Pearl project “Coupling in Multifunctional ferroic materials” (CO-FERMAT): Scientific Advisory Board meeting

In the framework of its activities in Materials Research and Technology (MRT), the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) welcomed for the fourth time the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the Pearl project “Coupling in Multifunctional ferroic materials” (CO-FERMAT).

The CO-FERMAT SAB is composed of four scientists from both academia and industry and meets once a year in the presence of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), this year represented by its Executive Head Dr. Marc Schiltz. 

CO-FERMAT is a PEARL project funded with 5 million euro by the FNR and led by MRT’s director, Prof. Dr. Jens Kreisel. CO-FERMAT’s objective is to acquire a broad knowledge of coupling phenomena in functional materials with the aim of discovering new general concepts, clearing the way for both understanding and applications. The Pearl project led to the creation of the research group “Ferroic Materials for Transducers” inside the MRT department.

Focus on the meeting with the SAB

In his opening speech, Jens Kreisel presented an overview of CO-FERMAT’s activities to the SAB and the FNR. In a nutshell, the first four years of CO-FERMAT gave rise to about 100 publications, 60 invited talks and four patents, and has allowed to acquire an external revenue of six million euro for competitive, international or industrial research projects. Also, during these four years, new research infrastructures have been set-up and integrated into the existing MRT ecosystem.

In addition to Jens Kreisel’s overview talk, Emmanuel Defay presented results on “Applications – piezoelectric and electrocalories”, Jorge Iniguez focused on “Theory and simulation” and Torsten Granzon spoke about “Interaction of ferroic materials with EM waves”. Mael Guennou made an oral presentation on “Antiferroelectric materials” and Sebastjan Glinsek ended the presentations with the topic “Solutions-based processing and inkjet printing activities”. The talks were followed by posters presentations from PhD and Post-docs students of the group.

During the day, SAB members and LIST researchers had the opportunity to meet and discuss on the latest evolutions within CO-FERMAT. The feedback from the international SAB was very positive. Its members have praised the international visibility of the close-nit group, the high quality of its scientific and technology outcome and its capacity to attract external funding, largely exceeding the initial layout after only four years of existence.

> View more pictures of the SAB meeting on photogallery.list.lu.

> For any further information on the Pearl project CO-FERMAT, contact Jens Kreisel via email.