Project Consortium

FFUL (https://www.ff.ulisboa.pt/) is a highly regarded research-oriented institution in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Ranking first among the Schools of Pharmacy in Portugal, it provides programs of excellence in scientific and professional areas. FFUL was created in 1921. Since then, FFUL established itself as a leading national biomedical institute that hosts the Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), a multidisciplinary R&D Unit in Life and Health Sciences supported by FCT (http://www.imed.ulisboa.pt). iMed.ULisboa mission is to develop innovative medicines and benefit human health through top-class multidisciplinary research that was recently evaluated independently by the FCT and secured national funds for the period 2020-2023. Capabilities are built around a network of 14 research groups, spanning the drug discovery and development spectrum, with an emphasis on innovative, multidisciplinary, and collaborative research. iMed.ULisboa hosts ca. 160 PhD researchers and 88 PhD students (based on the 2018 report), and is heavily committed to enabling scientists and training students. Leading the PhD programme in Medicines and Pharmaceutical Innovation (http://www.ff.ul.pt/phd3duul/) and partnering in several networks and consortia, iMed.ULisboa promotes national productivity and competitiveness in drug discovery and development and facilitates international academic and industrial partnerships. FFUL provides administrative support, office and laboratory space, access to infrastructures, human resources and technical support. FFUL is member of several networks and consortia that promote initiatives to increase national competitiveness, innovation and technology in health care.

Carlos A. M. Afonso (1962) is since 2010 Full Professor at Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon. He received his PhD in 1990 under supervision of Professor C. D. Maycock, subsequently became Assistant Professor at New University of Lisbon and Associate Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon (2004-2010), and took a postdoctoral fellow (1990) at Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine (W.B. Motherwell) and sabbatical leave (1997/1998) at University of Bath,UK (Jonathan Williams) and at the University of Toronto (Robert Batey). His research is mainly focused on catalysed synthetic methodologies, green chemistry, valorisation of natural resources, biotransformations and synthesis of bioactive molecules.

IOCCP-BAS (http://www.orgchm.bas.bg/index_en.html) is a leading Bulgarian public research organization within the body of the Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS). IOCCP-BAS performs fundamental and applied research in synthesis, structure and reactivity of organic compounds; isolation, structural elucidation and application of natural compounds; determination of the structure and the function of proteins, enzymes and peptides; study of the thermal and catalytic transformations of hydrocarbons.

Svilen Simeonov (1980) is since 2017 Associate Professor at Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IOCCP). He received his Ph.D. in 2014 under the supervision of Prof. Carlos A. M. Afonso at Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, subsequently became Assistant Professor and more recently Associate Professor at IOCCP. Since 2018 he is appointed head of Laboratory Organic Synthesis and Stereochemistry (OSS) at IOCCP-BAS.

As a part of Laboratory OSS our research has mostly focused on the development of new methods in organic synthesis and green chemistry. We have taken particular interest in the following specific areas:

Valorisation of natural resources towards the development of high-value added product streams from biorenewables.

Synthesis of biologically active small molecules with particular emphasis on ani-tuberculosis activity.

Development of new non-covalent assemblies for exerting regioselective control in transition metal catalyzed distal C-H functionalization of important synthetic building blocks, including biorenewables.

SU is involved in numerous European and International partnership agreements (European research projects, international Masters, etc.) and has France's largest scientific library and infrastructures bringing together the best talent in a wide array of these disciplines. With 8,500 publications per year (approx. 10% of all publications in France. SU has a special office dedicated to European research project management.

The Research and Innovation office of SU, which is in charge of the European projects at the university, has managed so far 150 FP7 and more than 130 H2020 projects (40 ERC grants and 45 industry-sponsored research chairs).

IPCM (Institut Parisien de ChimieMoléculaire / Parisian Institute for Molecular Chemistry) is a joint research unit between Sorbonne Université and CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). Research activities at IPCM encompass the wide area of molecular chemistry and bring together both knowledge and know-how related to many complementary fields within the framework of multi-scale molecular chemistry. Among these, the variety of research areas ranges from inorganic and organic chemistry and expands to the borders with biology, material chemistry and more generally the area of molecular nanosciences and polymer sciences.

Great efforts are dedicated to the development and application of these research fields with emphasis on tackling broad societal issues and challenges associated to health, sustainability, energy and information technologies. 

UNIBO is one of the largest and most active Italian universities in research and technology transfer in Italy. It stands among the most important institutions of higher education in EU with more than 86.000 enrolled students, 2.857 Academic staff, 1.198 post-docs, 1.606 PhDs, 3.014 administrative and technicians staff units. The activities are implemented in 5 Campuses based in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Bologna, Forlì, Cesena, Ravenna, Rimini) and in Buenos Aires, Argentina. UNIBO offers 51 PhD/Doctoral degree programs and 64 Master's degree programs. At EU level UNIBO ranks 1st University in Italy and 27th in Europe for FP7 funded projects (EC 5th Monitoring Report). UNIBO is involved in 270 projects funded in FP7 (87,7 Mil€ granted), 41 of which are PEOPLE projects, with 11 ITN (3 coordinated by UNIBO). In H2020, UNIBO In H2020, UNIBO was involved in 223 projects (223 Mil€ granted). According to the DG EAC (April 2014) UNIBO ranks 1st University in Italy participating in MCA. UNIBO is member of the 3rd cohort of the EC Institutional Human Resources Strategy Group for the alignment of its policies and practices to the principles of the European Charter for Researcher & the Code of Conduct and it has been awarded by the EC (DG Research & Innovation) the use of the logo Human Resources Excellence in Research. At UNIBO, research activities are promoted, coordinated and supported by the 33 Scientific Departments and by the Research and Knowledge Transfer Division, with the support of the European Research & Innovation Office.

The main targets of the Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician” are teaching and research. Teaching includes first and second level degrees in Chemistry, PhD courses, and teaching contribution to degrees not belonging to the Department. The research covers a broad range of chemistry fields and the overall scientific production is of high international level. The direct interaction of researches from different fields allows a mutual and fruitful exchanging of knowledge. 14 Departments of Unibo were awarded with 113,8 Mil€ from Ministry of Education, University and Research as “Excellent Department MIUR (l. 232 del 1/12/2016)” for a 5 years project. Unibo presents the largest number of Departments awarded between the 180 projects financed. Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician” is one of the awarded Department with a funding for 8,675 Mil€. 

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is a research university specializing in engineering science & technology. Our education, research and knowledge valorization contribute to: science for society: solving the major societal issues and boosting prosperity and welfare by focusing on the Strategic Areas of Energy, Health and Smart Mobility; science for industry: the development of technological innovation in cooperation with industry and science for science: progress in engineering sciences through excellence in key research cores and innovation in education. With advanced quality research, the university contributes to the progress of technical sciences and thus the development of technological innovations. We focus on areas in which we participate in the international scientific community. This can play an important role. The TU/e wants to give significant impetus to the knowledge-intensive industries and other social sectors with a high or rapidly evolving technology-intensity. With this profile, the TU/e profiles itself as a leading, international, in engineering science & technology specialized university. We offer excellent teaching and research and thereby contribute to the advancement of technical sciences and research to the developing of technological innovations and the growth of wealth and prosperity both in its own region (technology & innovation hotspot Eindhoven) and beyond.

Maria Fernanda Neira D'Angelo (Buenos Aires, Argentina) studied Chemical Engineering at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. In 2010 Neira D'Angelo graduated cum laude within the Biomass Technology Group at the department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where she conducted her master's research on biomass gasification and Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis. She continued with PhD research within the TU/e Reactor Engineering Group on the catalytic conversion of biomass via Aqueous Phase Reforming. In 2014 she obtained her PhD with the distinction cum laude. In 2014-2015 Neira d'Angelo was employed at BiChem Technology (Eindhoven), initially as research scientist and later as the project leader of the pilot-scale activities for the conversion of biomass derived sugars into valuable chemicals. In 2015 she returned to the Reactor Engineering Group at TU/e as tenure track assistant professor.

From the fields of reaction and catalysis engineering, Fernanda Neira D’Angelo aims to develop novel technologies to intensify sustainable processes, in particular, the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to chemicals and fuels. Her research in multiphase reactors is closely linked to the development and application of effective catalytic systems, seeking the most efficient combination and synergism between reactor engineering and catalysis. With a first-hand understanding on the limitations of conventional technologies for biomass processing, she has been increasingly devoted to the integrated development of novel reactor concepts (e.g., foam-based, spinning disc and microreactors) and catalysts (e.g., multifunctional catalysts and coatings) that will be key to realize the future bio-based economy, utilizing the entire lignocellulose fractions (sugars and lignin). 

The University of Vienna aims at strengthening its position in interdisciplinary and internationally visible fields of research that are not only eligible for funding, but also relevant to society. The “performance agreement” between the University of Vienna and the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy for the period 2019-2021, i.e. the implementation of the new university financing scheme, results in an increase of 17 percent in the University of Vienna’s budget. This additional budget is used to further improve the University’s research competitiveness and study conditions and further contributes to the attractiveness of Vienna as a research location.

The Faculty of Chemistry is committed to basic and application-oriented research, as well as being responsible for the sound education of a large number of students in bachelor's and master’s study programs. The Institute of Organic Chemistry, direct partner in this consortium and headed by Nuno Maulide since 2019, devotes itself to cutting-edge research in the broad disciplines of synthesis and catalysis and their interfaces with other areas of not only chemistry, but also physics, pharmacology and medicine. Its infrastructure includes state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for synthetic chemistry as well as access to a complete suite of analytical techniques for characterization. With its strong track record of high-impact publications and more than 7 M€ third-party funding acquired over the past 10 years, the Institute of Organic Chemistry is the most visible and successful subunit of the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Vienna.

Nuno Maulide, born 1979 in Lisbon (Portugal), received in 2003 his Chemistry B.Sc./MSc degree, in Instituto Superior Técnico (PT). He then moved to Université catholique de Louvain (BE), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. István E. Markó, to obtain his Ph. D. in Chemical Sciences, (2003–2007). After a PostDoctoral research stay at Stanford University (USA), where he worked with Prof. Dr. Barry M. Trost (2007–2008), in 2009 he became a Max-Planck Research Group Leader (W2/Associate Professor, non-tenure-track) at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim (DE) (2009–2013).

In 2013 he obtained his Habilitation (Venia Docendi) at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (DE) and since the same year is Full Professor of Organic Synthesis at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the University of Vienna (AT). In 2018 he became an Adjunct PI at the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (CeMM). Nuno Maulide is Associate Editor of Organic Letters and JACS Au (the new open-access journal of the American Chemical Society) and is a member of the Board of Editors of Organic Syntheses. His research has garnered multiple awards, including 3 ERC Grants (StG 2011, CoG 2016, PoC 2018). Nuno Maulide was named Austria’s Scientist of the Year in 2019 and is a celebrated science communicator and book author. 

BLC3 Association – Technology and Innovation Campus is a nonprofit organization, located in the inner region of Portugal that began its activities in 2011. Its mission is to encourage social and economic growth in rural regions, through knowledge and innovation initiatives. BLC3 is composed of 4 MODULES to promote new and transfer knowledge (complete innovation life cycle): (1) R&D Centre; (2) Incubator | BLC3 (start up and spin offs); (3) Projects and Innovative Ideas Support Centre (investment and bridge between society and companies); and (4) Business Centre (TRL 8-9 and market level).  Although recent and small in size, the Centre Bio R&D Unit has been evaluated as ‘very good’ and excellent follow up by a panel of international experts.

Currently, the association hosts more than 26 R&D projects, totaling 21.3 million euros, with impact in the creation of 5 spin off and in close cooperation with other 28 companies. 

BLC3 has built a European Network with scientific entities of excellence, with the objective of   increasing its scope (55 entities, 9 countries). BLC3 was the first Portuguese entity to be part of the Biobased Industries Consortium, in 2013. Awards: 2018 (Finalist of the Green Award Project: Efficient Resource Management); 2017 (Finalist at the European Commission Best Public Administration For Start Up: Green Entrepreneurship); 2016 (most innovative European Project winner of the Regiostars prize, European Commission, Sustainable Growth: Circular Economy category); 2015 (World Top 25 and European Top 10 University Business Incubator); and 2 nationals and 2 regional.

Spartax Chemicals was founded in 2018 with a mission to address specific needs in the specialty chemicals market. The company aims to discover useful reagents and novel chemical transformations developed in a sustainable way and commercialise them at highly competitive market prices. The first example of innovation driven projects is a process for the large-scale production of Sparteine, using as raw material a compound extracted from lupin processing wastewater. This project was awarded an SME Instruments phase I grant from the European Comission in 2018. Enantiomerically pure sparteine is an exceptionally good enantioselective ligand for asymmetric synthesis that has found application not only in the field of synthetic organic chemistry but also in the development of synthetic routes for the preparation of commercial drugs and drug candidates, with the most prominent example being the anticonvulsant drug (S)-Pregabalin. Other ongoing projects include the isolation and reuse of added value products from food residues.