2.1 Positioning of the group SKT (Polymer Technology Group)

Within the multi-disciplinary area of polymer science and technology, the SKT fosters an integrated approach, related to the structuring of polymers via chemical and physical routes and its relation with processing and performance. This approach, viz. traveling through the various disciplines met en route, is necessary since the properties and performance of polymeric materials and products are not only dependent on the chemical structure, but equally well depend on processing conditions and post-processing treatments. This approach has been successfully applied in developing  polymers  with strongly enhanced or completely new properties and has led to valuable transfer of research achievements to the Dutch polymer manufacturing and processing industry (DSM, GE, Dow Chemical, Philips) but also to an active support of Dutch and foreign SME’s and/or to the entrepreneurial spin-off activities (see below). In the recent years the same approach was also utilized in new research areas related to functional polymers, biomedical systems and natural polymers. This, for instance, has led to new applications of polymers in information displays, solar energy and medical prostheses.

SKT is part of the Eindhoven Polymer Laboratories (EPL)  in which it cooperates with other polymer related groups at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the faculties of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Applied Physics. 

SKT forms here the logical link between the groups that (i) generate new polymer chemistry (within Chemical Engineering the groups of  Schubert, Meijer/E.W. and Koning), (ii) study polymer processing in terms of rheology and film formation (Mechanical Engineering – Meijer/HEH) and (iii) study specific and dedicated applications in electronics (Applied Physics-Prins/ IJzendoorn, Michels and Janssen) and medical fields (Biomedical Engineering - Baaijens).

The group SKT operates in an international network, see Validation.

A possible drawback of the intimate contacts with industries that have interests in our research results is  that too much focus is given to short-term, problem solving research without associated academic credits. In order to secure the scientific and long-term quality of our academic research program the Polymer Technology Group-Eindhoven BV (PTG-Eindhoven BV; website: www.ptgeindhoven.nl/) was founded as a SKT spin-off company covering shorter term R&D in direct contact with industry.  The benefit is two fold as is also shown in the scheme below. The academic researchers remain focused on their original objectives pushing forwards new frontiers. At the same time their spin-off results and knowledge can be utilized on a consulting base within PTG having its own skilled staff to follow-up on the ideas and to serve SME’s and larger industries in their developments, see scheme below.

 

An interesting new element, just introduced in 2004, is to embed exploitation of new, often still embryonic ideas, in new venturing programs as part of a student education program (graduation projects) on new business creation. This program is performed in a close co-operation with Prof. G. Crawford, Brown University, Rhode Island, USA who has several years of experience with similar programs in the USA. The prime objectives of this program are educational e.g. the combination of science with high-tech entrepreneurship. Despite this, the program has resulted in two embryonic start-up companies (Novameer, EcoSun Systems) which illustrates that this vehicle can also be used to create technology transfer to society.

2.2 Research Mission and Program

Our mission is, see above at Introduction, to be a leading polymer technology group that creates and understands polymer structures in order to develop advanced polymer systems and devices (at demonstrator level) in a chain-of-knowledge approach.

To comply with this mission, we can not focus on specific disciplines, as traditionally is expected from academic groups, but we have to cross the borders between disciplines and scientifically we have to cross the various length-scales. We therefore bring together scientists and expertise in the various areas of relevance that lead to the understanding of phenomena, insight and control on the formation of molecular structures down the molecular level and their characterization on macroscopic, mesoscopic and molecular level. But also knowledge the various application fields is of relevance in order to provide solutions that are at the frontiers of the various application fields. Connecting these knowledge fields and expertise’s in a solid research environment where scientists work closely together on a daily basis is of utmost importance.

In our program we cover three research themes: plastics and composites, functional polymers for advanced technologies and health and environment. The programs will be discussed in more detail in the next section. What is important is that the themes utilize the same knowledge base involving thermodynamics, chemistry and physics. This knowledge base is largely present in SKT, but where necessary the more specific knowledge is gathered from other trust areas within the Eindhoven Polymer Laboratories in the form of joint projects and cooperations. The knowledge in the various application fields is further optimized by the appointment of a number of part-time professors that have their affiliation, and thus also knowledge, elsewhere in industry or academia. To meet our mission our laboratory must be well equipped and our scientists and students must have access to and are well-trained to use the most modern equipment for processing and structure formation, analyses and the characterization on application properties.