Centre for Nano-Bio Innovations in Sustainable Technology

iSUITE seeks to develop innovative, sustainable, and multidisciplinary solutions for environmental protection and resource efficiency through advanced nanomaterials, biotechnologies, and integrated system design. The center's research focus responds to the Europe´s environment 2025 – Main report. To meet the project's objective, the project will address six key environmental and sustainable technology challenges:

Water protection

Safeguarding ecosystems and human health from emerging pollutants, such as nano/microplastics, hormones, antibiotics, quaternary amines, antibiotics from water, using nano-bio-robotic removal systems followed by redox processes.

Resource recovery

Sustainable extraction and circular use of critical materials, e.g., selective extraction from electronic waste using supramolecular macrocyclic ligands and functionalized materials.

Renewables

Clean energy integration for environmental applications, e.g., renewable energy-powered systems integrating nano-bio catalytic materials and supramolecular chemistry (and/or advanced microbial fuel cells).

Environmental remediation

Restoring polluted environments using green technologies, e.g., applying nano-bio-based permeable reactive barriers combining biological processes, reactive nanomaterials, and catalytic elements for degradation of POPs from soil and groundwater.

Sustainable manufacturing

Eco-design and responsible material use, e.g., designing in recyclability / ease of disassembly, substitutions based on biofibres and bioplastics, or developing hybrid materials from the nanoscale.

Environmental diagnostics

Enabling precise detection and monitoring for informed action, e.g., micro- and nano-based sensors, biosensors and environmental forensics.

SO1

Establish systems for a viable, autonomous CoE: structure research foresight, manage timely high-quality delivery, foster supportive work culture for long-term commitment, and maintain operations with updated business plans.

SO2

Implement research on nano-bio technologies within a common framework: update annually, consult stakeholders, publish evidence, and align with tech progress and societal needs

SO3

Advance practical research capabilities to match the scope of planned iSUITE R&I. Activities will ensure iSUITE has the analytical tools, protocols, research methods, and digital workspace needed to deliver its research framework.

SO4

Establish a research pipeline with seed corn projects: launch six targeted R&D actions to build momentum, show vision, strengthen CXI’s capacity, and develop proposals for sustainable external funding.

SO5

Align iSUITE human resources with planned R&I: develop tools to attract, train, and retain talent; strengthen excellence via training, mentoring, and exchanges; and set a framework for long-term HR development.

SO6

Establish dialogue, collaboration, and exploitation with key stakeholder interests. Key activities: raise iSUITE’s scientific profile, build international research partnerships for cooperation, joint proposals and projects, manage intellectual property and innovation outcomes, and strengthen global engagement.

Sebastian Scholz
Fraunhofer

Head of Fraunhofer Plastics Technology Center Oberlausitz & Professor at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.

Rachel Adams
Cambridge

Professor of Materials Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Rachel is also a Fellow and Director of Studies (Materials) at Jesus College, Cambridge.

Lukáš Dvořák
CXI TUL

Head of the research direction Nanomaterials in Natural Sciences at CXI TUL. He specializes in membrane bioreactors, water technologies, and nanomaterial applications.

Miroslav Černík
CXI TUL

Principal Investigator of iSUITE and Director of CXI TUL. A professional in the field of nanotechnology and environmental science with over 30 years of experience in research and project management.

Full team