Meet the Team

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) is an academic Institution which is composed of 11 faculties consisting of 41 Schools and around 40.000 active students (31.000 undergraduate and 9.000 postgraduate of which 3.900 at doctorate level) and 2366 faculty members. AUTH is the largest University in Greece and in the Balkans and in terms of promoting innovation, 32 patents have been granted during the last 3 years on a national, European and international level. Based on recent data from international ranking lists, out of 20372 higher institutions in the world, AUTH was in the 158th in 2012, ranking first among 23 Greek Universities. AUTH has a funding (2009-2013) (nationally and internationally) for the three major faculties: Health, Sciences and Engineering of a total of 138.330.059 €, from which 38.153.623 € are allocated to the faculty of science. It is also worth to mention that AUTH has 864 international partners and 2355 active research programs (year 2013) and showing an enhancement the last years not only to funding but also in international cooperation.

The School of Physics (Faculty of Sciences) was founded in 1928. It is one of the most significant, oldest, and largest schools, not only in terms of the number of staff and students, but also in terms of research programs, projects, and academic excellence. It consists of five departments; one of them is the section of solid-state physics, which includes the Laboratory of Advanced Materials & Devices (AMDe lab). The AMDelab offers extensive expertise in applied physics and materials science. Scientific activity includes experimental procedures, theoretical studies, and technological applications. The main categories are as follows: 1) growth processes and development of innovative and high technology materials using CVD systems (thermal CVD, pack cementation, LPCVD), Sputtering techniques, and Ball milling procedures, 2) study of the structural properties (qualitative/quantitative analysis, determination of crystallinity, chemical/structural analysis, topography, surface imaging and morphology) using X-ray methods (XRD, XRR and XPS), 3) Electron Microscopy and qualitative/quantitative analysis (SEM equipped with EDS-WDS analyzer and High-Resolution TEM), 4) Optical Spectroscopy and molecular investigation (FTIR spectrometer), 5) study of thermal properties such as melting, crystallization, glass transition, Cp, curing, degradation, kinetics (TGA-DSC) and 6) theoretical approach of solid-state physics.

The Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Technology (LPCT), from the School of Chemistry, and the Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Devices (AMDelab), from the School of Physics, will participate in REDONDO. LPCT focuses on (bio)polymer and (bio)composites synthesis and characterization, as well as applications of (bio)polymers in several areas including pipes, films, bottles, fibers, etc. In the present proposal, the AMDelab will focus on the thermal analysis (behaviour and thermal stability) of polymers and the effect of different additives on polymer thermal properties.

The CNRS partner consists in the polymer department and the molecular department of ICGM (Institut Charles Gerhardt de Montpellier). The ICGM has an expertise on the synthesis of polymers and vitrimers. The role of ICGM will be to determine the conditions to obtain reversible crosslinked PE, owing to various routes. Our recent works have allowed to demonstrate promising potential of Diels-Alder reversible crosslinking. Sylvain Caillol (DR CNRS) has expertise in the synthesis of reversible Diels–Alder structures, especially from natural phenols. Vincent Ladmiral (DR CNRS) has expertise in the synthesis of covalent adaptable networks, particularly with neighbouring groups activation. Eric Leclerc has expertise in the synthesis of monomers and the study of exchange reactions using model molecules.

SILON, a global producer of technical compounds offers a wide range of products and technical assistance, and an individual approach to development projects, which makes us more than just a manufacturer of plastics. We design, produce and sell polyolefin-based performance compounds for construction, automotive and general applications.

The SILON global group supplies its products to more than 40 countries worldwide. Production plants are located in the Czech Republic and in the USA (Georgia). We are about to expand our production capacity in a new production facility in Komotini, Greece.

Since its foundation, SILON has specialised in the production of polyester fibres, in later years from recycled PET bottles. Currently, we focus on the production of technical compounds for most industries.

We have successfully offered top-notch PE-Xb compounds on the pipe market under the TABOREX® brand name since 1994. Since 2017, when we invested in state-of-the-art technology, we have been supplying high-performance halogen-free (HFFR) and crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) thermoplastic compounds to the cable market under the TABOCAB® brand. The TABOREN® product portfolio, polyolefin compounds filled with mineral and fibrous fillers, find application especially in the automotive sector, construction and other industrial branches.

Our experts have extensive experience working in the contract compounding field, helping customers to develop, innovate and outsource new products.

Founded in 2013 and based in Athens, Greece, Creative Nano is a research and commercialization SME specialising in surface engineering, nanocomposite coatings and biobased nanomaterials. Cnano’s core team consists of highly skilled MSc and PhD scientists and engineers. The company has significant expertise in the production, dispersion, (electro)deposition, modification, processing and upscaling of nanoparticles for their integration into advanced functional materials. At the same time, Cnano offers engineering services and technical support to European industries implementing SSbD strategies. In REDONDO, Cnano will undertake the production and surface modification of lignin nanoparticles as a biobased additive in rPEX formulations.

AIMEN is a highly specialised Innovation and Technology Centre in the field of materials and advanced manufacturing technologies. AIMEN is specialised in joining and welding technologies, laser technologies applied to materials processing, robotics and automation. From Galician (Spain) facilities and with commercial offices distributed around nationwide, AIMEN provides worldwide services. The vision of the company is to become a technological and strategic ally for each of our associates and client companies, contributing to improve their technological and competitive capabilities. The aim activity reaches the identification and development of business opportunities through applied research, technological development and innovation and problem solving through the provision of high added value services to industry.

Interplast manufactures plastic pipes and fittings to the very highest specifications, for use in water supply, heating and sewerage systems and covering a broad range of applications in the areas of house construction, technical projects and industrial facilities. The company aims to design, develop and market products and integrated solutions that cover the needs of modern construction and improve quality of life, by building a relationship of trust between the technical world and the consumer public.

The Group’s central offices are located in Komotini, coordinating the day-to-day manufacturing activity of the industrial units. Plastic pipes and fittings are manufactured at facilities covering 40,000 sq m located in the industrial area of Komotini, and Interplast’s Customer Services for South Greece are located in an area of 6,000 sq m in Menidi, Attica, together with the brass fittings plant of its subsidiary company, ELVIOM.

Based in Berlin, we are part of a group of medium-sized, group-independent companies. All facilities are certified in accordance with IATF 16949:2016. KBE Elektrotechnik GmbH was founded in 1980 and has continued to grow ever since. Today, the group employs more than 350 people in all. The current annual capacity of the group’s wire and cable production totals approximately 2.0 million km or 35,000 tons of copper per year.

KBE Elektrotechnik GmbH is focused on the construction and manufacturing of electrical wires and cables. Our main customers are from the automotive industry, the electrical household appliance industry as well as the photovoltaics and the engineering industries. Another core area is pioneering technologies, so KBE Elektrotechnik GmbH is a leading supplier of cables from the field of renewable energies, especially solar cables, and with its data and charging cables a strong partner for electromobility & autonomous driving.

KBE Elektrotechnik GmbH was one of the first companies in Berlin, which introduced certified quality management system in 2001 according to the former standard ISO TS 16949.Since then, we have been continuously improving our processes and adapting to the changing environment. Today our management system is certified according to the ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 standards.

ITENE is the specialist research centre in R&D in packaging and logistics. Founded in 1994, generates scientific and technological knowledge and added value to companies through the implementation of research and innovation projects. The centre has a multidisciplinary team of researchers and technicians, and is located in Valencia (Spain), in a 7,000 square meter building. Half of the space is dedicated to laboratories and pilot plants equipped with the latest technology for research and testing activities.

Axia Innovation is a consultant company located in Munich, Germany. We offer integrated consulting services and support companies in all phases of business development and product commercialisation. Axia is part of a wide international network, that is based on long-term cooperation to create valued and innovative products. AXIA prides highly qualified experts who create business opportunities for entrepreneurs, independent enterprises, and academic institutions. In Redondo, AXIA is responsible for the exploitation activities and will develop an exploitation strategy to plan a market uptake and maximise the innovation impact of the project.

RDC Informatics is specialized in applied innovative solutions for cloud-based technology areas, providing services for creative design, digital marketing, web & mobile application development and business software implementations. Management & R&D teams have a significant 20-years’ experience in developing both national (Greece) and international projects (United Kingdom, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Russia). Today, RDC Informatics offers innovative ICT software products organized in three discrete business divisions:

• Business Software Applications, SaaS Solutions (Software as a Service) & Cloud Solutions
• Web design - Web & Mobile Applications Development
• Digital Marketing Applications and Services

Strategic initiatives regarding research activities are focused on:

• Adaptive Learning, Machine Learning, Social Learning – Social Engagement
• Operational Excellence through business automation
• Quality & Risk Management of Corporate Governance

RDC Informatics software engineers team uses state-of-the-art software development tools developing stand alone and cloud-based software applications for web & mobile. Apart from software developers our software design team consists of UX experts, UI specialized designers and social phycologists able to transform every business need to human-centric software applications.

RDC Informatics is ISO 9001 Quality Management System & ISO 27001 Information Security System certified.

ISQ is an independent, private, non-profit organisation founded in 1965 with international presence in 16 countries, covering 4 continents. Our mission is to provide scientific-technological support by promoting continuous improvement, innovation and the safety of people and property in industry and services. ISQ’s main activities include technical inspections, consultancy, testing, metrology, training and research and development in a wide range of technical areas such as materials, structural integrity and risk assessment, sustainability, health and safety, quality assurance, production technologies, industrial automation, and robotics. ISQ provides support to different industrial sectors such as Process Industries, Energy (including renewables) and Oil & Gas, Aeronautical and Aerospace, Automotive, Construction and infrastructures, among others. It is one of the largest Portuguese technological infrastructures. ISQ’s know-how is supported by 16 accredited laboratories (accordingly with EN ISO/IEC 17025) and by a large involvement in National, European and International R&D projects, having participated in more than 400 R&D projects, in the last 30 years, in different funding programs, with a strong background of collaboration with a large number of Universities, Scientific Research Institutes, industrial companies and other institutions worldwide.

ISQ is a leading European Technological Infrastructure of applied research, a strong and reliable long-life partner for industry contributing to its technological development. ISQ has been selected by relevant scientific organisations as a competent and reliable partner to be involved in the main International Scientific projects as LHC-Large Hadron Collider (CERN), International Thermonuclear, Experimental Reactor (ITER), IXV - Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (ESA) and E-ELT-Extremely Large Telescope (ESO). The large experience and know-how of ISQ staff, allows us to face the future challenges in the ceaseless search for new solutions towards sustainability.