Print this page

SYNADPOL – Polish-Slovak laboratory of polymers and biopolymers

October 10, 2008 saw the start of the Polish-Slovak Laboratory SYNADPOL – “Synthesis and Characterization of Advanced Polymer and Biopolymer Materials” located in the Institute of Polymers of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAN) in Bratislava and in the Center of Polymer and Carbon Materials of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CMPW PAN) in Gliwice and Zabrze.

The purpose of the Laboratory is to create a platform for integrating intellectual and materials resources of both institutions in order to conduct joint studies in the field of polymers and biopolymers, as well as materials obtained from them. Its establishment is a result of well-developed, fruitful Polish-Slovak cooperation with notable results, supported by agreements between both academies, as well as European programs, including the TOK NANOSTIM European project coordinated by CMPW PAN.

Based on the agreement signed at the beginning of 2008, the founding facilities – CMPW PAN and the Institute of Polymers at SAN – will provide their employees or delegated employees with mutual access to equipment resources, research laboratories as well as knowledge gathered in those facilities. The Laboratory will create new possibilities of integrating studies conducted in both institutions and, thanks to the experience of the participating teams, it will aim at organizing centers of excellence, especially in the field of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, polymers reacting to environmental stimuli, synthesis of polymers of a well-defined architecture, polymer materials for application in medicine and biology, as well as new methods of polymer characterization.

An important task of the Laboratory is to participate in educating young scientific staff and especially to conduct joint doctorate works.

The formal inauguration of the Laboratory took place during a working meeting at the Conference Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Smolenice. On the Slovak part, the laboratory was opened by Prof. Ivan Zahradnik (vice-president of the Slovak Academy of Sciences), Maria Omsatova, PhD (representative of the Slovak Chemical Society) and Józef Rychly, PhD (director of the Institute of Polymers at SAN). The Polish side was represented by the chairman of the Polymer Section at PTChem – Prof. Andrzej Duda (Center of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies in Lodz) and the director of CMPW PAN – Prof. Andrzej Dworak.

The official part of the meeting served as introduction to the main, working segment in which heads of Polish and Slovak research teams summarized and discussed the results of joint works presented in papers and on posters.

Read 2880 times