Consortium

FUNDACION TEKNIKER (TEKNIKER) - Coordinator

TEKNIKER is a technological center established as a private, non-profit foundation in 1981, dedicated to developing and transferring advanced technological solutions to boost industrial competitiveness. With around 300 researchers and a turnover exceeding €20 million. It is specialised in four research areas: Advanced Manufacturing, Surface Engineering, Product Engineering and ICTs for manufacturing. Its mission is focused on bringing about growth and wellbeing for society at large through R&D&I actions and by furthering the competitiveness of our industrial fabric in a sustainable manner. In relation to Effitorch technologies, TEKNIKER is recognized for its expertise in plasma coating and advanced manufacturing. The Plasma Coating Technologies Unit specializes in designing and producing industrial-scale plasma coating systems, supported by several international patents. Additionally, the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Unit focuses on power ultrasonic device development, with significant experience in both national and international projects. R&D efforts emphasize innovation in plasma-based systems and ultrasonic technologies for industrial applications.

UNIVERSITY OF STUTTGART (USTUTT)

The Institute for Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology (IGVP) at the University of Stuttgart focuses on interface processes, particularly plasma treatment for customized surface properties. IGVP’s plasma technology division has extensive experience in plasma generation, diagnostics, and modeling at low and atmospheric pressures. Key research areas include electromagnetic field and gas flow modeling and plasma diagnostics, employing tools such as optical emission spectroscopy (OES), UV to NIR spectrometers, high-speed cameras for plasma dynamics, mass spectrometry (MS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) for analyzing plasma chemistry. The institute’s substantial experience in scaling plasma sources and processes for large-scale applications is an essential part of the project.

UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP (UANTWERPEN)

University of Antwerpen (UAntwerpen) is a medium-sized, young university with about 20,000 students. The PLASMANT research group, established by A. Bogaerts in 2004, is one of the largest at UAntwerpen, comprising approximately 50 researchers. PLASMANT focuses on plasma chemistry, reactor design, and plasma-surface interactions, primarily in green chemistry. The group’s core activities include converting CO₂, CH₄, and N₂ into valuable products through diverse plasma reactors, including microwave plasma. With significant expertise in plasma-based CO₂ splitting and post-plasma carbon bed applications, PLASMANT provides a strong base for this project. PLASMANT is core partner of UAntwerpen’s PLASMA Center of Excellence, and has spun off four companies, including D-CRBN and Optanic for plasma-based CO₂ conversion. PLASMANT is also a founding member of the Electrification Institute, which pursues various lines of research, developing/implementing young technologies for the future within the concept of ‘power-to-x’, utilising electrochemistry, plasma chemistry and power-to-heat technologies.

AARHUS UNIVERSITET (AU)

Aarhus University is Denmark’s second-largest university with 38,000 students, five faculties, research activities all over the country. Since its founding in 1928, it has grown to become a leading public university with international impact and reach across the entire research spectrum. Aarhus University has about 38000 students (including 1.900 PhD students and almost 700 postdoctoral scholars) and about 7,600 employees. The university has strong international connections, and one out of four PhD students is international. The Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering hosts the Hydrothermal Processing group led by Associate Professor Patrick Biller. The group is a global leader in hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology, operating one of the largest continuous HTL pilot plants. The group participates in numerous national, international, and commercial projects to advance HTL technology. In this project, AU will leverage its expertise to produce bio-oils from sewage sludge HTL with reduced viscosity and enhanced thermal stability, facilitating efficient ultrasonic atomization.

SMART INDUCTION CONVERTER TECHNOLOGIES SL (SICTECH)

A private company, since 2018, located in the Technological Park of Valencia. The company belongs to the subsector of equipment for industrial machinery, whose business purpose is its own R&D for the development, production and marketing of advanced power converters & very high efficient transformers for its use in industrial induction heating applications., specializes in manufacturing advanced generators for induction heating applications. The company has extensive experience in induction heating across various materials, including metals, plastics, and glass. SiCtech is proficient in utilizing Silicon Carbide (SiC) transistors for both high and low-frequency applications. In this project, SiCtech will adapt its generators to be compatible with heating plasmas generated by microwave (MW) plasma torches.

EMPRESARIOS AGRUPADOS INTERNACIONAL SA (EAI)

Empresarios Agrupados Internacional S.A. (EAI), founded in 1971, is a leading Spanish architect-engineering firm with around 1,400 employees. EAI offers comprehensive consultancy, project management, engineering, and construction management services, with extensive international experience. The company has completed over 360 power plant projects in more than 80 countries, totaling over 65,000 MWe in installed capacity. In this project, EAI will contribute its expertise in engineering and design, specifically supporting the development of high-temperature reactors with plasma confinement. This includes defining materials, system configurations, tube layouts, structural elements, equipment specifications, and interface requirements.

HAMBURG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (TUHH)

The Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Kaltschmitt, focuses on understanding the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of energy systems to promote sustainability. The institute’s research spans the entire fuel supply chain, analyzing fuel production processes, by-products, environmental impacts, and commercialization barriers for renewable fuels. In this project, TUHH will contribute by building a comprehensive model to assess the technical compatibility and economic viability of the processes, utilizing experimental data from project partners to complete the process model.

MINDS & SPARKS GmbH (M&S)

MINDS & SPARKS (M&S) is an independent, non-profit research organisation based in Vienna, Austria fostering science, innovation and technology to address major challenges and develop new methods and solutions for a better society. M&S creates strong connections between science and society using interdisciplinary approaches, promoting best practices and raising awareness on research and innovation achievements. Furthermore, the organisation focuses on improving the sustainability of research and innovation outcomes especially of public funded projects to ensure that spent resources lead to permanent positive impacts for the society as a whole.

CASALE SA (CASALE SA)

Casale is a global provider of integrated solutions for the production of fertilizers and other base chemicals. Leveraging on its comprehensive technology portfolio, Casale is among the few licensors that can provide the entire production chain of nitrogenous and phosphate fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea, Nitric Acid, Nitrates, and Phosphates), as well as Melamine, Methanol, and Syngas. The portfolio also includes sustainable technologies aimed at reducing the carbon footprint in the synthesis of chemicals, such as green/blue ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen production, Casale delivers, both for plant retrofits (revamping) and new plants, a comprehensive range of services and products including: know-how and licensing of core technologies, full range of engineering services, from feasibility studies to basic, FEED, and detail design, equipment and materials supply, EP/EPC project contracting, digital solutions for plant control and management, repair and maintenance service. Casale has more than 400 employees and is a privately-owned Swiss Company, with headquarters in Lugano (Switzerland) and a network of representative offices and agents all over the world.