optimum combination of hardness, ductility and strength, and the fabrication of a new class of sensors based on nanostructured carbon with significantly enhanced sensitivity as compared to their traditional silicon counterparts.
Prof. Kelires has joined the Editorial Board of Scientific Reports - a Journal from the publishers of Nature
We are happy to announce that today, Friday, 17 December 2010, marked the official commencement of research activities and general operations of the “Research Unit for Nanostructured Materials Systems” coordinated by Professor Panteleimon Kelires of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. The pertinent kick-off meeting took place at the Senate Building of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT). This major research endeavor is co-funded by the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus through Structural Funds and Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation respectively to the tune of 2,000,000 Euro and is hosted by CUT and partnered with the University of Cyprus, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Harvard University and the Energy Service of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
The main objective of the project is to establish an innovative Research Unit that will eventually grow and develop into a Centre of Excellence for Materials Research and Development involved in cutting-edge research activities and adapting to future technological needs as they arise. The Unit aims at resolving materials-related problems pertinent to the economically important local industries, and spearhead the efforts for future growth through the development of innovative materials systems. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the efforts in making Cyprus technologically competitive in the field of Advanced Materials on a European and international level.
The research Unit and the envisioned Center of Excellence will constitute a truly unique infrastructure in the scientific and technological map of Cyprus. Through the application of nanotechnology research to the design and development of new practically important materials systems and the provision of high caliber education and training, the Unit will promote a general awareness of the importance of modern materials and its role in the technology of today, enhance the competitive edge of Cyprus in the materials sector, and contribute to the general effort for socioeconomic growth. Of particular importance to Cyprus economy is the solar thermal collector industry. The Unit`s research activities in this field, in close cooperation with the Energy service of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, the Association of Solar Energy Industries of Cyprus and other stake holders, will lead to the development of new and improved coatings that will enhance collector quality and thermal performance. In this way, the Cypriot solar collectors and solar energy systems will become technologically competitive thus facilitating the promotion of exports of locally manufactured units.
Another benefit for Cyprus that will be derived from the activities of this Unit is the development of a National Standardized Materials Testing Centre. The development of this testing facility will reinforce the collaboration with industry and the public sector and in the long term, testing will encompass a wide range of materials properties and assessment of product performance. The synergy between the Testing Centre and the Unit´s research activities will render it a major consultant to the Cypriot Industrial Sector in the field of materials. Finally, the Unit will provide increased and rewarding employment opportunities in the scientific and technological sectors thus accomodating the repatriation of Cypriot scientists and engineers and will play a leading role in the establishment of the first Technological Park in Cyprus with the obvious advantages that this will beget.
In general terms, the primary innovation characterizing the Unit’s activities is the effective synergy of theory/simulation and experiment (materials synthesis and characterization) under a single roof. As well, the pertinent research projects will encompass the development of novel coatings for solar thermal collectors with absorption characteristics near the maximum of the solar radiation spectrum, the implementation of a new generation of protective coatings that will exhibit an optimum combination of hardness, ductility and strength, and the fabrication of a new class of sensors based on nanostructured carbon with significantly enhanced sensitivity as compared to their traditional silicon counterparts.
