Dr. Emmanuel Defay, head of the nanotechnologies unit at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), has been awarded the EIC Pathfinder grant by the European Innovation Council (EIC), totalling nearly €2m, to develop advanced polymer-based cooling technologies.
The CoolPol project continues Dr. Defay’s previous work on electrocaloric cooling, a technique that induces temperature changes in materials through applied voltage. Preliminary studies indicate that these polymers offer higher cooling capacity than ceramics, presenting a lighter and potentially more efficient solution.
“Securing the EIC Pathfinder grant is incredibly challenging, so I’m extremely pleased. This recognition affirms the potential of our innovative approach to cooling technology.”
Dr. Emmanuel Defay, head of the nanotechnologies unit at LIST.
The project, with its ambitious goal of achieving 1 kilowatt of cooling power within four years, promises to significantly advance the current advanced technology. Dr. Defay’s recent achievements, including a prominent publication in Science, has already gathered attention from venture capitalists, displaying the commercial potential of his research.
Commercialization of research
The EIC Pathfinder grant not only supports the initial research phase, but also lays the groundwork for future industrialization and commercialization. LIST envisions forming spin-off companies or partnering with existing enterprises to market this innovative technology post-project completion. “The EIC scheme is designed to transform academic ideas into real-world solutions,” said Dr. Defay.
The goal is to demonstrate the high cooling power of polymers and explore their applications across various industries, potentially leading to significant commercial interest and collaborations.
LIST will coordinate the CoolPol project, collaborating with key partners such as Arkema, a leading polymer manufacturer, and Kemet, an Italian company specializing in multilayer technology. “The consortium also includes the University of Stuttgart, who will contribute their expertise in electronic modules to improve the cooling systems’ energy efficiency and performance,” said Dr. Defay.
