Functional Materials Summer Festival

Materials development renewing Finnish industry

The active two-day Annual Seminar (29.-30.05.2012) of the Tekes Functional Materials Programme coordinated by Spinverse, gathered together 250 experts and presented a bunch of new exciting results both from companies and research projects. Fresh result highlights include e.g. roll-to-roll ALD coating (Beneq), flexible & formable touch sensors (Canatu), novel solar thermal collectors (Savo-Solar, Aurubis, PolarSol), antimicrobial fabrics (Silvergreen), ultra-high strength biocomposites (Vivoxid) & injectable bone cement (Ozics) for bone fracture treatment, fibril cellulose for industrial applications (UPM) and as cell growth media (Helsinki University), and formable plywood (UPM Grada).

The seminar provided an excellent forum for networking and building new connections.

Three keynote lectures by Prof. M. Becker (University of Akron, USA), Senior Fellow Dr. Y. Ukyo (Toyota Central R&D Labs, Japan) and Prof. O. Ikkala (Aalto University) extended the discussion towards future needs and opportunities for materials science and technology.

Day 1 (Impact Day) disseminated the final results of 12 Functional Materials projects ending in 2012 through short presentations and a Results Market Place (poster session). The award for the best result was given to Technology platform for printed electronic sensors –project coordinated by Prof. Jouko Peltonen.

Day 2 extended the scope to four thematic sessions each having short and sharp presentations of three companies and two university driven projects.
•    Biobased new materials and applications
•    Surfaces & Coatings
•    Renewable energy applications
•    Printed intelligence

Networking and deeper discussions face-to-face were provided at the exhibition space around concrete results & demos at 20 booths by companies & about 40 scientific posters with latest research results. The exhibitors included Adaptamat, Akkuser, Aurubis, Beneq, Bionavis, Canatu, European Batteries, Iscent, Onbone, Ozics, PolarSol, Savo-Solar, Silvergreen, UPM – Fibril Cellulose, UPM –Grada, VTT/PrintoCent + Aalto Design Factory and “LCA Clinic” by SYKE. Cosy atmosphere for inspiring the discussions was guaranteed by our light “wine & dine buffet” and live blues music by the Blues Bastards.

Check out the presentations, abstracts and more info on the exhibitors here