For the projects of researchers at the University of Zagreb, 2.7 million euros

The University of Zagreb today presented three projects of Croatian researchers for the development of research infrastructure, for which the EU has approved funding of over 2.7 million euros under its REGPOT competition.

The projects will be implemented through the Seventh Framework Programme, which is the main EU instrument for financing scientific projects, specifically through its subprogram for the research potential of less developed regions "Research potential of Convergence Regions". Based on the competition, it was stated that the University has been approved for the projects of the SOLeNeMaR group of physicists from the Faculty of Science, the CURE project of the team from the Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies of the Department of Automation and Computer Engineering of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and the T-Pot project of the Faculty of Textile Technology. The SOLeNeMaR project led by Miroslav Požek from the Faculty of Science was ranked second among 475 projects from across Europe. This project introduces the experimental technique of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for solid-state examination in physics for the first time in Croatia. It is one of the key methods for microscopic research of highly correlated electronic systems, superconductors, quantum magnets, conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes, and other materials that are currently being intensively studied due to their wide application in nanotechnology.

The CURE project, fully titled Development of Croatian Research Potential in Underwater Robotics, will be conducted by the team from the Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies of the Department of Automation and Computer Engineering of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, led by Zoran Vukić. The project will enable the Laboratory to be equipped with new equipment so that researchers can develop new solutions in the use of technology for the exploration and protection of the seabed and coastal areas, as well as for maritime safety. Further development and research of new systems and technologies, as stated, will assist in the effective protection of underwater structures, archaeological sites, pipelines, gas pipelines, and dams, preventing pollution of the Adriatic caused by increased traffic and direct and indirect human impacts, and preserving marine habitats. The T-Pot project will be conducted by a team of researchers from the Faculty of Textile Technology, led by Sandra Bischof Vukušić, and will further develop new technologies and new materials (especially protective materials) within the recently established Textile Science Research Center (TSRC) with the aim of strengthening entrepreneurship and the competitiveness of Croatian textile products in the global market. (H)