Expression of Interest of the Network of Excellence submitted in 2004 to CORDIS
"High Pressures in Chemical and Biochemical Transformations",
Acronym BioChem-PressureNet
A proposal from the High Pressure Research Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, filled on behalf of The Network

RATIONALE
OBJECTIVES
THE APPROACH
NEED AND RELEVANCE
EXCELLENCE
THE MANAGEMENT
INTEGRATION AND STRUCTRING EFFECT
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RATIONALE
To achieve the edge necessary to stay competitive whilst meeting environmental demands, chemical manufacturers must probe every available technology. In science and technology the development scheme frequently includes the following steps: extending the experimentally achievable range of parameters by developing new techniques, discovery of new, frequently unexpected phenomena, developing the particular field, commercialisation, growth of the discipline.In high-pressure technology, the development follows this scheme.
The experience accumulated owing to the COST Chemistry Actions: D6 "Chemical processes and reactions under extreme or non-classic conditions" and D10 "Innovative Methods and Techniques for Chemical Transformations", has shown that high pressures permit to study the mechanisms of chemical and biochemical transformations and modify the reaction paths or carry them out in phases inaccessible at low pressures. The cooperation within the above actions has led to strong international links between research groups and important research results. Exploiting this knowledge may offer solutions for the European chemical, and biochemical industry, which will permit its effective competition on the world markets and effectively handle environmental issues, as well as problems related to the social image of chemistry and biotechnology.. It will also as stimulate the industry producing high pressure equipment. At the same time, formation of a Network of Excellence by joining groups that have already good experiences of mutual cooperation is an effective means to create of critical mass of research and shared resources to necessary to deal with the scientific and technological challenges of high pressure chemistry and biotechnology.
OBJECTIVES
The present initiative combines scientific objectives and those connected with integration of European research. Based on studies of the pressure effect on the kinetics of the reactions and on the product distribution, cleaner and highly selective chemical and biochemical processing methods will be introduced. These will permit the synthesis of new products of high added value for a variety of applications including medicine, biotechnology and nanotechnology.A further consequence will be the development of the high pressure equipment industry.
Recently the most rapidly growing market for high pressure equipment is that connected with chemical research, biological studies, and food processing. One of the most promising research directions in that respect is the effect of pressure on aggregation of proteins and their denaturation, which open the way for new biotechnologies, medical applications, and safe food processing.Chemistry using supercritical CO2 is already being applied in industry.
Supercritical water is used to deactivate toxic substances. The reactivity of liquid ammonia and supercritical ammonia solution under high pressures also offers great application potential. The same concernshigh gas pressures, for instance for the synthesis of nitrides and high Tc materials. The fields are highly unexploited, particularly in terms of the applications in biotechnology, synthesis of nanoparticles and microporous solids. Molecular recognition including supramolecular chemistry is very interesting as well as the nanoparticle and nanotube chemistry involving surface modifications. A new field may expand with high pressure mechanochemsitry. Particular attention will be given to the pressure effects on interfacial phenomena, which are of crucial importance for the high pressure applications in future nano-technology. Special attention will be given to intellectual property protection.
The ultimate goals of the network are:
THE APPROACH
To achieve the above goals, we propose to create a network of European research institutes, universities and industries, integrating them according to the following research plan:
NEED AND RELEVANCE
The high pressure approach clearly requires sharing of the expensive infrastructure, which can require special skills for high pressure equipment operation. Furthermore, besides high pressure methods, expertise is needed for the characterisation of the synthesis products, development of in-situ methods, and also for the theoretical work. Access to large European facilities is required. The only way to solve the above problems is the formation of international and interdisciplinary research teams.
The present network will contribute to the following thematic priorities of the VIth Framework program:
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1.1.1	Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health, [..]- Combating major diseases 

	New pharmaceutics, new vitamin production technologies, controlling agglomeration of proteins and prions. Materials for the cosmetic industry and medicine,  

1.1.2	Information society technologies 

	Developing synthesis methods of nano-powders for opto- and microelectronics. 

1.1.3	Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multi-functional materials and new production processes and devices 

	Clean chemistry and biochemistry, selective processes and energy saving. New equipment. Materials for nanotechnology.  

1.1.4	Food quality and safety 

	High pressure methods for food processing (High Pressure Cooking) ensuring safe food with low content of preservatives and extended shelf time.  

1.1.6	Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems 

	Energy saving, clean processing and synthesis technologies. New technologies to handle toxic wastes.  
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Thus the present project will contribute to the sustainable development of the society in a number of ways: knowledge based society, environment protection, sustainable growth.
EXCELLENCE
Reaching the critical mass of resources and expertise needed to achieve the network objectives is facilitated due to the fact that the cooperation in COST working groups permitted to get experience in networking and also to acknowledge each group particular skills. In addition, several partners have the status of Centers of Excellence in their countries or at an European Level, andthe acquired by this way networking skills.
The network will be coordinated under the auspices of the High Pressure Research Center, Polish Academy of Sciences (UNIPRESS), Director: Sylwester Porowski, jointly with the high pressure research groups at the Institutes of Physical Chemistry, PAS, Bogdan Baranowski, and Organic Chemistry, Janusz Jurczak.
UNIPRESS is one of the largest in Europe high pressure research institutes, with interdisciplinary projects, international research teams, and strong background in equipment development. It is also a Center of Excellence of the European Community "High Pressure: a competitive method in research and industrial applications".Recently in the UNIPRESS laboratories the second in Europe blue semiconductor laser was developed, based on a high pressure technology for gallium nitride single crystals. This resulted in the subsequent creation of a spin-off company, which is one of the 5 spin-off's generated based on high pressure technology andequipment production. This example shows the potential of high pressure methods in basic research and industrial applications. The two other institutes are situated within walking distance from UNIPRESS and are world wide know for their achievements in high pressure organic and inorganic chemistry.
A further partner in Warsaw is the Faculty of Materials Science, Warsaw University of Technology, with Centre of Competence in Safety of Pressure Equipment. Thus Warsaw is a very strong high pressure research center in Europe and worldwide. Warsaw has always served as a meeting point of scientists from West Europe, Central Europe, Russia and Ukraine, where there are strong traditions of high pressure research. The network management will be under the responsibility of the Steering Committee, composed of the representatives of the hosting organisations and distinguished foreign scientists. The specific projects will be managed by group leaders, selected in due time.
THE NETWORK MANAGEMENT
The Network management at this stage of the project are (names in alphabetic order and scientific research fields):
INTEGRATION AND STRUCTURING EFFECT
The integration and structuring effect of the present network was clearly presented above. However, perhaps the greatest value of the proposed network could be a creative atmosphere resulting from close collaboration of scientist from various countries and various backgrounds. This follows from the networking experience gathered so far. Ideas will arise that are impossible to foresee in advance. The additional value generated when teams that are very strong in their fields start to work together can be very important.
The high-pressure community in Europe is strong, as evidenced for example by the large number of conferences organised, just to mention a few:
- XIV EHPRG meeting, Germany 2001[1], and XL EHPRG Meeting: High Pressure Research Across the Sciences, Edinburgh, UK, September 2002, Chairman K. Kamenev
- MPMPS-6 High Pressure Mineral Physics Seminar,August 2002 - Verbania, Italy. Chairman: D. Rubie
- 4th International Symposium on High Pressure Process Technology and Chemical Engineering, September 2002 - Venice, Italy. Chairman: Alberto Bertucco
- Second International Conference on High Pressure Bioscience and Biotechnology 9 - 12 September 2002 - Dortmund, Germany , Chairman: R. Winter
- High Pressure Crystallography , June 2003 - Erice, Italy,
- VIth International High Pressure School on Chemistry, Biology, Materials Science and Techniques, Warsaw, Poland, June 2003, Chairman W. Lojkowski
- AIRAPT-EHPRG Conference, High Pressure Science and Technology, Bordeaux, France, July 2003, Chairman: G. Demazeau
As shown by the COST actions, the high pressure scientific community seeks ways for stronger integration of their research. The Network of Excellence "High Pressure Chemical and Biochemical Transformations" will provide a response to these needs and challenges.
[1] High Pressure Research Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska 29/37. 01-142 Warsaw.
Contact person: Prof. Witold Lojkowski, wl@unipress.waw.pl. http://www.unipress.waw.pl
[1] "High Pressure Chemistry, Synthetic, Mechanistic and Supercritical Applications, R. van Eldik and F.-G. Klвner eds, (Willey-VCh, 2002)
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