National Interuniversity Consortium on Material Science and Technology (INSTM)

Introduction

INSTM (National Interuniversity Consortium on Material Science and Technology) is a Consortium of 44 Italian Universities representing about 2000 members. The INSTM research group (UdR) involved in this specific project are the Universities of Messina and Bologna. These UdR will give their support for the Activities related to research and technological development (RTD) and management activities (MGT). Parts of their contributions will be charged as costs to the project, either as third party costs if reimbursement is made by the contractor INSTM on the basis of existing prior agreements or as member costs directly claimed in own cost statements by the members of the node (special clauses via Article 7 of the contract).

The competences

UdR Messina focus its activities on the synthesis and testing of novel nanostructured materials for environment protection, cleaner transport, new petrochemical processes and sustainable energy. In the latter area, activities comprise fuel cells, H₂ as energy vector, photoelectrocatalytic conversion, water splitting, and development of novel materials photoactive with visible light. The lab has participated to about 15 EU projects in the past, coordinating also nearly half of them. They also coordinate the Network of Excellence IDECAT (Integrated Design of Catalytic Nanomaterials for Sustainable Production).

UdR Bologna is active since more than 30 years in the field of Catalytic Process Development, the research interests ranging from heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic selective oxidation, to catalytic hydrogenation, acid and base catalysis, natural gas transformation and biomasses valorisation. The Team includes 7 persons in permanent position, 2 of which are full professors, 2 are associate professors and 3 are researchers. The Catalytic Process Development team also includes 12 PhD students, 6 Post-doc, 4 graduates as well as 10-15 undergraduate students every year. The team holds several research collaborations with industrial companies.

The role in NEXT-GTL

The main research role in the project is in relation to WP1 and specifically to Tasks 1.2 (UdR Messina, development, testing and scale-up H₂ separation membranes) and Task 1.5 (UdR Bologna, development and testing catalysts for CPO). UdR Messina will be also coordinating the project.

Links

Center for Advanced Catalytic Technologies promoting Environment and Quality of Life