With the rise of interest in protection against pathogens caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the demand for antibacterial and antiviral surfaces and coatings as one of the mechanisms to prevent their spread. CIDETEC Surface Engineering is leading the ‘Frontiers 2021’ project, promoting research in this field.
The project has a dual objective: on the one hand, to generate cutting-edge scientific-technological knowledge in the field of surfaces and surface treatment technologies in R&D centres in the BAC for the generation of antibacterial and antiviral surfaces that are harmless, sustainable and durable over time, for different medical and industrial applications. On the other hand, Frontiers 2021 seeks to resolve strategic challenges identified in the field of surfaces, in order to establish a medium to long-term vision towards safe, sustainable and digitalised hygienic surfaces, which will be a key factor of competitiveness in the driving industrial sectors of the BAC.
In its first months of life, Frontiers 2021 is in an initial phase in which the partners are working on the development of antibacterial and antiviral surfaces, making considerable progress in the development and optimisation of methods for characterising antibacterial and antiviral capacity.
The Frontiers strategy, Multifunctional surfaces at the frontier of knowledge, aligned with the main challenges of Basque industry, was launched in 2015 and has enabled new lines and opportunities to be exploited within the Basque Science and Technology Network.
Frontiers 2021, funded by the Elkartek programme, began in March 2021 and involves Tekniker, Tecnalia, MTC, CIC-bioGUNE, Tecnun, Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia (FBB) and BCMaterials.
Members taking part in the project:
About CIDETEC (LEADER):
CIDETEC es una organización de investigación aplicada que integra a tres centros tecnológicos de referencia internacional en Almacenamiento de Energía, Ingeniería de Superficies y Nanomedicina. Su objetivo es aportar valor a las empresas a través del desarrollo y transferencia de tecnología.
About TEKNIKER (COLABORATOR):
Tekniker is a technology centre specialising in advanced manufacturing, surface engineering, product engineering and ICT technologies and their transfer to companies. It collaborates with medical device manufacturers, among others, in applying these technologies and has ISO 13485 accreditation to support the design and development of medical devices.
About TECNALIA (COLABORATOR):
TECNALIA is a benchmark research and technological development centre in Europe and part of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), with 1,400 professionals of 30 nationalities, focused on transforming technology into GDP to improve people’s quality of life, thereby creating business opportunities for companies. Its main areas of activity are: Health, Digital Transformation, Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Transition, Sustainable Mobility and Urban Ecosystem.
The company develops personalised products and services in the stages of prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and rehabilitation, through a comprehensive approach that includes genetics, nutrition and the physical and social environment, the main variables that affect people’s health. In particular, it works in the fields of healthy eating, neuroengineering, biomaterials, medical robotics, digital health, in vitro diagnosis, medical imaging and pharmaceutical development.
