ROLE IN THE PROJECT
The role of UNIPR in the NOVAPACK project is developed across different disciplines including microbiology, materials science and industrial plant design. UNIPR will indeed carry out the production through fermentation processes of the antimicrobial extracts (M2), will characterize them and assess their effect when applied to the biopolymer-based matrices the UNIPR will select with the other project partners (M1). Besides, UNIPR will participate in the design, development and characterization of the multifunctional antibacterial films through bulk compounding and coating using the layer by layer (LbL) technique (M3, M4). UNIPR will then design a continuous industrial plant for the production of the multifunctional LbL-coated films and develop a small-scale demonstrator of this technology (M5). Finally, UNIPR will participate in the management, dissemination and exploitation of the project results (M6).
Università di Parma (UNIPR) is one of the oldest universities in the world. From the Middle Ages to the present days, its history has developed over the centuries and currently is one of the most well-known universities in Italy. UNIPR is a state university that promotes the creation, transfer and development of knowledge in order to meet the higher education and research needs of society, while fostering its openness at the international level. The size of UNIPR (2000 including researchers, administrative and technical staff) and the Parma lifestyle attract many national and international students (33000). UNIPR offers 105 degree programs (13 international degree programs taught in English), 21 PhD programs and 53 master programs coordinated within nine departments. UNIPR hosts top-level scientific research in hard and life sciences, engineering, medicine, economics and humanities.