An important step in the collaboration between University of Louvain and LIST

On Thursday, 16 March 2017, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and the prestigious Belgian research institution Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) officially signed a cooperation agreement.

LIST and UCL agreed on a collaborative research approach in the fields of life and environmental sciences and technologies as well as in data processing, modelling and visualization.

The agreement provides for the exchange of research staff, preparation of joint publications, fostering knowledge in the field of life and environmental sciences and technologies, as well as onsite visits and access to the premises of each respective Partner.

The signature is an important step, deepening a collaboration launched successfully almost thirty years ago.

Dr. Lucien Hoffmann, Director at the ERIN department hailed this signing as such after presenting LIST to the audience gathered for the occasion.

"We do not start from scratch," he said, "since many projects have already been jointly carried out by our researchers, for example the energy recovery of biomass, or the understanding of the mechanisms implemented in the formation of the plant wall, to name but a few examples ".

Scientists from both institutions are ambitious: developing a thematic doctoral school, organizing summer courses, coordinating the acquisition of new equipment, and broadening the scope of the themes addressed jointly.

A theme has already been explored in collaboration but work on it will be facilitated and deepened thanks to the new LIST-UCL convention: the development of new applications for plant fibers whose use has until recently been confined to textiles and paper. By studying how the fiber develops in the plant and by seeking to improve its properties, LIST and UCL researchers are developing new fertilization techniques involving the use of natural compounds such as silicon.

These innovative strategies will make it possible to obtain new fibers, which are at the same time more flexible, lighter and more resistant. They will find multiple applications in the fields of construction, plastics, thermal and acoustic insulation in replacement of synthetic fibers.

The signing of this agreement stands as further evidence of the scientific excellence of the research done at LIST, the UCL being recognized as one of the very best research institutions in Belgium.

Photo credit: UCL