iSwitch will offer top-level multi-disciplinary and supra-sectorial training to a pool of talented young researchers, involving contributions from different scientific and technological fields such as, supramolecular chemistry, materials, nanoscience, physics and engineering. iSwitch’s appointees will be trained through lecture courses, dedicated international schools and workshops, topical conferences, secondments to other consortium nodes and an ambitious and carefully planned research activities benefiting from the expertise of world-leading senior PIs and of younger but well-established PIs with outstanding track records in training and research. Additionally, iSwitch will generate new ground-breaking S&T knowledge needed to obtain efficient and fast switching in supramolecular electro- and opto-active materials as a response to external stimuli. This will be accomplished via controlled self-assembly of multicomponent architectures incorporating molecular switches, for fabricating responsive and multifunctional optoelectronic supramolecular devices. We are particularly interested in developing nano- and macro-scale switchable transistors and light-emitting devices as new solutions to (nanoscale) multifunctional organic-based logics. The specific training and research objectives are: - Design and synthesis of a (macro)molecular toolbox including electroactive and responsive systems as well as semiconducting and metallic nanostructures - Controlled interfaces of switches on (non)planar surfaces - Self-assembly of multicomponent systems into multifunctional architectures and materials - Multiscale structural, optical and electrical characterization of systems including Scanning Probe studies and time-resolved spectroscopy - Fabrication and characterization of switchable devices, i.e., transistors for “logics” and light-emitting devices for photonics, and related applications (optical illumination, optical filtering/landscaping, optical sensors, photovoltaics, etc.)

The cold-chain is the temperature controlled supply chain used to transport temperature-sensitive goods such as dairy products, chocolate, fresh vegetable, vaccines, etc. Any breach in the cold-chain that exposes the goods outside these temperatures is referred to as a thermal excursion. In the EU alone, over 60% of the food losses occur due to failures in the logistical chain, making it a priority to improve the methods of tackling the inefficiencies in the cold-chain. To identify the points in the process at thermal excursions take place we can use Time Temperature Integrators (TTIs), which are attached to the product packaging and help track the temperature history throughout the cold-chain. Our solution at Scriba Nanotecnologies Srl is the T-TAG, a quality control TTI adhesive label that uses thermosensitive materials that undergo an irreversible change in their optical contrast when exposed to particular temperature ranges. We already have T-TAG prototypes tested and ready for industrial validation that can monitor thermal excursions above 8°C for periods of 48h. The optical contrast signal can also be monitored using a simple reader or most smartphone cameras, allowing to standardise the readout and automate the process to easily interpret and log thermal excursions. The innovation of the label design enables its small size (16mm x 20mm and 1mm thickness), which also means one can track individual packaging. We plan to set-up the mass production of the T-TAG to reduce the cost of manufacturing to €0.006 per tag, making accurate quality control possible at a fraction of the price of competing solutions – €0.15 per tag compared to €0.80-8.00 for thermochromic labels and data loggers. Our initial sale predictions based on a product launch by 2019, aim for an accumulated turnover of €18.8 million by 2023, implying a ROI of 2.84 and 31 new jobs created.

The mission of AiPBAND is to train a new generation of entrepreneurial and innovative early-stage researchers (ESRs) in the early diagnosis of brain tumours using molecular biomarkers in the blood, meeting the medical and societal challenges of this emerging field. AiPBAND will focus on gliomas, a range of devastating and progressive brain tumours affecting around 25,000 people each year in Europe and responsible for the majority of deaths from primary brain tumours. Fourteen fellows will be trained by experts in 9 academic and 3 non-academic beneficiaries, belonging to 5 EU member states and 6 partner organizations (4 private sectors and 2 international academic), with fields ranging from neuroscience, engineering (including big data science), healthcare to economics. State-of-the-art technologies will be applied in parallel to (i) identify novel blood biomarkers from patients with gliomas, (ii) design three types of multiplex biosensor (plasmonic-based, graphene-based, and digital ELISA assay-based), (iii) develop a big data-empowered intelligent data management infrastructure, and (iv) develop cloud-based diagnostic systems. Proof-of-concept will be evaluated through clinical trials to assess accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. The elaborately designed individual research projects under the Vitae Researcher Development Framework – carefully arranged into local training courses, network wide events, secondments, personalized career development plans, with strong involvement of the private sector – will ensure exploitation of AiPBAND's achievements, and will maximize the ESRs’ abilities in creative & innovative thinking, triple-i knowledge transformation, and encourage a business-orientated mind-set and entrepreneurship.