Smart sensing for rapid response to chemical threats on soft targets
The overarching objective of this RISE programme is to set an international and inter-sectoral network consisting of 4 leading European academic institutions, an academic RTD centre and 4 SMEs working on a joint research programme around the topic of early and reliable warming detection systems of chemical threats on critical indoor infrastructures. The participants will exchange skills and knowledge in synthesis and fabrication of nanostructured materials, advanced sensing, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, energy harvesting technologies, signal processing algorithms and low-cost manufacturing strategies which will allow them to progress towards key advances in the domain of unattended sensing networks for chemical threats detection and strengthen collaborative research between five different countries. The beneficiaries also team up with excellent academic groups from third countries (2) with recognized expertise on wearable microanalytical systems and materials properties modelling to guarantee the techno-scientific viability of proposed idea. Advances in orthogonal sensing/detection technologies at sub-ppm level in gas phase will have potential market opportunities in the fields of early detection of airborne chemical warfare agents, early diagnosis of cancer or chronic diseases by biomarker detection, environmental monitoring in critical assets and process control in food and beverage industries. The staff members who participate in the project will acquire new scientific and technical skills by means of training at a network (e.g secondments),  be exposed to creative entrepreneurial and innovative research environment thanks to the strong interaction between academia and SMEs partners and have their career perspectives widened. The close cooperation among multidisciplinary partners from research institutions and SMEs will ensure knowledge transfer between academia and business in order to convert an academic concept to a viable and innovative product.