Marie Curie Action: ENHANCE – Initial Training Network

KTN is part of the Marie Curie Action: ENHANCE – Initial Training Network.  The project has just started with initial details of 13 Early Stage Researchers – see below.

Link to the application details is https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/209340

Background Information
The Initial Training Network entitled “Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters for Self-Powered Automotive Sensors: from Advanced Lead-Free Materials to Smart Systems (ENHANCE)” will provide thirteen Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) with broad and intensive training within a multidisciplinary research and teaching environment. Key training topics will include development of energy harvesters compatible with MEMS technology and able to power wireless sensor. Applied to automobiles, such technology will allow for 50 kg of weight saving, connection simplification, space reduction, and reduced maintenance costs – all major steps towards creating green vehicles. Other important topics include technology innovation, education and intellectual asset management.

ENHANCE links world-leading research groups at academic institutions to give a combined, integrated approach of synthesis/fabrication, characterisation, modelling/theory linked to concepts for materials integration in devices and systems. Such a science-supported total engineering approach will lead towards efficient piezoelectric energy harvesters viable for the automotive industry. ESRs will focus on this common research objective, applying a multidisciplinary bottom-up approach, which can be summarised by: “engineered molecule- advanced material- designed device – smart system”. ENHANCE also seeks to intensify the relationship between academic and private sectors, and to train highly skilled young researchers for new materials and device technologies. Both are essential to provide a strong European lead over the rest of the world in this highly competitive industry.

The ENHANCE consortium partners recognise that engineering graduates face a rapidly changing work environment, with short product development times and life cycles, rapid evolution of knowledge, new methods of working, and, of course, new career paths and opportunities outside those of traditional PhD academia and research. It is therefore essential to prepare them to address both these challenges along with the complex technical, social, commercial and ethical questions raised by emerging engineering technologies (e.g. in the fields of nanotechnologies, energy, healthcare, environment, raising living standards,etc.) and practices.

Project partners: University of Franche-Comté (coordinator, FR); Imperial College (UK), INSA Lyon (FR), University of Catania (IT), Grenoble INP (FR), University of Cologne (DE), Cedrat Technologies (FR), AIXTRON (DE), ST Microelectronics (IT)

Associated partners: PSA Peugeot Citroen (FR), frecInIsys (FR), EPFL (CH), EpiValence (UK), ST Microelectronics (FR), Knowledge Transfer Network (UK).