DOHIP · Training Program for the Design of Resource and Energy Efficient Products by High Pressure Processes

Training Program for the Design of Resource and Energy Efficient Products by High Pressure Processes

Aim of the Training Program for the Design of Resource and Energy Efficient Products by High Pressure Processes (DoHip) was to meet the growing demand of Europe’s industry for highly trained scientists and engineers in process technology. Process Technology is fundamental for chemical, pharmaceutical, and polymer industry as well as food industry and cosmetics. High Pressure Processes like the Polyethylene Synthesis have been developed in Europe, leading to the outstanding position of European industries. Today’s demand on industry is to develop sustainable products and processes. High Pressure Technology can provide the answer. New technologies and biobased products like leather from pressure supported tanning, free of waste water containing chromium, are developed and demonstrated in science and industry. For designing new, innovative and sustainable products and processes interdisciplinary project teams will work hand in hand. This is reflected in the consortium, comprising chemical and mechanical engineers as well as natural scientists. Five leading European universities with proven records in high pressure technology (Bochum, Budapest, Graz, Maribor and Valladolid) together with one Fraunhofer Institute (UMSICHT) and one SME (Rubotherm GmbH) have been forming the core of DoHip. 8 companies from 7 European countries ranging from SMEs to global players were completing the consortium. Each partner has complementary expertise and equipment which was combined, resulting in a unique training program. Besides the highly sophisticated training through research in high pressure technology training on complementary skills (e.g. IP, presentation skills, project management, entrepreneurship, scientific writing) was provided. The ESRs absolved secondments and internship at an associated industrial partner to improve job opportunities. The training program was structured as following: training through research in individual research projects, local training offered by each hosting institution and network wide training provided in workshops and an intensive course. The project has fully achieved its objectives and technical goals for the whole period. Major objective of DoHip was to qualify engineers and natural scientists with skills in relevant aspects of high pressure process technology and with detailed understanding of designing/operating new sustainable processes and products. To achieve this individual research topics were clustered to specific unit operations that occur along a typical process chain of the chemical industry e.g. mixing, sorption, reaction, separation and confectioning. All individual research projects showed a good progress that can also be seen by the publications and conference contributions that have already been published or are due to publication in the course of 2017. The project is represented in the internet by an own webpage (www.dohip.eu) where a list of publications can be found. The 12 ESRs recruited for DoHip show a good national spread as they come from 7 countries. All but two ESRs are from member states, one ESR is from an associated country and one from a third country. Within the DoHip project a gender quota of 50 % was achieved, this is very exceptional for an engineering project. All ESRs are hired for 36 months under full-time contracts. All DoHip ESRs were very enthusiastic and helped to create a creative and inspiring spirit in the group. It was a pleasure to work in and with this group. Because of the open and creative mind of the ESRs new unexpected results could be obtained that could not be expected or foreseen at the beginning of the project. During the project one ESR decided to pursue her career in industry while all other ESRs have already finished their projects and have already obtained their PhD or are about to defend their thesis soon. Most of the ESRs have also already found a new position in European industry.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз