TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS is a multidisciplinary Research and Technology Organisation with the status of an Advanced Technology Centre awarded by the Polish Minister of Science. It specialises in the development, performance and coordination of large-scale interdisciplinary R&D projects. It possesses extensive experience in materials engineering and technology transfer, especially in such sectors as aeronautics, aerospace, automotive and renewables.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS has been an active participant – as project coordinator or project partner – of the EU FP7 and H2020 programmes, as well as other national programmes (the Innovative Economy Operational Programme, financed under Structural Funds, and the DIALOG programme of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education) and projects financed by EASME and DG MOVE; its R&D work was also directly ordered and financed by industrial clients. All projects were performed in cooperation with many international partners from Europe and other continents.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS is a member of such European associations as the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) and Knowledge4Innovation (of which TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS is a founding member).
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS has been performing research work on icephobicity-related topics since 2015, focusing on development of innovative coatings, as well as on innovative approach to simulation and modelling. The main areas of research included design and development of icephobic surfaces (e.g. polymeric, metallic and hybrid coatings) with improved functionalities, preparation of laser-treated surfaces, autonomous detection and energy-efficient removal of accreted ice through surface engineering of MHz Acoustic Waves.
Examples of projects performed include the PHOBIC2ICE project – “Super-IcePhobic Surfaces to Prevent Ice Formation on Aircraft” (2016-2019, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/690819) and the SOUNDofICE project – “Sustainable Smart De-Icing by Surface Engineering of Acoustic Waves” (2020-2024, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/899352), both under the EU H2020 programme.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS is the Project Coordinator. It is the leader of the WP2, “Coatings fabrication and testing”, responsible for synthesis and distribution of chemical additives and nano particles in waterborne PU, as well as preparation of samples for characterisation, basic characterisation of coatings and icephobicity, as well as durability tests. It is also the leader of WP3, “Laser surface modifications”, being in charge of laser parameter selection and laser treatment of modified polyurethanes. It is also the leader of the WP4, “Modelling of droplet-surface interface in different conditions,” heading the construction of representable geometric models, modelling using density-functional-theory (DFT) and microscale modelling. It is responsible for design and synthesis of modified liquid additives and for compatibility testing of the additives in waterborne polyurethane.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS will support the preparation of anti-icing prototype specimens, the demonstration of anti-icing technology in an operationally relevant environment and the evaluation of anti-icing performance on UAVs.
Michal Towpik
Vice-President
Technology Partners Foundation
Project administrative and financial issues+48 22 658 36 07
Bitwy Warszawskiej 1920 r. 7A
02-366 Warsaw / POLAND
Dr. Rafał Kozera
Senior R&D Specialist
Principal Investigator and Leader of WP2 (Coatings fabrication and testing)+48 606 257 144
Bitwy Warszawskiej 1920 r. 7A
02-366 Warsaw / POLAND
SINTEF with 2000 employees is one of Europe’s largest independent research organisations and a broad, multidisciplinary research organisation with international top-level expertise in the fields of technology, the natural sciences, medicine and the social sciences and conducting contract R&D as a partner for the private and public sectors. For more than 70 years, SINTEF has developed solutions and innovation for society and customers all over the world. SINTEF‘s corporate strategy, adopted in 2019, is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goals refine SINTEF‘s vision, “Technology for a better society”.
SINTEF is organised as an enterprise group consisting of seven research institutes. SINTEF is located in Trondheim in central Norway (1400 employees) and in Oslo (400 employees). In the IceMan Polish-Norwegian project SINTEF AS with its R&D institute SINTEF Industry is represented by the department Materials and Nanotechnology, which focuses on nano and hybrid materials.
The technology platform on specific hybrid materials derived from POSS (Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes) has been developed over the past 15 years towards several applications. Novel hybrid materials dedicated to anti-icing applications will be further followed up upon knowledge and competence gained during the recent years. Moreover, the collaboration with SINTEF will contribute to the simulations and modelling activity carried out in nanoscale.
From 2009 to 2017 SINTEF headed the international research network on environmental energy systems through FME Nowitech (Norwegian Wind technology NOWITECH – Research Network sintef.no). Several innovations were developed within offshore wind, offering advantages to industry partners. SINTEF was a partner in the IRP Wind integrated research programme (2014-2018) with a total of 24 European participants. In the sub-programme 8 – Cold Climate, important topics such as SHM (Structural Health Monitoring), fatigue and composites in cold climate as well as weather modelling and Icing Wind Tunnel testing of sensors were discussed. Very recently, SINTEF started the FME Northwind (FME NorthWind – SINTEF; 2021-2028) that brings together about 50 research and industry partners from around the world to bring forward outstanding research and innovation to facilitate the sustainable development of wind power.
SINTEF leads WP1 that aims at material development according to partners’ recipes on chemical additives based on novel modified hybrid materials based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) functionalized with different hydrophobic groups to be especially tailored for coatings derived from waterborne polyurethane (PU) formulation(s) resulting in lower surface energy and decreased interfacial toughness with ice and thus reducing ice adhesion and accretion that will be tested in WP2.
In WP4 SINTEF will develop a deeper understanding of the properties determining the strength of ice adhesion to surfaces created from standard industrial coatings and the novel coatings developed in WP1-3. In particular, the effects of chemical and topographic modifications to the coatings will be studied to reveal their correlation to the static (ice-surface interface energy, surface energy, adhesion, and water droplet contact angle) and dynamic (roll-off angle, freezing delay) properties.
As the leader of WP5, SINTEF will combine the knowledge acquired from IceMan developments on novel coatings by testing the anti-icing efficiency on NACA0012 standard aerofoil profiles equipped with an active heating system in an ice wind tunnel as well as in-flight tests to verify anti-icing performance.
For relevant project information see ICEMAN – Anti-Icing Sustainable Solutions by Development and Application of Icephobic Coatings – SINTEF
Dr. Monika Pilz
Senior Research Scientist
Main project contact and Leader of WP1 (Material development)+47 98 283 925
Forskningsveien 1
0373 Oslo / NORWAY
Dr. Christian Karl Forsker
Research Scientist
Lider WP5 (Proof of concept)+47 41 383 174
Forskningsveien 1
0373 Oslo / NORWAY
Funzionano AS develops hybrid nanoparticles or chemical “building blocks” which can be tailored to improve material properties like flame retardancy, hydrophobicity and gas barrier efficiency. FunzioNano® is a generic technology platform developed through research at SINTEF over a period of 13 years (2002-2015), during which MEuro 10 have been spent on FunzioNano® product R&D. This R&D work was financed through projects supported by The Research Council of Norway, EU’s Framework Programmes, Innovation Norway, the industry, and others.
Funzionano AS was founded in 2015 to commercialise the technology developed at SINTEF, and the company is now developing, producing, and marketing functional nanotechnology-based hybrid polymers (POSS) with proven, customised material-enhancing properties. Funzionano AS is located at Herøya in Porsgrunn, with a core team consisting of highly skilled chemists.
The technology platform is protected by a series of patents and possesses a full seven different patent families. The goal of Funzionano AS is to develop innovative, environment-friendly technologies that can help drive sustainable growth. The patented technology has also been used by the paint company Jotun in the Drygolin Extreme paint products, which led to reduced use of solvents and improved paint properties.
Funzionano AS is participating in many projects financed by The Research Council of Norway, Innovation Norway, Horizon 2020, POLNOR and others, cooperating with project partners and customers in Europe, Asia, and other continents. SINTEF is an important project partner.
One important area of Funzionano AS’s work is hydrophobicity. The addition of FunzioNano® to a variety of materials has shown an outstanding ability to increase the hydrophobicity in the products to which it is added/applied. This technology will also be used in the IceMan project.
Funzionano AS is a participant of WP1 that aims at material development according to SINTEF’s recipes on chemical additives based on novel modified hybrid materials based on POSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes). These POSS-molecules are functionalized with different hydrophobic groups tailored and adjusted for waterborne polyurethane (PU) coatings. These new systems will as a result give lower surface energy and decreased interfacial toughness with ice, thus, to reduce ice adhesion and accretion. The latter will be tested in WP2.
Funzionano’s task in WP1 will be the upscaling/industrialization of the technology developed in co-operation with SINTEF and the other project partners. In addition, our activities will be adjusted to the work in the other WPs.
Dr. Dag Høvik
Special Adviser+47 922 67 880
Hydroveien 67
N-3936 Porsgrunn / NORWEGIA
MSc Siri Heggheim
R&D Scientist+47 970 47 945
Hydroveien 67
N-3936 Porsgrunn / NORWAY
MSP InnTech Sp. z o.o. (Ltd) was established in 2020 through the transformation of its owner’s business activity (MSP Szender Marcin), operating since 2006.
MSP InnTech Sp. z o.o. is an innovative company focused on R&D and production projects in the field of aviation, especially unmanned. It has competences in the design and manufacture of components as well as production instrumentation for unmanned and manned aircraft, design and manufacture of autonomous control systems, stabilized sensor suspensions, and integration. The company has a highly qualified staff and modern infrastructure for designing (CAD – Siemens NX) and composite production. The company has produced several dozen structures of unmanned platforms weighing from 0.5 to 150 kg and completed many projects for clients from the aviation, energy and defence industries.
MSP InnTech Sp. z o.o. which is wholly Polish-owned, cooperates with Polish aircraft manufacturers and is a leader in the Polish unmanned systems market. Thanks to its international cooperation projects, it is recognizable abroad. Also it possesses an ISO 9001 certificate, a dual-use license and the AQAP certified system.
In addition to the activities related to the design, manufacturing and application of unmanned systems, the company is a member of the Aviation Construction and Technology Cluster General Aviation, the Federation of Aviation Companies Bielsko and of the Technological Cluster Innovative Aviation Project Support. Thus the research project results will be potentially applicable for both: manned and unmanned systems MSP InnTech Sp. z o.o. deals with.
MSP InnTech Sp. z o.o. has an extensive experience in implementation of research and development projects, as a leader, consortium member or subcontractor (approx. 20 projects in total). Currently it is a sub-contractor in another research project in which anti-icing agent is tested.
The role of MSP InnTech Sp. z o.o. is to prepare and test the application process of the agent onto the wing surface, performing wind tunnel tests of wing section with anti-icing agent applied and in-flight tests in real conditions using an unmanned airplane.
MSP InnTech Sp. z o.o. will support the research work in the areas of:
- designing and fabrication of a heating system samples (in a laboratory scale) which will support ice protection applications
- preparation of an upscaled model of anti-icing heating system in the form of a wing section, which will then be tested in a wind tunnel
- carrying out tests in an operationally relevant environment in various weather and season conditions with the use of an unmanned airplane
MSP will also support other Partners’ activities in the project in the field of aviation technology.
Wieńczysław Plutecki
Project Manager
+48 22 862 87 22
Piastów Śląskich 49
01-494 Warszawa / POLAND
