Reisestøtte i forbindelse med etablering av næringsrettet forskingssamarbeid mellom NMBU og NUS innen membranprosesser

Membranes can be used to separate particles or/and ions from solutions, such as production of drinking water from seawater. Recent technological developments have improved the technological and economic feasibility of the application of this concept in many other areas in water and wastewater treatment, like removal of colour from lake waters. Small pore openings in membranes can clog due to particles in water and other biological and chemical processes. Scientists and the industry continuously work on improving membrane materials, operation and cleaning procedures, exploring new applications towards nanoscales etc. The use of membrane processes in Norway is becoming increasingly popular following the recent technological advances. The Norwegian University of Life sciences (NMBU), intends to strengthen its capacities by aiming to become an internationally acknowledged specialist group on membrane processes. The MEMPREX project, which is financed through the International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research (INTPART) programme of the Norwegian Research Council, assists NMBU in achieving this ambitious target by establishing a collaborative consortium with experts from world leading expert centres in USA, Canada, Japan and China. The objective of the MEMPREX project is to establish an international, interdisciplinary and innovative research and educational collaboration, leading to the establishment of a virtual membrane excellence network with its centre in Norway. Mobility activities, development of new educational materials, graduate research projects, joint seminars and workshops and industrial collaborations will be among the planned activities. With a team of leading specialists that have subject knowledge and high success rates on research applications, MEMPREX establishes a very competitive consortium that intends to secure a sustainable research partnership that lasts beyond this 3 year project.

Membranprosesser blir mer og mer aktuelt for rensing av drikkevann og avløpsvann, også i Norge. Flere universiteter i industriland har etablert solide forskningssenter med god kompetanse og NMBU har en ambisjon om å bygge opp et virtuell center of excellence i membranprosesser. NFR-INTPART prosjektet MEMPREX og BILAT prosjektet RECOVER bidrar til denne prosessen. Center for Water Research (CWR) ved National University of Singapore er et av de ledende forskningssentrene med betydelig involvering av næringslivspartnere. Prosjektets ambisjon er å analysere og lære forretningskonseptet til CWR, samt etablere kontakter med CWR og deres industripartnere for videre FoUoI samarbeid. Det forventes etablering av samarbeid mellom industripartnere i Singapore og Norge, og å skape motivasjon hos alle partnere til å søke EU Horizon 2020 og forskningsfinansiering både i Norge og i Singapore.