Due to the Covid-19 pandemic,

the school will follow a remote learning format over a 2-week period from 7 September to 18 September

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Nanomaterials can potentially play a key role in reducing our dependence on extracted raw materials. But how do we assess the potential risk posed by the long-term accumulation of nanoparticles to the environment and to human health? Over 6 demanding days, this exciting course introduces young scientists and engineers to the tools and strategies required to take up the safer-by-design challenge. These are simultaneously put into practice by the participants in interdisciplinary groups, tasked with designing the business model of a nano-enabled innovation project.

The Safer Nanomaterials spring school is an accelerated learning programme proposed by EIT Raw Materials, partner institutions and the European Scientific Institute (ESI).

JOIN US TO BUILD A SAFER AND SUBSTAINABLE NANOWORLD

Download HERE the recruitment flyer

This exciting bioHealth Computing school addresses the complex challenge of the substitution of critical raw materials through the use of nanotechnology.
The School promotes ‘safety-by-design’, which seeks to minimise environmental and human health risks. Participants are introduced to the life-cycle approach, engineering and computing solutions, design-thinking and business creation.
The School is in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the UN, and the objectives of EIT Raw Materials, which is the largest community in the raw materials sector worldwide. Its aims are to boost competitiveness, growth and attractiveness of the European raw materials sector via radical innovation, new educational approaches and guided entrepreneurship.
SaferNanoDesign offers graduate students from materials and life-science a unique and transformational opportunity to broaden skills-sets in a range of fields including advanced research strategies, innovation & substainable business planning, ethics and regulatory affairs.

At the end of the school, you will be :
o accustomed to working in a pluridisciplinary and international environment
o able to implement a “safer-by-design” approach to nanomaterial life-cycle assessment
o comfortable with an ever-evolving digital environment

COURSE DELIVERY & LEARNING OUTCOMES

School Coordinator: Philippe Sabatier (Université Grenoble Alpes)

The School offers a challenging mix of theoretical and practical teaching in technology and innovation, enabling participants to develop business models of nano-enabled products which are acceptable to the market.

Core presentations on nanodesign, life cycle
Industrial and entrepreneurial case studies
Workshop, lab and computer practicals
Multidisciplinary group-work on innovation projects
Project pitches to a panel of experts from industry, academia, start-ups and business incubators

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Component 1

Nanomaterials, life-cycle analysis and transformation in the environment

Coordinator: Laurent Charlet (Université Grenoble Alpes) in partnership with David Munos Rojas (Grenoble INP)

Learning outcomes: By the end of the School, participants will have acquired:

Insight into theoretical and practical understanding of nanomaterial structure and properties, with a focus on their reactivity and transformation in the environment,
Knowledge of different types of assays available to assess the impact of nanomaterial exposure at different levels (environment, organism, cell, molecule etc.),
Ability to assess environmental impacts of nanomaterials using a life-cycle approach and to develop nanomaterials and nano-enabled products using a safer by design approach.

Component 2

Risk analysis and Use Cases

Coordinator: Celina Vaquero Moralejo (Tecnalia)

Learning outcomes: By the end of the School, participants will have acquired:

A broad view of current and future methods of nano-toxicology and risk assessment,
Knowledge of how to obtain and analyse omics data to perform gene ontology and pathway analysis.
Familiarity with predictive toxicology tools such as Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP) and Effectopedia.
Ability to assess the exposure and response to nanomaterials and understand the general legislation concerning eco-design materials at national, EU and worldwide level.
Exposure to industrial use cases which highlight successful start-up and spin-off companies.

Component 3

Business development & innovation

Coordinator: Aristedes Senra (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) in partnership with Fabienne Bornard Université Grenoble Alpes)

Learning outcomes : By the end of the School, participants will have acquired

knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of marketing nano-based products for an SME
capacity to analyse how innovative strategies can lead to improved performance or new business perspectives,
familiarity with design-thinking, lean start-up management and agile development of a business model,
Exposure to business case studies (success stories and failures),
Knowledge, skills and confidence required to further develop their own innovation projects.

YOUR PROFILE

You are a Master, PhD student, or early career professional in medical or life science, biotechnology, engineering, materials, data science, business, human and social science.

The success of the school depends on the quality of the participants. Over and above your specialist skills, you will bring the following qualities:

OPEN AND CRITICAL THINKING: A closed mind is the antithesis of innovation
CAPACITY FOR CALCULATED RISK: seizing new opportunities is inseparable from taking risks
FOCUS ON COMMUNITY: individual ideas become breakthrough innovations thanks to a great team

APPLICATION PROCESS

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The student body comprises a maximum of 30 participants from a range of backgrounds including materials, health and life-science, business, engineering and computing…

The application form includes a section where candidates should provide a 50 to 200-word outline of an innovative idea or project related to nano-enabled products or services. The best ideas will be further developed during exchanges with the School Director and will serve as the basis for group projects in the Business development & Innovation component of the school.

The idea or project might be expressed in terms of :

unmet societal needs which could benefit from the development of nano-enabled products or services
the (re)deployment of an existing nanomaterial or nanotechnology in an innovative product or service
currently unavailable but potentially marketable products or services involving nanomaterials and/or nanotechnology

APPLICATION PROCESS

The student body comprises a maximum of 30 participants with a range of backgrounds including materials, health and life-science, business, engineering and computing…

The application form includes a section where candidates should provide a 50 to 200-word outline of an innovative idea or project related to nano-enabled products and services. The best ideas will serve as the basis for a group project in the Business development & Innovation component of the school.

The idea or project might be expressed in terms of :

> unmet societal needs which could benefit from the development of nano-enabled products or services;

> the (re)deployment of an existing nanomaterial or nanotechnology in an innovative product or service;

> currently unavailable but potentially marketable products or services involving nanomaterials and/or nanotechnology

Deadline for applications: 22 March 2019

SELECTION

Pre-ranking of applicants is based on academic background in order to ensure a cross-disciplinary student body.

Final selection is based on the applicants CV, stated motivation and relevance of the proposed innovation project. Criteria will focus on the capacity for calculated risk, focus on community, open and critical thinking, initiative with follow-through.

ECTS ACCREDITATION

4 ECTS are awarded by Université Grenoble Alpes to Master and PhD students who complete the whole programme and take part in the oral defense (pitch of innovation project).

If required, UGA will transfer the ECTS directly to the participant’s home university.