ESNA Launched as New Hybrid Alliance for Open Innovations

Seven leading organizations are joining efforts in an ecosystem, fully committed to serving the market in the field of environmental nano-functionalized plastic and paper products. The new European Sustainable Nanotechnology solutions Association (ESNA) transforms innovative ideas into pioneering products.

Recycling of plastics and using recycled material for packaging is an important cornerstone on the road to greater environmental protection and reducing plastic waste. To replace composites and multilayer materials that are not recyclable or degradable, novel polymer compositions (bio-based and/or biodegradable) and adapted product designs are being discussed as a solution approach.

Herein lies the added value of ESNA, which consolidates the efforts and the goals of the European Commission to re-industrialize Europe with new technologies and applications, especially in the field of nanotechnologies for smart and sustainable nano-functionalized plastic and paper surfaces and membranes.

In order to overcome environmental challenges, the new association will provide an active platform for the exchange and cooperation of inventors, scientists, technologists, producers, sellers and future partners for development and implementation in joint projects.

The thematic focus of ESNA is the surface modification of plastic and paper surfaces and membranes with nanotechnologies for sustainable and/or smart innovative products. By interconnecting various players, the association creates a framework for efficient collaboration on technical and business level by providing easy, fast-track access to the facilities and services to SMEs, start-ups and industry.

The Association will work with members of the FlexFunction2Sustain Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) for nano-functionalization technologies to offer comprehensive services which are integrated to provide a complete, all-round offer to substantially reduce the time and cost to progress through the innovation chain from an idea to a successful product. The ecosystem will support innovative SMEs and industries by providing expert support from an early development stage to the optimised transformation of prototypes into valuable and innovative products.

The offering includes:
• Material design & development
• Pilot production
• Application testing
• Access to innovation funds
• Marketing, customers and sales
• Coaching for approaching investors

Novel, eco-friendly plastic and paper products have already been prepared and evaluated by the association’s members with different industrial use case scenarios. These included recyclable/compostable food and cosmetic packaging, membranes for water filters and diagnostics, smart plastic surfaces for automotive application, and biodegradable security and anti-counterfeiting labels.

The association is the fruit of the successful FlexFunction2Sustain project, funded under European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation under the Grant Agreement no 862156. ESNA was registered officially on Feb. 27, 2023, and became operational by March 2023. The association was created as non-profit association according the French 1901 law of association with its place of business in Paris, France.

The Board of Directors holds regular meetings and is composed initially of:
• Lorenzo Pastrana, INL – President
• Thomas Kolbusch, Coatema – Industrial Vice President
• Christian May, Fraunhofer FEP – Research Vice President
• Robert Harrison, SHP Law Group – Treasurer and responsible for administration
• Sandrine Lebigre, IPC – OITB Sevelopment on Recycling and Biodegradability

“We are looking forward to innovative ideas and projects with future customers. A broad portfolio of technology solutions and applications awaits SME, start-ups and industry” said Lorenzo Pastrana, president of ESNA.

ESNA will be officially presented at the EuroNanoForum 2023, which will be held in Sweden, from June 11-13.

Association partners are:
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
• JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH
• Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH
• Sonnenberg Harrison Partners Sarl
• IPC – Centre Technique Industriel de la Plasturgie et des Composites
• INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
• AMIRES s.r.o.