FunGlass

Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín is a young, fast growing university providing high-quality education in wide range of scientific disciplines focused on special technology, material and environmental engineering, management, regional economy, political science, healthcare, art and design in all three levels of higher education study  Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral.

As any young institution of higher education, Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín is open, full of creative energy, ready to take on new challenges and to respond flexibly to the current needs of the society and the labor market. It is a significant centre of science and research as well as of the human capital not only in the Trencin Region but also in the common European Higher Education Area.

The primary goal of the university is to enhance education through developing and fostering creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, teamwork and students professionalism with respect to the labor market trends.

Centre for Functional and Surface Functionalized Glass (acronym FunGlass) is newly created centre of excellence in the framework of Horizon 2020 project - Spreading the excellence and widening participation (H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2; Topic WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017 Teaming Phase 2, project number 739566). Its establishment is based on upgrade of the existing Centre of excellence for ceramics, glass and silicate materials (CEKSiM, created in 2012).

The Centre is created in cooperation with the project partners´ institutions and their leading experts in glass science and technology in Europe, namely (in alphabetical order) prof. Bernardo from the Universita degli Studi di Padova (Italy), prof. Boccaccini from Institute of Biomaterials of the Friedrich – Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany), prof. Durán from the Instituto de Ceramica y Vidrio Madrid (CSIC, Spain), and prof. Wondraczekfrom the Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena (Germany).

The Centre is specialized in cutting edge research in the field of glass with special functional properties (luminescence, electric), and to functionalization of conventional glass with the aim of modifying its properties, and adding new functionalities. These comprise reflection, and anti-reflection coatings for solar energy production and optoelectronic applications, increase of glass strength, enhancing the corrosion and leaching resistance of commercially produced glasses, self-cleaning/antibacterial coatings of glasses for medical applications, including modification/enhancement of bioactivity. The research topics also include utilization of waste materials for production of glasses and glass-ceramic materials with high added value. The Centre is equipped with up-to-date research infrastructure (for details see http://centratech.tnuni.sk/?page_id=6864, from p. 13), with substantial upgrade of experimental facilities planned in the frame of the project in 2018 and 2019.

www.funglass.eu