Polyamides are all around us: from the proteins that make up our bodies to everyday plastics such as nylon in tights and Kevlar in protective equipment. In nature, these molecules are built up with remarkable precision, but current technologies are not yet able to match this precision in the laboratory or in industry. The ‘From Code to Chain’ (C2C) project introduces a groundbreaking technology for the automated and programmable synthesis of polyamides, thereby bridging the gap between natural precision and synthetic production. This innovation paves the way for the development of next-generation materials with tailor-made properties.
Neumann: ‘I am deeply grateful to have received funding from NWO for our project. By bringing together expertise from academia and the private sector, this consortium, led by Radboud University, will work to make a real difference in polymer chemistry and its automation in the Netherlands. This funding will allow us to develop a fundamentally new methodology to produce polyamides with a level of molecular precision that so far has been exclusive by nature. What makes this grant particularly exciting is that it also provides us with the opportunity to translate this chemistry into an automated and programmable fabrication platform.’
Open Technology Programme NOW
The Open Technology Programme provides funding for application-oriented technical-scientific research that is free and unrestricted and is not hindered by disciplinary boundaries. The programme offers companies and other organisations an accessible way to participate in scientific research that is intended to lead to societal and/or scientific impact.